How to Build a Handicapped Ramp in British Columbia

Designing a Ramp to Code

• 1

  Lay out the height and length of your ramp to ensure that it has a gradient of 1 in 12 or less, unless the ramp is shorter than 6 meters, in which case 1 in 10 or 1 in 11 are allowed. This means that a rise of 1 foot requires at least 12 feet of ramp length; it is possible to use switchbacks in confined spaces.

• 2

  Ensure that there is enough space for your ramp to be at least 1,500 millimeters wide. This allows enough space for a wheelchair and pedestrian to comfortably use the ramp.

• 3

  Add a curb at least 75 millimeters high to your ramp design along any parts of the run where the ramp is more than 75 millimeters above the ground.

• 4

  Design any gratings included in the ramp to have holes 13 millimeters in diameter or smaller, with their long sides perpendicular to the direction of travel on the ramp.

• 5

  Allow space for flat landings at the beginning and end of the ramp as well as at any turns or switchbacks. Landings must be at least 1,500 millimeters long and as wide as the ramp. Having these landings allows people in wheelchairs to stop and open doors to buildings without moving backwards down the ramp.

• 6

  Clear the ramp area of any obstructions. The only thing allowed to obstruct the space above the surface of a ramp is a handrail, which may intrude 100 millimeters into the space of the ramp. These handrails are mandatory on both sides of ramps with grades up to 1 in 12 and on one side of ramps sloping at 1 in 10 or 1 in 11. Ramps steeper than that are only allowed for very short distances of 600 millimeters or less and are not required to have rails.

Building the Ramp

• 7

  Mark out the area for your ramp on the ground with spray paint.

• 8

  Dig out the marked area with a shovel to a depth of 18 inches.

• 9

  Add 3 inches of 1-inch diameter stones at the bottom of the hole.

• 10

  Add 12 inches of coarse sand on top of the stones. Pound the sand down with a gas powered tamper after every 4 inches is added. This will stabilize the base.

• 11

  Cut out two triangular pieces of wood with the length and angle of your ramp using a hacksaw or circular saw. Make them 3 inches taller to allow for some of the concrete to be buried beneath ground level. These will form the sides of the wooden form into which you will pour concrete.

• 12

  Support the two wooden triangles by hammering wooden stakes into the ground just outside of them and attaching the triangles to the stakes with screws.

• 13

  Hammer pieces of wood across the ends of the two triangles, completing the form of your ramp.

• 14

  Order a cement mixer full of concrete if building a large ramp. If building a small one, add water to bags of premixed concrete poured into wheelbarrows according to the package directions.

• 15

  Lay down metal mesh covering the floor of your form. This will give the concrete tensile strength.

• 16

  Pour concrete from the wheelbarrows or the cement truck chute into the form and smooth the top of it with a trowel. If your ramp needs a handrail, buy a pre-made metal railing and set it into the wet concrete.

• 17

  Unscrew the stakes supporting the form boards and pull them up once the concrete has set hard, then hammer the form boards loose and pull them up. Your ramp is now complete.