The state of Texas has various rules for how ADA-compliant building access ramps are to be built in schools. These standards are essential for all schools in the Houston area to follow. Our experts at REDD Team will be available to help you find an access ramp that works for your space.
Width Points
There are a few rules for how wide a ramp can be for a school in Houston:
- The ramp should be at least 32 inches wide at a point. This point may include a space where barriers on the sides end.
- The continuous width of the ramp, including spaces right after the barriers start, must be 36 inches.
- If a ramp is longer than 30 feet, it must have a minimum width of 44 inches.
- A ramp that can handle two wheelchairs at a time must be at least 60 inches wide.
Turning Space
For cases where a school ramp can allow a user to complete a full turn, the ramp must be at least 60 inches long on each side. The 60-inch diameter space should be enough to allow a wheelchair to finish a turn. This point can appear in any part of a ramp, although it is necessary for cases where there’s a one-direction bend midway through the ramp. The 60-inch surface should also be flat to allow for easy turning.
For instances where there’s a T-shaped space for a 180-degree turn, the ramp must be 36 inches wide with at least 12 inches of turning room before reaching the T-shaped area.
Suitable Ground Space
There should be enough of a landing at the top and bottom parts of a ramp for a wheelchair to access the space. These landings must be at least 30 inches wide and 48 inches long.
Surface Materials
There are also various points for how the surface of a ramp should work in a Houston school:
- Any materials on a ramp must be firm and slip-resistant. Soft or loose items cannot work for a ramp.
- While you could add a carpet on top of an aluminum ramp, the ramp carpet can only have a pile thickness of up to ½-inch. Any exposed edges of the carpet must also be tied down to the floor surface to keep them from popping up.
- Gratings can be used on the bottom of the ramp to create a grooved surface that supports traction or allow ventilation, but the gratings must be less than ½-inch apart.
How Does the Slope Work?
The slope for your Houston school ramp should have a slope of 1:12 or less. This measurement means that the ramp can have one inch of height change for every twelve inches of length. The slope is enough to allow simple access in most situations.
You can consult us at REDD Team when you’re looking for someone to help you produce new ADA-compliant building access ramps for your Houston-area school. We can prepare new ramps based on Texas state laws and standards. Our team makes high-quality aluminum ramps here in the United States, and we’re ready to help you with your project. Contact us at (800) 648-3696 or visit our website to learn more about our work and how we can help you get the most out of your ramp.
