Any ramp system that is intended for public use must comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). There are many regulations and calculations that go into designing an ADA ramp, but the ramp landing size is commonly miscalculated because the door size, door swing, and ramp approach are often not considered.
Where doorways are located adjacent to a landing, the following maneuvering clearances are required:
| Type of Use | Minimum Maneuvering Clearance | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Approach Direction | Door or Gate Side | Perpendicular to Doorway | Parallel to Doorway (beyond latch side unless noted) |
| From front | Pull | 60 inches | 18 inches |
| From front | Push | 48 inches | 0 inches 1 |
| From hinge side | Pull | 60 inches | 36 inches |
| From hinge side | Pull | 54 inches | 42 inches |
| From hinge side | Push | 42 inches 2 | 22 inches 3 |
| From latch side | Pull | 48 inches 4 | 24 inches |
| From latch side | Push | 42 inches 4 | 24 inches |
1 . Add 12 inches if closer and latch are provided.
2 . Add 6 inches if closer and latch are provided.
3 . Beyond hinge side.
4 . Add 6 inches if closer is provided.
Source: 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design
*The term ‘approach’ means that the ramp run is angled upwards onto the platform from either the latch, front, or hinge side of the door.
More ramp landing requirements:
– Landings are required at the top and bottom of each ramp run.
– Ramp landings cannot have a slope greater than 1:48.
– The ramp landing width should be as wide as the widest ramp run leading to the landing. For example, if you have an 8-foot wide ramp section that leads into a landing and then continues on to a 6-foot wide ramp section, the platform must be at least 8 feet wide.
– The minimum landing width between handrails is 36 inches.
– The minimum ramp landing length is 60 inches.
– If the ramp changes direction at a landing, the landing must be a minimum of 60 inches wide by 60 inches long. It does not matter if the ramp sections are narrower than 60 inches. If the ramp sections are wider than 60 inches, then the ramp landing must be as wide as the ramp section and at least 60 inches long.
– When the ramp changes direction at a landing, the handrails cannot intrude on the 60 inches by 60 inches landing area.
– When the landing is adjacent to a door, it must meet the minimum dimensions as stated above. It must also follow the maneuvering clearances depicted above. In summary, the handrails can impede on the minimum landing dimensions, but not the maneuvering clearances.
Below are typical layouts for both ramp and step combinations that comply with the above regulations concerning landings.
View: entire ramp layouts
