To accommodate the width of wheelchairs and other mobility aids, such as motorised scooters, the handrails on both sides of the ramp should be about 1,000 millimetres from each other.Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements continue to be updated more than three decades after the law was passed, with mandates still in place to make public areas accessible to wheelchairs, walkers, and motorized scooters through the use of ramps. This allows people who are unable to use both hands to have access to a railing on either side of a ramp. These design elements help ensure that users can easily reach and hold on to the handrails if needed.Īccessibility ramps are also required to have handrails on both sides. In addition, the height of the handrail’s bar should not exceed 1,000 millimetres from the ramp’s surface. These safety features are also required to follow certain design regulations to ensure that they are DDA and AS compliant.Īccording to the Australian Standards, handrails should be designed with a circular shape and an elliptical cross-section that measures 30 millimetres high and 50 millimetres wide. Under the Australian Standards, the provision AS1428 states that wheelchair and accessibility ramps should be equipped with handrails. Aside from this law, building owners should also follow Australia’s building codes, known as the Australian Standards (AS), to ensure that their ramps and other safety features are within the legal regulations. However, building any type of ramp may not be enough to comply with the DDA. This includes adding properly constructed ramps in areas where there are steps, stairs, or kerbs. In line with this matter, the law requires owners of public buildings and establishments to ensure that these places can be easily and safely accessed by everyone. One of the areas covered by this law is a person’s right to access places that are open to the public, such as government offices, education institutions, shops, parks, and banks. In Australia, the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (DDA) was passed and enacted to ensure that people are not discriminated against due to their disability. With handrails, they’ll be able to safely cross ramps without fear of slipping or falling. This can pose a hazard, especially for people who use mobility aids such as wheelchairs and walking canes, as it increases their risk of encountering accidents and serious injuries. Oftentimes, they can end up with slippery surfaces due to the accumulation of water and ice during the rainy and winter seasons. In addition, they help people with mobility issues maintain their balance and stability as they use the ramp.Īlso, outdoor ramps are exposed to the elements such as snow and rain. They act as support features that can prevent people from falling off the side of the ramp. Added SafetyĪs mentioned earlier, handrails offer additional safety to users. After all, in Australia, the ramps found on facilities and other places that are open to the public are required by law to have certain safety features such as handrails. Generally, they provide people with something to hold on to, which helps improve their balance and prevent them from slipping or falling as they cross the ramp.Īside from added safety, rails on wheelchair ramps are also essential for the owners of buildings and establishments. Handrails are regarded as essential features of accessibility ramps due to the various benefits they offer to users.
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