Accessing your home or business should be a breeze for anyone, especially people with mobility issues. Not only is it helpful to visitors to your property, but, if you’re a business owner, it’s the law. You have to ensure that your business is accessible to your customers and employees.
As a home or business owner, you have to decide what kind of ramp is best for you – a temporary ramp made of metal or a more permanent structure of concrete. If you are looking for a permanent, sturdy ramp, the choice is simple – concrete.
Why install an ADA ramp in Los Angeles?
Put simply – it’s the law. The Americans with Disabilities Act requires that all businesses be accessible to their employees and their customers. That means, ramps.
The requirements for an ADA-compliant ramp get pretty technical pretty quick. That is why it is essential that you hire a licensed concrete contractor for the job. They understand the requirements under federal law and know how to correctly install an ADA-compliant ramp on your property.
Here are some basics about ADA ramps:
- The ADA requires curb ramps along any accessible route in a public area, where the path has a change in height greater than ½ inch.
- The curb ramp must be 36 inches wide, not including handrails.
- Handrails are required if the ramp rises more than 6 inches.
- The slope of the ramp must be appropriate for a person going up in a wheelchair. If it takes all your strength to get up a ramp in a wheelchair, that building is not really all that accessible. Your licensed concrete contractor will know the slope requirements and ensure that your ramp is constructed to these specifications.
As you can see, installing an ADA ramp gets very technical very quickly. Consulting with a licensed concrete contractor will allow you peace of mind that your project is being completed up to code for the most ease of use.
ADA Ramp Construction Los Angeles
In addition to a ramp leading up to your property, if you are a business owner, the city will likely require you to install a curb ramp. That’s the ramp that cuts through curbs or is built up to them. These types of ramps typically allow access from the street or parking lot to a sidewalk or walkway entrance.
According to the 2010 ADA Standards, curb ramps are required at newly constructed or altered streets, highways, and street-level pedestrian sidewalks in order to provide an accessible route for pedestrians at intersections. If your business is on the corner of an intersection and you have to replace the sidewalk, it is HIGHLY likely that you will also need to install two curb ramps leading to the street.
With ramps leading to a street, the city is going to require that you add detectable warnings to the curb ramps. This can include using concrete of contrasting color to indicate where the ramp begins to slope. Also, your ramp will need to have installed domes. What are domes? You know those yellow sections of concrete with the raised, round mounds? Those are domes. They indicate where the ramp meets the street and act to slow down a wheelchair, if needed.
Adding a concrete ADA compliant ramp removes barriers to accessing your home or business. Using a licensed concrete contractor takes the guess-work out of constructing a ramp at your home or business. The contractor knows and understands the ADA compliance regulations, so that you can rest assured your ramp will be built correctly.
Give us a call for a quote today. Our concrete contractor has the background to ensure that your ramp is ADA-compliant and meets all the requirements city inspectors are looking for.