Stairs, Ramps, and Accessibility Systems for School Buildings in NYC

REDD Team designs and manufactures modular aluminum stairs, ramps, walkways, and platforms for school buildings K–12 campuses, and higher-education facilities across New York City. Stairs, ramps, and accessibility systems for school buildings in NYC must comply with the 2022 NYC Building Code (Chapter 11: Accessibility) and the 2010 ADA Standards, with public school projects additionally coordinated through the NYC School Construction Authority Accessibility Unit.

NYC Framework: How School Access Is Reviewed

NYC’s Chapter 11 sets local accessibility obligations (including when changes of occupancy trigger upgrades), while ADA Standards provide the core technical criteria referenced citywide. Both are important and must be followed.

For Department of Education work, the SCA Accessibility Unit verifies that designs meet NYC Building Code requirements and ADA provisions before bid and construction.

Ramps: The Technical Baseline

For public, accessible routes serving students, families, and visitors in NYC, ramp geometry follows ADA technical criteria (and NYC adopts the same fundamentals):

Running slope must be 1:12 (8.33%) max; cross-slope 1:48 max.
Rise per run is 30 inches max before a landing is required.
Clear width is 36 inches minimum between handrails (egress codes may require more where the ramp is part of a required exit).
Landings are level at the top/bottom and where direction changes; details to prevent water accumulation.
Handrails & edge protection must adhere to regulations. Handrails on both sides where a run rises >6 inches; provide edge protection at runs/landings.

NYC also recognizes constrained prior-code buildings, where a permanent accessible entrance is simply not feasible. In such a situation, portable ramps may be allowed with strict limits (1:12 slope baseline, short-rise allowances, 36-inch clear width, cross-slope 1:48) and DOB/MOPD approval and signage. This is useful for historic school entries undergoing phased upgrades.

Stairs: Code Stairs for Circulation, Not the Accessible Route

An accessible route never includes stairs. NYC’s stair provisions (Chapter 10) address riser/tread geometry and handrail continuity.

Section BC 1011.11 details handrail rules, with limited cases where one handrail is permitted on narrow, enclosed interior exit stairs that do not serve as an accessible means of egress.

Coordinate required egress widths separately when stairs share space with accessible paths.

OSHA Considerations for Staff-Only Access

Where routes are employee-only, such as rooftop maintenance, mechanical platforms, loading yards, NYC school sites rely on OSHA Walking-Working Surfaces for guardrails, handrails, and slip-resistant surfaces.

Our aluminum platforms and ramped approaches are designed for those loads and criteria. (Construction-phase access follows OSHA construction standards.)

Why Aluminum on NYC Campuses?

Structural aluminum provides high strength without rust or repaint cycles. It also tolerates routine washdowns and winter de-icing. Another perk is that it ships light for tight urban sites.

Our slip-resistant, self-draining walking surfaces support daily safety in rain and snow.

The continuous handrails and threshold detailing reduce trip points at doors and landings.

All of our kits are bolt-together, so there is no hot work. Installations can easily be carried out on a weekend, holiday, or break window. They can also be reconfigured or relocated as portable clusters and swing spaces move. (SCA’s accessibility mission reinforces these upgrades across NYC schools.)

Sidewalk Interfaces and Interior/Exterior Solutions

NYC entrances often combine a short exterior run with a longer interior run to preserve sidewalk clearance while maintaining the 1:12 slope and required landings. This is a unique NYC approach that is commonly used on dense city frontages.

Call us at (800) 648-3696 or contact us online for stairs, ramps, and accessibility systems for school buildings in NYC. Share threshold heights, grades, door locations, and phasing needs; we’ll return an NYC/ADA-compliant configuration with drawings, submittals, and a clear path to installation.

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