Disabled Access Ramp

What a Disabled Access Ramp Is For

A disabled access ramp gives people who cannot use steps a way into a building by the same entrance as everyone else, or by a clearly signed alternative. It might sit at the front of a shop, a village hall, a church, a dental practice, a block of flats or a family home. The aim is the same in each case: a visitor using a wheelchair, scooter, walking frame or buggy should be able to arrive, get in and leave without needing to be lifted or carried.

This page looks at access ramps from the point of view of whoever is responsible for the entrance, whether that is a small business owner, a committee running a community building or a household adapting the main door.

Access Ramps for Shops and Small Businesses

Many high street premises have a single step at the door. A permanent ramp may not fit on the pavement, and the building may be rented. In those cases, owners often keep a folding ramp behind the counter and put it out when a customer needs it, with a bell or sign at the door so people can ask.

That approach works best when staff know where the ramp is, how to set it out and how to check it is stable before anyone uses it. Where there is room, a fixed or modular ramp that is always in place is more welcoming, because nobody has to wait or ask. Our page on temporary access ramps covers the folding and modular options used at shop doors.

Community Buildings and Places of Worship

Village halls, churches, sports clubs and scout huts are often older buildings with steps at every door. Committees usually want a solution that looks tidy, lasts for years and does not block fire exits.

A modular aluminium ramp with handrails is a common choice because it can be designed around the existing steps without major building work. Timber and concrete ramps suit buildings where a permanent change is agreed. Whichever route you take, involve the people who will use it, and ask a professional installer to survey the site before ordering. A good survey will note the height of each step, the space in front of the door, drains, boundary walls and any fire exit routes, and it gives the committee something firm to put in front of trustees or funders.

The Main Entrance at Home

At home, the front door is often the hardest entrance to adapt because of steps down to the path, a narrow porch or a garden wall. The back door can be easier, but using it every day may mean going through a kitchen or garden in the rain.

A disabled access ramp at home should make the route people actually use every day easy. That might be the front door, a side gate or a French door into the lounge. Think about where the car parks, where deliveries arrive and where visitors come in, because the best entrance to adapt is the one that joins those routes up. For front entrances specifically, our guide to front door ramps for wheelchair access goes into porches, paths and door thresholds.

Temporary or Permanent Access

A temporary ramp is quick, cheap and portable, but it relies on someone setting it out every time. A permanent ramp is always ready, but needs space, money and usually some building work.

• Folding ramps suit occasional visitors and rented premises.
• Modular ramps bolt together on site, can have rails and platforms, and can be moved later.
• Built ramps in concrete, brick or timber are the most permanent and often the most attractive.

If you are not sure which to choose, try a folding ramp first to learn how the entrance is used, then plan a permanent ramp with that experience behind you. Our guide to modular wheelchair ramps explains how those systems are put together.

Rails, Landings and Edges on an Access Ramp

A ramp that serves the public needs to work for people with very different abilities. Handrails on both sides help walkers and people with poor balance. Raised edges stop wheels running off the side. A level landing at the door gives space to stop, open the door and wait without rolling backwards.

Longer ramps usually need resting platforms part way up, and a turning platform if the route changes direction. A good surveyor or installer will work these out from the height of the steps and the space available.

Permission, Space and the Pavement

Before building a ramp, check who owns the ground. The pavement outside a shop usually belongs to the council, so a ramp cannot simply be placed on it. In rented premises and flats, the landlord or freeholder has to agree to any fixed structure.

Larger ramps may need planning permission, especially on the front of a building or in a conservation area, and building control may need to be involved. Ask the council early. The government publishes guidance on access to and use of buildings, which designers and builders use when planning entrances.

Making Visitors Feel Welcome

A ramp only helps if people know it is there. Clear signs at the main entrance pointing to the accessible route, a doorbell at a reachable height, and staff who respond quickly make a real difference.

Keep the ramp clear of bins, bikes and A-boards, sweep leaves and grit away in autumn, and grit icy patches in winter. Check fixings and rails regularly. If the ramp is portable, store it close to the door so nobody has to hunt for it while a customer waits outside in the rain.

Doors, Thresholds and the Last Few Feet

An access ramp that ends at a heavy door or a raised threshold has only solved part of the problem. Look at what happens once someone reaches the top. Can they open the door from a seated position, or does it need a strong pull? Is there a raised sill that will stop a castor dead? Does the door open outwards over the landing, forcing a wheelchair user to reverse down the slope to get out of its way?

Simple changes often help: a lever handle instead of a knob, a threshold wedge on the inside as well as the outside, a door closer set to a lighter pull, or a push-button opener on a busy entrance. For a business, it is worth asking a wheelchair user or a local access group to try the route and tell you honestly where it falls short. They will spot problems that are easy to miss when you walk through the door every day without thinking about it.

Help with the Cost

For homes, a Disabled Facilities Grant from the council may contribute towards a permanent access ramp after an assessment. Businesses and community groups sometimes find local grants or charitable funds for access improvements; the council or a local volunteer centre is a good place to ask.

For a wider comparison of access ramp types and what each involves, see our page on wheelchair access ramps. For household costs, our guide to how much it costs to install a ramp gives a sense of the main factors.

Comparing Access Ramp Designs

The cards on this page show modular, steel, timber and composite ramps, along with platforms and handrail parts. Use them to see how different designs handle a single step, a longer climb or a turn. Then ask a supplier or installer to confirm what would fit your entrance, with the height and space measured on site.