Wheelchair access is mandatory in all public access buildings in the UK. However, let’s take an example that you are the owner of a building that only enjoys sporadic use. For example, a hall that you rent out to the public. Your building won’t always be in use, and you may not feel the need to spend a lot of money on a solid and permanent access ramp. A good solution here would be that provided by portable wheelchair ramps for stairs. This type of ramp can be laid down over the stairs that lead up to your build, and be taken up again after the function finishes.
Portable wheelchair ramps for stairs are generally made in a modular design. This means that they will fit over virtually any set of stairs. The steeper the stairs, the more modules you will need in order to ensure that the gradient is correct. There are strict rules on the maximum gradient for your ramps, and they can be found here.
Portable Wheelchair Ramps for Stairs for Private Use
When you invest in a portable ramp for wheelchair use, you can take it with you to other buildings. Perhaps instead of you owning one building, you go around towns and give talks to people, in all different venues. Here, a portable ramp will ensure that everyone has proper access to the event, in the case that the room used is actually private and does not require a ramp by law.
Portable ramps can be used in a whole array of situations. They are useful for the home too, and not just for wheelchair use. They are also a welcome addition to homes where young mums struggle with buggies and toddlers. Steps and staircases are a real problem to anyone pushing anything on wheels, and this could include a elderly person with a walking frame. These frames are generally used in conjunction with disabled steps when the person in question still has some mobility and does not need to be in a chair full time.
Having a portable ramp as a business owner has many advantages. Also, being a business on the move means that you need to think ahead and ensure that all your customers are provided with chair access where necessary. Portable ramps are a lot cheaper to buy than permanent ramps, and of course they also have the advantage that they are not a permanent fixture. A permanent ramp will cost a lot more money, and you won’t be able to take it with you should you relocate.
Conclusion
If you are thinking of investing in a wheelchair ramp, a portable design is advantageous and also a cheaper alternative to a fixed ramp. Choose the material carefully and also decide whether to opt for a modular or folding design. There are wheelchair ramps for all situations and for all occasions, readily available on the market, ready for you. Ramps can help with the elderly as well as with the young, and they are indeed a welcome change from stairs, even for the able-bodied and young visitors you will have to your event.