Until recently, there were very limited discussions and conversations about the overall welfare of persons with disability. Thankfully, the awareness, as well as conversations around disabilities, have significantly increased in the last couple of years, resulting in absolutely necessary changes. And one such major change is currently being experienced in public buildings.
Government officials across the globe have decreed the development of ramps in public structures to make it highly comfortable for disabled persons to easily access these buildings. And this implies that public buildings, including hotels, apartment complexes, retailers and shopping centers, and government agencies MUST feature ramps to protect the rights of those with disabilities. And if you have an old structure that was built before the law was implemented and only features staircases, you are required by the law to renovate those buildings and include ramps for people with mobility problems.
Understanding the unique construction regulations for buildings in your locality:
As already explained, government agents across the globe have put in place certain building regulations that all building professionals must adhere to, and just incorporating a ramp into a building isn’t enough! Instead, more extensive guidelines have been implemented and precisely described to highlight key specifications, including the ramp length, width as well as steepness of a ramp.
In most parts of the world, these regulatory measures guide the construction of sidewalls, handrails as well as curbing around the ramp. What’s more, the regulatory measures released by most national authorities cover parking. For instance, ADA (the Americans with Disabilities Act) precisely says that in most buildings, the path toward the doorway should be blocked by a curb. In such a case, the owner of the building together with the residents are required to design a curb ramp to create easy passage and access for the disabled to the structure. Also, the Americans with Disabilities Act has implemented clear guidelines regarding the number of parking spaces for people with disabilities, their size, and signage requirements for every single public structure.
Whether you are in the building industry or reside in a public building, it is highly crucial that you equally understand the unique requirements of building construction, particularly concerning persons with disability, and make sure you adhere to these vital building requirements.
So, why are concrete ramps more beneficial?
There are numerous construction materials that developers often use to construct ramps. These materials range from wood and aluminum to fiberglass and concrete. However, it is widely believed that concrete is the best material for a ramp. And while most building professionals only require a ramp construction material to be both anti-slip and water-resistant, concrete offers a myriad of potential benefits.
First and foremost, it’s worth noting that concrete is both slip and water-resistant. And this simply implies that it meets all the regulations set by the construction authorities. What’s more, concrete is a highly sturdy and durable material that will serve you for an extended period. And lastly, concrete not only boosts the overall aesthetics of a building but is also relatively easy to handle.
The bottom line:
Whether you are looking to construct your new structure or making a few improvements to your current building, it is very important that you familiarize yourself with the latest rules and regulations governing the construction of buildings with regard to those affected by various disabilities. This is because your failure to incorporate these guidelines into your new or old building could easily land you into problems with the concerned authorities. To be on the safest side, always work with construction professionals who know and understand your specific local construction laws!