How to setup a Ramp in narrow apartment balcony
This morning, A evaluator of Kaohsiung Assistive Devices Center discussed with us by telephone about how to setup a ramp in narrow apartment balcony.
We have a case study in previous blog Ramp Primary School CHAP 7 . Show you how to use Aluminum alloy platform with Ramps to make a turn and in-and-out balcony. We didn’t talk further about is there any else solutions for this scenario.
Not every customer want or able to use Aluminum alloy platform. Is there any other option? Of course, definitely. However, other conditions must be met to achieve this.
Ramp Primary School CHAP 7 see below:
Another classic scene. Left or right turn after gate, cross the floor-to-ceiling window sliding rail into living room. Most of cases, the distance from rail to balcony wall will be 110 ~ 130 CM around.
In most of case the height in/out threshold will be same. Take example, 15 CM. 1:2 Slope 30 CM ramp. There is no need to buy a ramp. Just lift the front wheels to cross the threshold. If you put a threshold ramp and try to cross diagonally. You will turn over because your wheelchair front wheels out of gravity center. No mention you have to lift front wheels and keep balance and also push whole wheelchair to make a turning.
What ever reversing or forwarding is same difficult as same. BTW, the clear width of window in this case is only 67 CM. The normal wheelchair wheelbase is 70 CM. That’s why the inner width of ramp is 75 CM normally.
Only 67 CM. The clear width is so crucial and cruel.
Buying tools means spending money and saving trouble. If you spend money and it still requires a lot of effort or even two people to operate it, I will tell you don’t buy it.
Reveal the second solution, Aluminum alloy platform is still our favorite. But the necessary supporting plan as below:
1. Just open the windows one direction to make a biggest clear width. Clear the pathway to make a biggest turning landing space. What is the required clear width for wheelchair turning, I will said 90 ~ 100 CM clear width according to my experience.
2.Extend the slope as long as you can. Because we are going to cross diagonally not straight 90 degree turning. So we get a little bit longer slope. The longer slope, the gentle slope. Gentle slopes can prevent wheelchairs from rolling over. How long the slope can be? You can start slope from the door and longer rise to make a gentle slope as possible as you can.
3.Expend the ramp width. Door width 90 CM doesn’t mean the ramp width just 90 CM only. The same width is for straight in-and-out. But our solution is cross threshold diagonally. The ramp in the house also need to increase its width accordingly.
This is our invisible Champion, the customize double-side threshold ramp in Hsinchu. See below.
Such a big threshold ramp. Light-weight for easy carrying. High capacity and its size must 100% match the terrain. The power wheelchair with a person total weight is 150 KG. Promise the sliding rail won’t be pressed to deformation. The honeycomb style aluminum alloy board can promise the light-weight, sturdy and durable. SGS 300 KG load report. Made in Taiwan, Factory Direct.Ramp Primary School
CYHB – Taiwan Ramp Expert
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