Handicap Ramps
Handicap ramps are those structures and portable devices that enable those who need to use a wheelchair or have limited mobility and find using steps difficult to access buildings and other places that would otherwise be inaccessible to them. So this article takes a look at the types of handicap ramps that exist and what their functions are.
Permanent Handicap Ramps
Permanent handicap ramps are those which are built onto buildings to provide and alternative access method other than steps. They are often built from concrete, blocks or bricks and are as their name states, permanent structures that provide access to the building to which they are built onto. You often see this type of ramp alongside or adjacent to a flight or steps leading to public buildings such as libraries, government buildings, hospitals, banks, stores and other public establishments.
Semi-Permanent Handicap Ramps
Semi permanent handicap ramps are those that are similarly attached to buildings and public access points as their more permanent counterparts. They are generally built from steel, aluminum or wood and are meant to remain in place on a semi permanent basis where a future decision may allow their removal in favor of a more permanent structure built from brick, block or concrete.
Temporary Handicap Ramps
Temporary handicap ramps are of course not meant as permanent fixtures, but are put in place for a limited period of time. They are usually constructed of wood, steel or aluminum and often modular so they can be re-used in other situations. They are most often used in temporary structures such as temporary stages set up for concerts or lectures, sporting events or observation platforms.
Portable Handicap Ramps
Portable handicap ramps are generally smaller and as the name suggests portable. They are often used for negotiating high curbstones, single steps or raised areas that are not otherwise easily accessed by a wheelchair user. They are used for entering and exiting mobility vehicles such as handicap vans and specially adapted cars.
Ramps provide wheelchair access to places where there may not have been previously, or were built on uneven ground where the entrance had to be constructed at a higher level than the ground or sidewalk. They are highly useful and necessary for enabling wheelchair access to certain places and so provide a means to improve the accessibility options of those with disabilities and limited mobility.