REDD Team designs and manufactures modular aluminum stairs, ramps, and accessibility systems for school buildings in Chicago, Illinois. Each assembly is engineered for compliance with the 2019 Chicago Building Code (Chapter 11: Accessibility) and the statewide Illinois Accessibility Code incorporating ICC A117.1-2009 and the ADA Standards.
Chicago & Illinois Accessibility Criteria
- Running slope and rise: The maximum running slope is 1:12 (8.33%). Maximum rise per ramp run is 30 inches. The cross slope may not be steeper than 1:48.
- Landings: Provide level landings at the top and bottom of every run. Each landing must be at least 60 inches long and at least as wide as the ramp. Where direction changes, landings must be at least 60 inches by 60 inches clear.
- Width and handrails: Minimum clear width is 36 inches measured between handrails where provided. If a run rises more than 6 inches, handrails are required on both sides.
- Edge protection: Provide edge protection at all ramp runs and landings.
- Code alignment: These provisions are consistent with Chicago’s adoption of ICC A117.1 within the 2019 Chicago Building Code modernization.
Accessibility Systems For K–12 and Higher Education
Projects on active campuses demand short installation windows and repeatable outcomes. REDD Team systems use bolt-together aluminum components. There is no field welding required, so crews can complete work during long weekends, spring/summer breaks, holidays, or overnight shifts with minimal school disruption.
Structural aluminum resists corrosion and routine de-icing exposures better than painted steel or wood, while slip-resistant walking surfaces and continuous handrails support safe daily use in Chicago’s wet and freeze–thaw conditions.
Ramps for Interior and Exterior School Routes
REDD Team ramp assemblies are laid out to meet code geometry and school operations. Our ramps, stairs, and accessibility systems can serve as the main entrance to connect a modular classroom cluster, auditorium platform, or an alternate egress path
- Slope & run control: Configured to 1:12 maximum with runs capped at 30 inches of rise, ensuring required intermediate landings on longer approaches.
- Landings & door interfaces: 60-inch minimum landings, with turning landings sized 60 × 60 inches and door maneuvering clearances coordinated at adjacent openings.
- Width & handrails: 36-inch clear width minimum between handrails; handrails on both sides where the rise exceeds 6 inches, with graspability, continuity, and extensions detailed per IAC/A117.1.
- Outdoor detailing: Cross slopes limited to 1:48 and drainage planned so water does not accumulate on walking surfaces or landings, which is key to winter safety and code conformance.
Code Stairs and OSHA Stairs: Coordinated With Accessible Routes
An accessible route acts as a continuous pathway that’s usable by people with mobility devices, but it never includes stairs under the ADA. However, schools still need code-compliant stairs for everyday circulation and egress, and many sites also require OSHA stairs for staff-only areas like rooftops, equipment platforms, and mezzanines.
REDD Team provides aluminum stair systems that align with Chicago’s requirements for uniform risers/treads, compliant nosings, and continuous handrails, while OSHA stair lines address maintenance and equipment access. We can provide an accessible route with any necessary stairs while ensuring that the route reaches the same destinations, with proper clear widths, landings, and signage, so all users can move safely and efficiently.
In addition, we also offer coordinating finishes and components across ramps and stairs, simplifying upkeep and creating a pleasing, consistent appearance campus-wide.
Historic Buildings, Swing Space, and Modular Classrooms
Chicago school portfolios often blend historic structures with temporary swing space. Because REDD Team systems are modular and reusable, districts can reconfigure or relocate components as programs move from one building to another. This approach helps keep accessible routes open during phased capital work and supports CPS accessibility goals by improving usable access across sites.
Submittals, Reviews, and Delivery
- Documentation is prepared to the City’s code references, including the 2019 Chicago Building Code accessibility provisions and ICC A117.1-2009.
- Standardized submittals and shop drawings streamline permitting, and predictable hardware/connection details make installation repeatable for district task-order programs.
- Official code resources are publicly available through the City’s Chicago Construction Codes portal.
Contact us online to learn more about stairs, ramps, and accessibility systems for school buildings in Chicago, Illinois. Request a layout based on threshold heights, grades, and required travel widths, or call (800)-648-3696 for configuration assistance, submittals, and pricing.
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