Wheelchair Ramp-A contractor is building a wheelchair accessibility ramp ?
(see figure) for a business. Using your knowledge of right-triangle trigonometry, help advise him how to create a ramp whose dimensions will meet the specification needed that will allow wheelchair accessibility. Talk about the procedure the contractor will need to follow to find the dimensions of the three sides and the measurements of the three angles. Consider the implications of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in your discussion and provide an example.
Tags: americans with disabilities act, wheelchair ramp, Wheelchair, Ramp, building, contractor, accessibility, RampA, wheelchair accessibilityRelated posts:
Basic issue is the maximum safe ramp angle. If you know the height difference then you can find the length of ramp by the following relationship:
ramp length = (height change) / sin (ramp angle)
suppose the height difference is 4 ft, and safe maximum ramp angle is 10 degree (I don’t know this angle is correct, you need to look this up at ADA website). Then the length of ramp is:
ramp length = 4 / sin 10 = 23 ft.
Since you didn’t include a link to the specs or the figure, the rules say 1″ inch of rise per foot of length and there has to be a level platform if the length is longer than a certain distance even straight, I think 12′, so usually the platforms are put at turning points.