Tips To Choose The Right Wheelchair Ramp For Your Home
A wheelchair ramp is a type of slowly leaning assistive equipment that allows wheelchairs or other mobility devices to safely move over uneven terrain.
A ramp that leads up to your front door might be necessary if you are unable or unwilling to go upstairs. However, most people don’t know that there are many types of ramps.
It can be difficult to choose the right wheelchair ramp for your home. Before purchasing a ramp, you should consider the following: weather conditions, safety, ease-of-access, ADA compliance and expert installation.
It’s clear that you want a mobility scooter, power wheelchair or wheelchair to help you age in your own home. However, it can be challenging to get your mobility device into your home if there are steps leading up to it. A wheelchair ramp can be installed easily! There are so many choices, how can you choose the best wheelchair ramp?
CONSIDERATIONS DURING THE BUY OF A WHEELCHAIR RAMP
We’ve also listed important considerations when choosing the best mobile ramp for your home. We want you to be able to make the right decision for you and your loved ones.
Is there a place where a wheelchair ramp should be installed?
Threshold
A threshold ramp is a good option if your landing or doorway is not very high. Hoveround offers a wheelchair ramp that can be easily installed to your thresholds. It is anti-slip, has lots of traction and is non-slip.
Set of steps
Hoveround has two options for you if your home is steep: a single-fold wheelchair ramp, which folds in half, can be folded like a suitcase and a trifold wheelchair lift that splits and folds half, and is made from durable, welded, aircraft-grade aluminum.
Raised Landing
A solid 36-inch wide ramp is the best option for a raised landing. It allows you to safely and comfortably exit your home. Handrails may be necessary depending on your needs. Our PVI OnTrac wheelchair ramp has handrails.
Vehicle
Our “>tri-fold wheelchair ramp can be used to transport your power wheelchair. It comes with an optional TLE (top lip extension) that increases the lip’s length from 3 to 9 inches. For safe and easy transportation, the ramp can be placed on the vehicle’s floor using the TLE.
How to choose the length of a portable wheelchair ramp
To ensure safety, the ADA guidelines provide specific ratios for measuring accessibility ramps. All commercial and public-use ramps must have a 1:12 slope ratio. This means that each inch of vertical rise must correspond to 12 horizontal inches (one meter) of ramp. If you have a staircase with a 10-inch rise, you will need 10 foot of ramp. A ramp must not run for longer than 30 feet without a stop or turn platform according to the ADA.
How stable is the base surface?
The area where the wheelchair ramp is to be attached or rests must be solid and level. This will ensure that the ramp is stable and safe. To ensure it can withstand regular wheelchair ramp use, inspect the area and make sure it is clean before you use it.
Is the wheelchair ramp able to support a maximum weight of 450 lbs?
It is important to choose a wheelchair ramp that can safely support all the weight it will carry, including that of the mobility device and caregiver (if any assistance is needed), as well as any other items.
What width should the ramp be
Your wheelchair’s size and how much space you need to maneuver the ramp will determine the width of your ramp. A wheelchair ramp width that is 36 inches should be sufficient in most cases. However, you might find that a wheelchair-accessible ramp width of 42 inches is more convenient for you.
How steep should the ramp slope?
The ramp’s slope determines how steep it will rise. It is important for safety that it is suitable for your mobility device’s incline limits. The ADA has the following guidelines for wheelchair ramp slopes:
If you plan to use the wheelchair ramp as a wheelchair ramp, you will need approximately 1 foot of ramp per inch of rising.
You’ll need about 1 foot of ramp per 3 inches of rising if you plan to walk beside or behind your mobility device. A wheelchair ramp 18 feet will be required for every 18 inches of total rise and three steps.
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