• Welcome to The Building Code Forum

    Your premier resource for building code knowledge.

    This forum remains free to the public thanks to the generous support of our Sawhorse Members and Corporate Sponsors. Their contributions help keep this community thriving and accessible.

    Want enhanced access to expert discussions and exclusive features? Learn more about the benefits here.

    Ready to upgrade? Log in and upgrade now.

Curb ramp??

Sifu

Sifu

SAWHORSE
Joined
Sep 3, 2011
Messages
3,384
I have been asked to assess an existing parking facility by a local town. Alterations were completed first, which may not have been the optimal process! In the picture you see a curb ramp obstructing the access aisle. The sidewalk this ramp leads to does not provide the space for an inset ramp or landing. It would probably be considered technically infeasible by the AHJ to move the store-front so in trying to provide "access to the greatest extent possible" (IEBC) what would you do? Would providing a marked aisle on each side of the ramp do it? Essentially providing two independent, compliant access aisles. Would you ask for full height curbs along the sides of the ramp instead of the "flares" as shown? I think the independent aisles and getting rid of the flares would comply with the intent, if not the written code. Any other suggestions are appreciated.

1658872827818.png
 
What are the dimensions of the parking spaces and the ramp area? I'm thinking that if you put curbs on the ramp they may interfere with the ramps that are deployed from vans.

Could they remove a section of the sidewalk, making the landing level with the parking area and into short ramps to go back up to sidewalk level? I've seen it done many places.
 
Jay Smith has it right. If you can't lower the sidewalk/curb, then raise the parking instead.
- remove the recent flared ramp.
- demo the asphalt at and near the stalls
- Pave the new stalls + striped access aisle at roughly the same height as the sidewalk (max 2% slope in any direction). Note that we typically recommend making all ADA stalls/ access aisles out of concrete, not asphalt, so that we can form and build within ADA tolerances and not have it settle in the future.
- "feather" the asphalt grade form the stalls down to the existing asphalt to remain.
 
All good options that I will pass along. In the end they may do nothing. Their choice, I am but a slightly educated opinion in this endeavor. But I am going to demonstrate that the access aisle does more harm than good. "Imagine the van lift trying to deploy half on the ramp" I will say. The have other issues, so they will have decisions to make about how far they want to go. I am preparing an assessment that they will take to the Town Council for approval, my guess is the Politian's will decide, and hopefully try to figure out how this process should have taken place.
 
Sifu said:
I have been asked to assess an existing parking facility by a local town. Alterations were completed first, which may not have been the optimal process! In the picture you see a curb ramp obstructing the access aisle. The sidewalk this ramp leads to does not provide the space for an inset ramp or landing. It would probably be considered technically infeasible by the AHJ to move the store-front so in trying to provide "access to the greatest extent possible" (IEBC) what would you do? Would providing a marked aisle on each side of the ramp do it? Essentially providing two independent, compliant access aisles. Would you ask for full height curbs along the sides of the ramp instead of the "flares" as shown? I think the independent aisles and getting rid of the flares would comply with the intent, if not the written code. Any other suggestions are appreciated.

View attachment 9181
Click to expand...
Here is what the US Access Board (they wrote the standards that the DOJ enforces) says about accessible parking space access aisles:

Question: Do the surface requirements, including those for maximum slope (1:48), apply to all portions of a parking lot?

No, the surface criteria apply only to accessible parking spaces, access aisles, and accessible routes, including those serving other elements or spaces besides parking spaces. Transitions to these areas from other portions of lots should be smooth to prevent tripping hazards.

U.S. Access Board - Chapter 5: Parking Spaces

The U.S. Access Board is a federal agency that promotes equality for people with disabilities through leadership in accessible design and the development of accessibility guidelines and standards for the built environment, transportation, communication, medical diagnostic equipment, and...
www.access-board.gov www.access-board.gov

What that means is the entire designated accessible parking area width and length including the access aisle has to have less than 1:48 sloped surface. There would be no way to deploy a wheelchair lift on to the ramp or get out of your car on a level surface where your wheel chair would not take roll away from you. The entire parking surface with access aisle is required to be flat to less than 1:48 slope in two directions. If they leave this it will signal someone in a wheelchair that this place of business does not understand the law.
 
Sifu said:
I have been asked to assess an existing parking facility by a local town. Alterations were completed first, which may not have been the optimal process! In the picture you see a curb ramp obstructing the access aisle. The sidewalk this ramp leads to does not provide the space for an inset ramp or landing. It would probably be considered technically infeasible by the AHJ to move the store-front so in trying to provide "access to the greatest extent possible" (IEBC) what would you do? Would providing a marked aisle on each side of the ramp do it? Essentially providing two independent, compliant access aisles. Would you ask for full height curbs along the sides of the ramp instead of the "flares" as shown? I think the independent aisles and getting rid of the flares would comply with the intent, if not the written code. Any other suggestions are appreciated.

View attachment 9181
Click to expand...
Why can't they install a butter fly shaped or parallel ramp? That is the type that is a part of the existing sidewalk that slopes downward to the parking lot grade then goes back up on the opposite side. Here is a link to a picture of a parallel ramp: https://www.roads.maryland.gov/Picturelibrary/Images/ohd/f3various-ramps-3.jpg
 
Hawaii presents another option that could work. I hadn't considered that configuration. I will be sure to provide that option if I ever hear back from them....I don't think I will. I think they appreciated my opinion until they got it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top