Whether you are building a no-step entry, wheelchair ramp, or porch lift, sound principles of universal design can help providers new to home modification— and give experienced builders a valuable primer.

The first thing most people think of when considering accessibility is getting into the house, but you also need to get out for doctor visits, social activities, shopping, and medical emergencies. If you can get in and out, you have choices. Usability of the home entry is a critical practical matter, but it is also about control.

Contrast control at the entry to your home with accessibility in and out of an institution such as a nursing home or assisted living residence. You may be able to get in and out, but do you have control? Do you control when visitors are allowed, when food is served, and when the sheets are changed?

No-Step Entry
When providing a no-step entry to a home, it must be structurally sound, workable, and safe for all users and caregivers. The entryway must coordinate with other house systems such as drainage, outdoor lighting, mail delivery, and the transition from parking or public transport. It should fit the house aesthetics. It should NOT make the resident a target for the unscrupulous. Compromise is always part of the solution.

There are rules associated with ANSI 117, the standards that underlie the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Fair Housing Amendments Act. Though these do not apply directly to private residences, familiarity with the standards provides guidance and may help when communicating with permit and code officials.

Entry Solutions
My favorite opportunities are “landscape” or “berm and path” ramps. They can be used when we are able to adjust the landscaping to eliminate steps at the entry. The finished job is virtually unnoticeable, except that the landscaping is more attractive. Sometimes people are concerned that the home will not look right if there are no steps. In practice, people hardly notice.

If berm and path are not possible, ramp construction in concrete, wood, or a combination may be suitable. Railings can match the style of the house and neighborhood, and some of the construction can be designed to look like a bridge over other landscape features.

Porch Lift Option
Some situations do not have the horizontal space needed for ramp construction. In many of these cases, a vertical porch lift—mechanical equipment that moves the user up and down like a small outdoor elevator—is the best solution. Sometimes the platform lift is easier to hide in the porch or among the house plantings than ramp construction, even when room is available. Since roughly 30 inches of rise from parking to the interior house level corresponds to a minimum 30 feet of run for a berm and path ramp, the cost of the lift may be less than the ramp.

Safety and maintenance are important in lift selection and installation. Mechanical equipment needs maintenance to remain in working order. Consider the availability of prompt and effective service when selecting a lift manufacturer. A service contract is a good idea.

Proper installation ensures against pinched body parts as the lift rises to the upper level. Interlocks at the top gate keep people from falling into a lift in the lower position. Safety switches keep the lift from crushing items caught below.

Some home settings may preclude a no-step entry. Resolving entry issues may be possible, but inside maneuvering may be so difficult that the house is just not a good candidate for accessible living. The cost of access may be too great an investment compared to property value.

The maximum slope for inclined rolling surfaces has long been 1:12. That ratio describes the rise of the incline per the run of the incline. It can be 1 inch in 12 inches, 1 foot in 12 feet, 1 meter in 12 meters. The incline is the same. Close to a building and for limited distances, 1:12 is a comfortable rule. For long exterior inclines such as sidewalks, 1:20 is recommended. The rule for length without rest is 30 feet, but I find this excessive and avoid it if possible.

Most people think getting up the incline is the basis of the rule. The combination of user and equipment has significant impact on rolling up. Strong wheelchair users have no trouble with 1:12. Motorized wheelchairs and scooters have no trouble either. For those wheelers who are pushed by others, the strength, stamina, and balance of the pusher are the important factor. Going down a steeper incline is always a problem. Seated users, especially those with minimal trunk control, can too easily pitch forward out of their chair.

It is not uncommon for rolling entries to turn either 90 or 180 degrees. Some situations have more than one turn. The minimum size of turning platforms is 5 feet by 5 feet of usable rolling space. In 180-degree turns, that will mean a minimum 5 feet deep by 6 feet wide (the minimum width of parallel ramp sections), plus the width needed for rails and posts, so it typically is not smaller than 7 feet wide.

All turning platforms and landings must be level. Although we say level, concrete, stone, brick, and other solid surfaces must actually be pitched 1¼4 inch per foot so water drains off and the surface does not become icy. This constraint is familiar to construction people. A 1¼4 inch per foot is the pitch of porches and water pipes that must drain.

Anyone using a wheelchair or an assistive device, or walking with a bag of groceries, needs room to rest outside the doorswing when opening or locking the door; 18 to 24 inches of wall space is recommended on the knob side of the door. With this space on the knob side of a 36-inch door, a 5-foot-wide landing platform will leave no space on the hinge side of the door. To center the door, the landing platform must be 7 feet wide.

Walker Steps
Many people do not use a wheelchair for long. Instead, many use one during recovery and rehabilitation. Some people with replacement and arthritic hips have difficulty or pain walking on inclines. Walker steps may be a good alternative. These steps have enough room to get a full stance with an assistive device. Walker steps use more horizontal space than normal steps, but not nearly as much as an inclined path.

The Common Error
Building no-step entries that reach the porch or stoop, but not the interior floor height, is not unusual. This unfortunate error is made by well-meaning, competent construction people who have limited experience with accessibility. With the complexities of ramp de-sign (materials and labor), this mistake can make the project a total waste.

Water at the Doorway
Because the step at the entry door is eliminated in a no-step entry, caution must be taken to assure that water/snow does not flow or melt under the door. A trough drain with a metal cover can be inserted into a concrete, brick, or stone floor to lead away water near the door. Holes can be drilled in wooden surfaces and covered with a grate.

The best solution is a cover at the entry. The columns of this cover must not impede access to the door, so the 5-foot-by-5-foot-space rule must be observed.

Universal Design
Universal design is a concept that supersedes accessibility. The idea is that designs that work for people with particular issues are better for everyone. An example is closed-captioning. It works for people in exercise studios watching TV, and it works for people in noisy bars. However, it was conceived for people with hearing impairments.

The same applies to no-step entries (and curb cuts). They are great when using a stroller, wheeling a suitcase, going in and out with a skateboard, or using a cart to bring the groceries in, or for the delivery of refrigerators and furniture. The universal design aspect of the no-step entry opens the house to more potential buyers and welcomes all visitors. The fact that it is critical for those with minimal strength, with balance difficulties, or using assistive devices does not diminish the value to everyone. DP

Louis Tenenbaum, CAPS, is the founder of Louis Tenenbaum LLC, Potomac, Md. He works as a consultant and trainer for environmental modifications, aging in place, and universal design. Tenenbaum can be reached through his Web site: www.louistenenbaum.com.