disabled ramp

[Pharlap]

Another one for buildersmate. Friends are doing a new build and I am erecting a picket fence for them. They are fitting extra wide doors and lights and sockets at the required heights but, they have also been told they have got to have a permant disabled ramp fitted from the path to the front door. I cannot believe this is correct. Any advice greatly received

[littlelamb]

we live in a house built in 2004 and it has raised stonework in front of the patio doors it doesn't look like a ramp but could be used for wheelchair access, it slopes off at each end

[buildersmate]

If it is a new house then, yes, it is true, one needs a ramp to one of the principle entrances. It is all part of Part M Building Regs. It does not have to be the front-door - but it must be a door that enables a person in a wheelchair to access the main downstairs rooms in the house. In other words, it can't go into back door to a Utility Room where the person can't then access the other room. The maximum slope on the ramp - unless the house is on a severe natural slope anyway is 1 in 15.
Now I'll let you into a small secret. I built mine in wood - several sections, bolted together, because it is 300mm to my front door - and that's a 4.5m long ramp. My house has just gone through Building Control approval. I was really concerned the BCO would not approve it, because no-one would confirm or deny I could do this beforehand. Hir response was 'Are you keeping that there' - To which I replied - Do I have too. To which the answer was - No. Not sure it will work for every Officer though.
PS Does your friend realise the downstairs loo must be wheelchair accessible too? - it generally means the door must open outwards into the hall.

[Pharlap]

Hi Buildersmate. Thanks for that. They have done everything by the book including the loo door regs, I am just surprised about the ramp, for one thing, if I was to buy the house that would be the first thing to go. I can live with the internal regs. I suggested a decking style ramp but, that sounds like a no go as well, the ones they have looked at are all steel. Any other ideas?

[buildersmate]

Most people do remove them.
Most builders construct them cheaply of paving slabs on a concrete sub-base - easier to get rid of.
Steel sounds overkill.
I have a series of sandstone slabs, with a porch and rustic brick steps. The fallback if the wood structure had been rejected would have been to cover the area in black plastic, put wood edges to hold back concrete, then pour concrete into the ramp shape.
Then drill it back out again when the house was passed.

[Pharlap]

Thanks to all for the imput.