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This always seems to be a hot topic, but I haven’t seen this bit mentioned 

 

if we have a ramp up and a flat area for turning and manoeuvres at the top of the ramp, does the flat area have to have a lip at the edge to prevent a wheel rolling off the side, or do all sides have to have the correct slope to them, 

also at what height of the ground would the flat area require a hand rail fall prevention type set up. 

 

Cheers, confused as normal. 

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We have a ramp leading to a wheelchair turning area outside the back door.  This turning area is flat, and there is a step down from it to the path that continues around to the rear of the house.  There's no lip, as that would have been a trip hazard.  Our BCO was very happy with the arrangement.  The bit of a plan below shows the ramp and flat area.  The stone slabs are 900mm x 600mm, so the flat wheelchair turning area is ~1800mm wide by 1200mm deep.

 

952642172_Disabledaccess.thumb.jpg.bb9c1720561621761b8cc94547278ddc.jpg

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If you have a ramp for wheelchair access you cannot have a sheer drop either side of the ramp, so you either need edge protection or a slope to the sides.  Imagine you are approaching with your eyes closed, you are a bit fragile or a wheelchair / walking frame user and are not that familiar with the route, as that is who this is intended to cater for.

 

The solutions vary widely from site to site. As per @nod submit your proposal to BC or discuss on site with them.

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Just to clarify, our ramp has gravel either side at the same level as the paving.  The only step is down from the flat turning area to the top of the drawing in the post above, and BC thought that was fine, as any lip would have been a trip hazard.  The photo below shows the ramp as built, with the flat turning area just behind the black recycling bin.

 

588f8c96c9fef_Eastsidesolarfloodlights2.thumb.JPG.4e1f9cbe9585455399000c32f958fdc4.JPG

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Of the many sites I've been to, this is invariably what is done - landscape / grade so there is no drop off the edge.  The only instances I've seen where lips have been put in place are commercial applications or longer ramps which also had hand rails.  

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1 hour ago, Mr Punter said:

If you have a ramp for wheelchair access you cannot have a sheer drop either side of the ramp, 

 

Mine does ?. On the initial run from the house at least as the ground was made up lower down. To be honest we were fully expecting building control to insist on something to prevent going off the edge but they didn’t so we left it. 

631BDA16-CD91-4640-9209-0099FC65D2E6.thumb.jpeg.42c1bf9df30f3476423b14d30640bea6.jpeg

 

 

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3 minutes ago, newhome said:

 

Mine does ?. On the initial run from the house at least as the ground was made up lower down. To be honest we were fully expecting building control to insist on something to prevent going off the edge but they didn’t so we left it. 

 631BDA16-CD91-4640-9209-0099FC65D2E6.thumb.jpeg.42c1bf9df30f3476423b14d30640bea6.jpeg

 

 

 

Looks like it was designed by Escher!

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6 minutes ago, Mr Punter said:

 

Looks like it was designed by Escher!

 

It bloody passed that was all we were interested in ?. There is a limited space at the front to deal with such a gradient so  it was what fitted the bill and also provided steps for those that didn’t need a ramp. TBH you would need to be seriously deranged to live in this house if you were in a wheelchair. 

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