Wheelchair Ramp and Threshold Ramp Rentals in Calgary

Measuring your rise

The rise is the total height from the ground where the ramp will start to the top of the surface it has to reach. For an entry, that is the top of the door threshold, not the top step. For a patio door, measure each side of the track separately. Five minutes with a tape measure gives us most of what we need to quote.

• Lay a straight board or long level on the top surface (the threshold or top landing), sticking out level over the steps.
• Measure straight down from the underside of the board to the ground at the point where the ramp would begin, not at the bottom of the steps.
• If the ground slopes away from the house, measure a little further out as well; falling ground adds rise and length.
• For a sill or track, measure from the floor on each side to the top of the sill.
• Take a photo of the entry from the side and from the front, and note which way the door swings.

From rise to ramp length: the 1:12 guideline

The standard guideline is 1:12: one inch of rise for every 12 inches of ramp. In practice that means one foot of ramp for every inch of rise. It is the maximum slope in Alberta’s accessibility design guide, and although that guide’s requirements do not apply to detached houses, semi-detached houses, duplexes or townhouses, we design home ramps to the same guideline.

Gentler is easier and safer, especially in snow and ice. Alberta’s earlier barrier-free design guide described 1 in 20 as safer and less strenuous. For power chairs and scooters, the mobility device manufacturer’s slope limit governs, and a ramp should never be steeper than the owner’s guide allows.

• 2-inch rise: about 2 feet of ramp at 1:12, which a threshold ramp may handle
• 6-inch rise: about 6 feet at 1:12, so any threshold ramp shorter than that is steeper than the guideline
• 10-inch rise: about 10 feet, plus a platform at the door
• 20-inch rise: about 20 feet, plus platforms, often laid out with a turn
• 10-inch rise at 1:20: about 16 feet 8 inches

Modular aluminum ramps: for entry steps

When there are steps to get past, a modular ramp is the answer. We rent the EZ-ACCESS PATHWAY 3G system in runs of 10 to 20 feet, built from ramp sections of 2 to 8 feet, level platforms and handrails 34.5 inches high. EZ-ACCESS rates the ramp sections and platforms at 1,000 pounds, and the system stands on multi-positional base feet, so there is no concrete to pour.

Platforms matter as much as ramp length. A level platform at the door gives room to stop and open it, and platforms at a turn let a long ramp fold into an L or a switchback that fits a small yard. EZ-ACCESS notes that a rise over 30 inches may need an intermediate platform.

Threshold ramps: for sills, tracks and single steps

Inside the house, the barriers are small edges. Threshold ramps cover them, and the EZ-ACCESS TRANSITIONS range shows what the class offers: rubber Angled Entry Mats from half an inch to two and a half inches, rated at 850 pounds, and aluminum Modular Entry Ramps covering about three-quarters of an inch to six and a quarter inches, rated at 700 pounds. They suit sliding patio door tracks, door sills, the single step into a sunken living room and the step from the garage.

They are not made for use inside a wet shower, and we don’t fit them there. Above about six inches, or where there are two steps or more, a short ramp gets too steep and a modular ramp is the safer choice.

Calgary winters and ramps

A ramp that is easy in July can be dangerous in January. Snow packs down under wheels and feet, and a chinook can melt it by afternoon and leave ice by morning. Alberta’s earlier barrier-free guide warned that steep ramps can be unsafe to descend in snow and ice, which is one more reason to build gentle. Plan who will clear the ramp and when, keep the handrails clear so they can be gripped, and ask us before using any ice-melt product on the surface. PATHWAY 3G is available with a solid ribbed surface or an expanded metal surface with diamond-shaped openings for traction.

Permits and approvals

Permit requirements depend on your project. Tall ramps and platforms may be treated like decks. Check with the City of Calgary before installation; we can help with the details. Outside Calgary, check with your own municipality. If you rent your home or live in a condominium, get the landlord’s or board’s agreement before installation day.