5 Essential Walkway Canopy Elements to Consider

1. Walkway Width

A commercial sidewalk must be at least 5′ wide to comply with ADA regulations. Any sidewalk that is less than 5′ wide must have areas every 200′ called ‘passing spaces’ that measure 5′ x 5′. To avoid pouring concrete for passing spaces, most commercial sidewalks are at least 5′ wide. Therefore, our canopy is usually between 5′ and 6′ wide, but the maximum width that it can span is 12′. Here are some industrial walkway canopy designs to consider. A means of egress near a walkway canopy is essential to guide exits or escape routes from the shelter to ensure the safe evacuation of occupants in case of a fire or other emergency. The right width would make egress routes accessible and these egresses should be clearly marked and unobstructed and lead to a safe place outside the building.

2. Walkway Length

If you want the entire sidewalk covered, measure the distance from one end of the sidewalk to the other. If you want partial coverage, measure only the area you want to be covered.

3. Changes In Direction

To design the canopy correctly, we need to know if there are any changes in direction. The most accurate way to give us information about changes in direction is to send us an overhead picture or layout drawing of the sidewalk or walkway.

If the sidewalk makes a turn and has a step-down or up, we will design the canopy so that one section steps overlaps the other section at an angle. If the sidewalk changes direction on level ground, we can cut the canopy decking at the specified angle of the turn. The Apex Canopy resource provides more in-depth information.

Below is an actual Upside walkway canopy layout.

4. Changes In Elevation

There are two ways to design the walkway canopy to accommodate a ramp or step system within the walkway. First, one canopy section would step down from the higher canopy section. The higher canopy section would hang over the lower one so that rain does not come through the gap. The second option is to cut the canopy posts at different lengths to counteract the elevation change.

5. Barriers

People tend to forget about structures that might be in the way of a walkway canopy; consider structures like power lines, light posts, and trees. It is possible to design a solution if the barrier is known, but if it is discovered after the canopy arrives at the site, it can be difficult to provide a quick solution.