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Portable wheelchair ramps?
Question : Portable wheelchair ramps?
My church is on a low budget and we can’t afford to install a permanent wheelchair ramp. Does anyone have experience with these? What do we need to consider before purchasing one? Is it even feasible to use a portable ramp for a church? Any advice or suggestions would be appreciated.
portable wheelchair ramps
Best answer:
Answer by woodtick314
It depends on how high you need to go. The maximum pitch for a handicap ramp is 1″ per foot of run. If you need to rise 5′, you are looking at a 60′ ramp. That’s a lot of portable ramp. Talk to the carpenters union in your area. My local does a lot of volunteer work, and one of our most common projects is building handicap ramps. You may be able to get a crew out there to knock it out in a day or two. All you would have to pay for is materials. Hope this helps.
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#3 written by T.J. 1 year ago
What you need to consider is if the ramp will meet the ADA requirements. This will depend a lot on your particular situations of where it will be installed. If you are trying to ramp over a step that is a few inches high then a portable ramp may be a good option.
Is there someone in your chuch like and Architect or Contractor who is familiar with ADA requrements? Is there a Carpenter or someone with expertise in your church who could help build the ramp out of wood? Do you have a youth group or Scout group that would take on such a project with supervision of your expert?
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I would recommend a good permanent ramp, designed for wheelchairs and people who have trouble with stairs. While it will cost a bit to start with, the long-term costs and convenience will be better for you.
With the portable, you are going to have to move it into and out of place often, make sure it is properly placed and safe each use, etc., and they are limited in how high they can go and be used safely. While the up-front cost may be less, the on-going nuisance will get to you.