UNITEDSTATESACCESSBOARD

Search

Advancing Full Access and Inclusion for All

TheBoard

Guidelines&Standards

SearchADAGuide
Searchentiresite

Training

Enforcement

Research

Home > GuidelinesandStandards > Buildings&Sites > AbouttheADAStandards > GuidetotheADAStandards > Chapter4:RampsandCurbRamps

Chapter 4: Ramps and Curb Ramps

WhereRampsandCurbRampsareRequired[303.4]
RampRequirements[405]
CurbRamps[406]
CommonQuestions

ADA STANDARDS
AbouttheADAStandards
ADAStandards
GuidetotheStandards

AboutthisGuide

ThisguideexplainsrequirementsintheADAStandardsforrampsandcurbramps.

Chapter1:Usingthe
ADAStandards

Where Ramps and Curb Ramps are Required [303.4]

Chapter2:New
Construction

Rampsandcurbrampsarerequiredalongaccessibleroutestospanchangesinlevelgreaterthan.
Elevatorsand,undercertainspecifiedconditions,platformlifts,canbeusedasanalternative.Portionsof
accessiblerouteswithrunningslopessteeperthan5%alsomustbetreatedasramps.

Chapter2:Alterations
andAdditions

RampRequirements[405]

Chapter3:Floorand
GroundSurfaces

Rampwithlandings.Notes:ClearWidth(405.5)36min.(betweenleadingedgeofhandrails)
Handrails(405.8)onbothsidesifrisegreaterthan6,RunningSlope(405.2)1:12maxCross

Chapter3:ClearFloor
orGroundSpaceand
TurningSpace

Slope(405.3),1:48max,Rise(405.6)30maxperrun,CrossSlope(405.3)1:48max,
Surfaces(405.4)firm,stable,andslipresistant(runandlandingsurfaces),EdgeProtection
(405.9)alongramprunandlandings,LevelLandings(405.7)attopandbottom,Alterations
(405.2),Permittedrunningslopeswherespaceislimited:1:10max(6maxrise)or1:8max
(3maxrise),WetConditions(405.10),Landingsmustbedesignedtopreventthe

Chapter3:Operable
Parts

accumulationofwater.

Chapter3:Protruding
Objects
Chapter4:Accessible
Routes
Chapter4:Entrances,
Doors,andGates
Chapter4:Rampsand
CurbRamps
Chapter4:Elevators
andPlatformLifts
Chapter4:Accessible
MeansofEgress
SingleFileVersion
Animations

Background

Slope[405.2]andCrossSlope[405.3]

OtherResources

Sloperepresentstheproportionofverticalriseto
horizontallengthandisspecifiedintheStandards
asaratio(e.g.,1:12).Italsocanbeexpressedas

EMAIL UPDATES

apercentage,pitch,orindegrees.Therunning
slopeistobeuniformalongarun,althoughslight
variationsmayoccurwithcertainmaterialssuchasconcrete.Nootherchangesinlevelotherthanthe
runningslope(1:12max.)andcrossslope(1:48max.)arepermitted.Variationsinslope,suchasgrade
breakswithinruns,candisruptwheelchairtravel.

EnterEmail

Signupforupdateson
BuildingsandSites:

Subscribe

Recommendations:Providingtheleastpossibleslopebelowthe1:12(8.33%)maximumoffers
betterusabilityforawiderrangeofusers.Specifyingarunningslopeof7.5%maximumandacross
slopeof1.5%maximumforexteriorrampswillaccommodatemostirregularitiesorvariancesdueto
constructionmethodsormaterialsaccordingtoastudysponsoredbytheBoard(Dimensional
TolerancesinConstructionandforSurfaceAccessibilitybyDavidKentBallast.)

ClearWidth[405.5]
Ramprunsmusthaveaclearwidthof36minimum(measuredbetweenhandrailswhereprovided).The
widthoframpsthatarepartofameansofegressmayfurtherbedeterminedbyapplicablelifesafetycodes
andrequirementsforminimumexitwidthsgreaterthan36.

EmployeeWorkAreas
Commonusecirculationpathsmustbeaccessibleinworkareas1,000sq.ft.ormoreinsize.
Rampsonthesecirculationpathsmustcomplyexceptthat:
theclearwidthcanbereducedbelow36byworkareaequipmentwhereitisessentialtothe
workbeingperformed(405.5)and
handrailscanbeinstalledafterconstruction,asneeded(rampsmustbesizedsothatthe
minimumclearwidthismaintained)(405.8).

Rise[405.6]
Theheightofrunsislimited(30max.),butthereisnolimitonthenumberofrunsarampmayhave.Long
rampswithmanyrunscanbestrenuousforpeopleusingmanualwheelchairs.Whileintermediatelandings
offerrestingpoints,theydonotreducetheamountofeffortthatmustbeexertedtonegotiatemultiple
runs.
Landings[405.7]
Levellandingsarerequiredatthetopandbottomofeachrun.Changesinlevelgreaterthan1:48arenot
permittedatlandings.Landingsmustbedesignedtopreventtheaccumulationofwater.
Rampwithlandingsattopandbottomthatare60longmin.andatleastaswideas
ramprun.Notes:Gradebreaks(i.e.,wherethechangeinslopeoccurs)mustbe
perpendiculartothedirectionoframprunstopreventcrossslopeissuesanduneven
surfaces.Nochangeinlevelispermittedwithinlandingsotherthanslopes1:48max.

Intermediatelandingsbetweenrunsmustbeatleast60wideclearand60longclearwhererampschange
direction(anychangefromlinear).Handrails,edgeprotection,verticalpostsandotherelementscannot
obstructoroverlaptheminimum60by60clearance.The12minimumhandrailextensionsrequiredat

TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
(800)8722253
TTY:(800)9932822
Fax:(202)2720081
ta@accessboard.gov

thetopandbottomoframprunsmustbeinthesamedirectionoftherun,buttheycanturnorwrapwhere
handrailsarecontinuousattheinsideturnofdoglegorswitchbackramps.
Rampthatchangesdirectionwithintermediatelanding60min.by60min.

IntermediateLandingsWhereRampsChangeDirection

DoorwaysatLandings[405.7.5]
Requireddoormaneuveringclearancescanoverlapramplandings(itisadvisabletolocatetheswingofdoors
outsideramplandingsforgreatersafety.
DoorwaysatRampLandings

Handrails[405.8,505]
Handrailsarerequiredonbothsidesoframpswitharisegreaterthan6.TheStandardsdonotrequirelower
handrailsservingchildrenexceptatrampsservingplayareas,butincludearecommendedheight(28max.)
andseparation(9min.)fromtherequiredhandrailtominimizeentrapmenthazards.
HandrailHeightandClearance

HandrailContinuityandExtensions

Ramphandrailwithextensions.Notes:Extensions12longmin.inthesamedirectionoftravelare
requiredatthetopandbottomofruns(exceptforinsiderailofswitchbackramps)toprovidesupport
beforeenteringorexitingramps.Bottomgrippingsurfacecanbeobstructedupto20%ofthelength.
Handrailsmustbecontinuousthefulllengthofrunandtopsandsidesofgrippingsurfacecannotbe
obstructed.Extensionsmustreturntoguard,wall,orfloor.The12min.ismeasuredtothestartof
thereturnradius.Extensionswithaleadingedge27highmax.canextendanyamountfromposts.
Thosewithaleadingedgehigherthan27arelimitedtoa12protrusionfromposts(307.3).The
slopingportionofhandrailsarenotrequiredtocomplywithrequirementsforprotrudingobjects.

Surfacerequirementsandclearancesfacilitateapowergripalongthelengthofhandrails.Handrailscanhave
circularornoncircularcrosssections,butmusthaveroundededges.Thegrippingsurfaceandadjacent
surfacesmustbefreeofabrasiveorsharpelements.
CircularCrossSectionandClearance(505.5,505.7)

NonCircularCrossSectionandClearance(505.5,505.7)

AisleRampsinAssemblyAreas
Inassemblyareas,aislerampsrequiredtobeaccessibleareexemptfromsomehandrail
requirements.Aisleramps(orportionsofthem)adjacenttoseatingthatarenotpartofarequired
accessibleroutetoaccessibleseatingortootheraccessibleelementsdonothavetocomplywith
anyramporhandrailrequirements.
AisleRampsinAssemblyAreas

Aislerampwithwallmountedhandrailononeside

Aislerampsthatarepartofa
requiredaccessibleroutecanhave
handrailsonatleastonesideor
withintheaislewidthinsteadofon
bothsidesasrequiredforother
typesoframps.(505.2)

Handrailsonassemblyarearamps

Aislerampwithseatingonbothsidesandcenterhandrailthat
isdiscontinuous

canbediscontinuousandlack
extensionstoallowaccesstoseating
andtopermitcrossoverswithin
aisles.(505.3,505.10)
Otherhandrailsspecifications,
includingthoseforheight,
clearance,grippingsurface,and
crosssection,apply.

EdgeProtection[405.9]

Edgeprotectionalongramprunsandlandingskeepwheelchaircastersandcrutchtipsonthesurfaceand
canbeprovidedbycurbs,barriers,orextendedsurfaces.
EdgeProtectionAlternatives

Railsorotherbarriersmustpreventpassage
ofa4diametersphere.

Curbsifusedmustbeatleast4high.

Runandlandingsurfacesthatextendatleast
12beyondtheinsidefaceofhandrailswill

provideadequateedgeprotectionbypreventing

wheelchaircastersandcrutchtipsfromslipping
offtheedge.

Edgeprotectionisnotrequiredat:
rampsnohigherthan6thathavesideflares
ramplandingsservinganadjoiningrunorstairway
sidesoframplandingswithverticaldropoffsnotexceedingwithin10oftheminimumlandingarea
Verticalpicketsusedforedgeprotection
mustpreventpassageofa4diameter
sphere.
WetConditions[405.10]
Landingssubjecttowetconditionsmustbedesignedtopreventtheaccumulationofwater.Landingsare
permittedslopesnotsteeperthan1:48toallowfordrainage.

Curb Ramps [406]

Requirementsforcurbrampsapplytorampsthatcutthroughcurbsorarebuiltuptothem.Newguidelines
theBoardisdevelopingforpublicrightsofwaywillfurtheraddresscurbrampslocatedalongpublicstreets
andsidewalks,buttheyarenotdiscussedinthisguide.DOJs2010ADAStandardsrequirecurbrampsat
newlyconstructedoralteredstreets,highways,andstreetlevelpedestrianwalkwaystoprovideanaccessible
routeforpedestriansatintersections(28CFR35.151(i)).
CurbRampRequirements[406]
Curbramp.Notes:TopLanding(406.4)facilitatesmaneuveringtoandfromrampwithout
travelacrosssideflares,GradeBreaksAttopandbottommustbeperpendiculartothedirection
oframprunstopreventcrossslopeissuesandunevensurfaces,SideFlares(whereprovided)
(406.3),1:10maxslope,RunningSlope(406.1)1:12max,CrossSlope(406.1)1:48max,
Location(406.5)Cannotprojectintovehiculartrafficlanes,parkingspaces,oraccessaisles.
WetConditions(406.1),Curbrampsmustbedesignedtopreventaccumulationofwater.
Alterations(406.1)Permittedrunningslopeswherespaceislimited:1:10max(6maxrise)or
1:8max(3maxrise).

TransitiontoStreet[406.2]

TopLanding[406.4]
Therequiredlandingatthetopofcurbrampsallowsanaccessibleroutetoconnecttotherampopening.
Sideflares,whereprovided,areintendedprimarilytopreventtrippinghazards,nottoaccommodate
wheelchairmaneuveringatramps(exceptinalterationswheresufficientlandingspaceisunavailable).Side
flareslopescannotexceed1:10max.(or1:12max.inalterationswhereatoplandingisunavailable).
Alterations:RampwithoutTopLanding

Inalterationswheresufficientlandingspaceisnotavailable,sideflaresmustbeprovidedandcannotslope
morethan1:12tofacilitatewheelchairmaneuvering.Parallelcurbramps(page12)provideanalternativein
suchconditions.
Curbrampwithlandinglessthan36longwithsideflaresthatslope1:12max.

TopLandingSlope
Themaximumslopeofthetoplandingisdeterminedbytheconfigurationofconnectingaccessibleroutes.

ParallelAccessibleRoute
Iftheonlyconnectingaccessiblerouteruns
paralleltotheramprun,thetoplandingcan
slope1:20max.

SidesofCurbRamps[406.3]
Curbrampscanhavereturnedsides,butatoplandingisrequiredunderallconditionstoallowmaneuvering
toandfromtherun.

PerpendicularAccessibleRoute
Thecrossslopeofperpendicularconnecting
routeslimittheslopeoftheramptoplanding
to1:48(measuredparalleltotherunning
slope).

Recommendations:Topreventtrippinghazards,curbrampswithreturnedsidesshouldbeusedonly
wherefoottrafficacrossrampsispreventedordiscouraged.

BuiltUpCurbRamps
Builtupcurbrampsarepermitted,buttheycannotprojectinparkingspaces,accessaisles,orvehicletraffic
lanes.Atoplandingatleast36deepisrequiredatallbuiltupcurbramps.
BuiltUpCurbRampwithSideFlares


Sideflarescanbeprovidedtopreventtrippinghazards.Edgeprotectionisnot
specifiedforcurbramps.
Recommendations:Provideedgeprotectionalongthesidesofbuiltupcurbrampstopreventtipping
hazards.Otherwise,considerawiderrampwidth(48min.)sothatmaneuveringdoesnotoccurnear
dropoffs.

ParallelCurbRamps
Curbrampscanbeorientedparalleltosidewalks.Thisdesignprovidesanoptionwherelimitedspace
precludesatoplanding.Alevellanding48longminimum(60preferred)accommodatesmaneuvering
betweenrunsandrightangleturnstoconnectingroutes,suchasparkingaccessaislesandcrossings.
Parallelcurbrampwith48"min.(60"preferred)longlandingatbottombetween
opposingrampranswithaslope1:12max.

CurbRampsatIntersections
Curbrampsatmarkedcrossingsmustbewhollycontainedwithinthecrosswalk,excludingsideflares.The
Standardsdonotrequirecrossingstobemarkedoraddresshowtheyaretobemarked,butpublicstreet
crossingsareaddressedbytheManualonUniformTrafficControlDevices(MUTCD)forStreetsandHighways.

Curbrampsmustbeorientedsothatthegradebreakisperpendiculartothecurbrampruntoensurea
smoothtransitiontostreets,includingatcornerswithawideradius.Thecurbrampopeningcanbealigned
withthecurbline(left)ormoredirectionallyorientedtothecrosswalk(right).

DiagonalCurbRamps[406.6]

Ifcurbrampsareplaceddiagonallyatan
intersection,itisimportantthatclearspace48
longmin.isavailableatthebottomthatisoutside
activevehicletrafficlanesandislocatedwithin
markedcrossings,whereprovided.Asegmentof
curbatleast24longbeyondflaresmustbe
providedonbothsidesofcurbrampswithside
flareswithinmarkedcrossings.Thiscurbsegment
providesanorientingcueatcrossingsforpeople
withvisionimpairments.

Recommendations:Perpendicularcurbrampsarepreferredoverdiagonalcurbramps.Unlesstheradius
islargeenough,itcanbedifficulttolocatetheclearspaceatthebottomofdiagonalcurbrampsthatis
outsideactivetrafficlanes.Theorientationalsocanmisleadpeoplewithvisionimpairmentswhouse
curbslopesasacuetocrossings.
RaisedCrossings
Raisedcrossings,whereprovided,eliminatethe
needforcurbrampswhileservingtoreducetraffic
speeds.ConsultlocalStandardsforapplication
requirements,includingslopeforvehicletraffic,
height,andmarkings.

Islands[406.7]
A48min.longseparationisnecessarybetween
curbrampssothatpeopleusingwheelchairscan
clearonerampbeforenegotiatingthenext.Levelcutthroughsprovideaneffectivealternative,especiallyat
narrowislandsthatwillnotaccommodateopposingcurbrampswitha48separation.
IslandwithCurbRamps

IslandwithCutthrough

Cutthroughpedestrianislandwithrouteatleast36wide

DetectableWarnings[406.8(DOTsStandards),705]
DetectablewarningsarerequiredoncurbrampsattransitfacilitiescoveredbyDOTs
Standards(facilitiesusedbystateandlocalgovernmentstoprovidedesignatedpublic
transportationservices,suchasrailstationsandbusstations).Theyarenotrequiredat
nontransitfacilitiessubjecttoDOJsStandards.DOTalsorequiresdetectablewarningson
curbrampsinprojectsfundedbytheFederalHighwayAdministration.Newguidelinesthe

Boardisdevelopingforpublicrightsofwaywilladdressrequirementsfordetectable

warningsatcurbrampsandothertransitionsalongpublicstreetsandsidewalkswhere
hazardstopeoplewithvisionimpairmentsaregreater.
Wheredetectablewarningsarerequired(orprovidedanyway)theymustmeetspecifications
forsize,spacing,andcontrast.Thesedetailedcriteriaprovideadistinctivetextureintended
tohaveauniformmeaninginalertingpersonstotheapproachtovehicularareas(aswellas
dropoffsalongrailstationplatforms).
DetectableWarningsonCurbRamps

DomeSpacing

Common Questions

DomeSize


Ramps
Istherealimitonthetotallength(numberofruns)arampmayhave?
No,theStandardslimittheriseofeachrun(30max.),butnottheoveralllengthoframps
comprisedofmultipleruns.Sincetheusabilityoframpsdecreaseswithlength,considerablylongramp
systemsshouldbeavoidedwherepossible.(Rampsinplayareasarelimitedtoa12max.rise).
Arecurvedorcircularrampsallowed?
RampswithoutlevellandingsatchangesindirectiontypicallywillnotmeettheStandardsduetoresulting
compoundslopes.Thisincludesmostcircularorcurvedramps,unlesstheradiusislargeenoughsothatthe
crossslopeiscompliantandcompoundslopesareavoided.Otherwise,thecurvatureandsloperesultin
unevensurfacesthatmakeswheelchairmaneuveringdifficultbecausenotallwheelsrestevenlyonthe
surface.
Canrampsbeportableorprovidedafterconstructionasanadaptation?
Allrequiredrampsandcurbrampsmustbepermanentandinstalledatthetimeofconstructionoralteration
withfewexceptions.Rampscanbeprovidedafterconstructiononlytoprovideaccesstoraisedworkstations
incourtrooms(sufficientspacemustbeprovidedindesigntofacilitateinstallation).Onlyrampsserving
temporarystructurescanbetemporaryorportable.
Isthereamaximumdistancebetweenramphandrails?
No,onlyaminimum(36)isrequiredbetweenhandrails.TheStandardsdonotrequirecenteror
intermediatehandrailsonwideramps.
Canhandrailsoverlapramplandings?
Alongrunsandlandings,theminimumclearwidthmustbemeasuredbetweentheleadingedgeof
handrails.Thisalsoappliestolandingsrequiredtobeatleast60by60whererampschangedirectionsso
thattheminimumlandingarearemainsclear.
Canhandrailextensionswraporturn?
Extensionsarenotrequiredforcontinuoushandrailsalongswitchbackordoglegrampsorataisleramps
servingseatinginassemblyareas.Inalterationswheretherequiredextensionwouldprojecthazardously
intocirculationpaths,theycanturn,beshorter,oravoided.Otherwise,handrailextensionsmustbeinsame
directionastheramprun.
Canhandrailsbemountedtoguardrails?
Yes,handrailscanbeinstalledonguardrailsifallapplicablerequirementsaremet.

CurbRamps
Whyisatoplandingrequiredatcurbrampsifsideflaresareprovided?
Alandingatleast36longatthetopofcurbrampsprovidesroomtoapproachorexitrampsandturn
withoutencounteringcompoundslopesofflaredsides.Sideflaresareintendedmainlytopreventtripping
hazards.Theyarenotdesignedtoaccommodatewheelchairmaneuveringexceptinalterationswherespace
constraintsprecludeacomplianttoplanding.
Aresideflaresrequiredatcurbramps?
TheADAStandardsdonotrequirethatcurbrampshavesideflares,butlimittheslope(1:10max.)where
theyareprovided.Sideflaresareadvisablewherepedestriantrafficmaycrossrunstopreventtripping
hazards.Sideflaresareessentialinalterationswhenspaceforatoplanding(36deepmin.)isnotavailable
inthisinstance,sideflares(1:12max.slope)arenecessarytoaccommodatewheelchairmaneuveringthat
willpartiallyoccuratflaresintheabsenceoffulllandingspaceatthetopunlessaparalleltypecurbrampis
provided.
Aredetectablewarningsrequiredoncurbrampsorathazardousvehicularareas?
UndertheADAStandards,whichapplyprimarilytofacilitieslocatedonsites,detectablewarningsare
requiredattransitfacilities(atcurbrampsandalongopendropoffsofrailstationboardingplatforms).
Specifically,thecurbramprequirementsapplyonlytopublictransportationfacilitiescoveredbyDOTsADA
Standards.Curbrampsatallotherfacilitiesarenotrequiredtohavedetectablewarnings.Newguidelinesfor
publicrightsofwaysissuedbytheBoardwilladdressdetectablewarningsoncurbrampsandother
transitionsalongpublicstreetsandsidewalks.Inaddition,DOTrequiresdetectablewarningsoncurbramps
inprojectsfundedbytheFederalHighwayAdministration.
WhattypesoffacilitiesarecoveredbyDOTsADAStandards(andarerequiredtohavedetectablewarnings
oncurbramps)?

DOTsADAStandardsapplytofacilitiesusedtoprovidedesignatedpublictransportation.Thisincludes
transportationservicesstateorlocalgovernmentsprovidethegeneralpubliconaregularandcontinuing
basisbybus,rail,orotherconveyance(excludingaircraftandpublicschooltransportation).DOTsADA
Standardsalsoapplytointercityandcommuterrailstations.Curbrampdetectablewarningsarerequired
onlyatthesefacilities.Detectablewarningsarerequiredatrailstationboardingplatformswithopendrop
offsatanytransitfacility,includingprivatesectortransitfacilitiessubjecttoDOJsADAStandards.
Whyaredetectablewarningsnolongerrequiredforallcurbrampsorathazardousvehicularareas?
Inthelastupdate,theADAStandardswererevisedtofocusmoreclearlyonfacilitieslocatedonsitesin
recognitionofseparatecriteriatheAccessBoardisdevelopingforpublicrightsofways.Thepublicrightsof
wayguidelineswilladdressrequirementsfordetectablewarningsduetohazardstopeoplewithvision
impairmentsalongpublicstreetsandsidewalks.Atfacilitieslocatedonsites,variousmeasurescanhelp
reducehazards,includingreducedtrafficspeeds,markedcrossingswithpedestrianrightofway,andspeed
bumps,andotheroptionaltrafficcalmingmeasures.
Backtotop

United States Access Board

1331FStreetNW,Suite1000

ContactUs

AccessibilityStatement

Washington,DC200041111

Sitemap

BudgetandPerformance

EnEspaol

NoFearActData

PrivacyPolicy

FreedomofInformation

Voice:(202)2720080or(800)8722253
TTY:(202)2720082or(800)9932822
Fax:(202)2720081

Partner Sites
DISABILITY.GOV
USA.GOV
REGULATIONS.GOV
FEDERALREGISTER.GOV