Ramps and access for wheelchairs and mobility vehicles

With more and more people using different types of mobility vehicles like scooters, gaining access to buildings and different levels is a critical requirement in most western countries. So much so that regulations and strict controls now govern and specify access requirements to which new developments have to comply.

A large part of disability access relates to ramps and lifts and as a result of this there are many different permanent and temporary solutions available. These solutions range from ramps that are permanent constructions and create threshold access to buildings, to lightweight folding ramps that can be attached to the tailgate of vehicles.

Here are some examples.

Most permanent ramps are constructed of concrete, but the temporary or short term options are far more interesting.

Today many ramps need to be portable and this requires them to be light and either demountable or folding.

This has resulted in a number of clever solutions that see ramps that have a telescopic opening and closing action and even ramps that fold down into an attaché case like carrying box.

Many ramps can cater for different heights and lengths and, whilst some are of an adequate width for a wheelchair, others have two separate tracks that are set up at their point of use.

These ramps are made of many different materials from aluminium to high strength lightweight plastics and all can be set-up or dismantled in a matter of minutes. Many will even fold down to a size that allows them to be carried on trains and buses or easily stored in the boot of a car.