Wheelchair

A wheelchair ramp is a sloped surface (made of aluminum, concrete, wood, or modular sections) that allows wheelchair users, scooter users, or people with walkers/canes to move between different elevations without stairs.

The ADA-recommended maximum slope is 1:12 (1 inch of rise per 12 inches of run, or about 4.8°). Residential ramps can be steeper (up to 2:12 or 3:12 in some cases) if space is limited, but 1:12 is safest and required for public/commercial access.

Minimum clear width is 36 inches (91 cm) per ADA standards. For two-way traffic or turning, 48-60 inches is recommended. Handrails (if present) cannot reduce the clear width below 36 inches between them.

There is no standard product called a step wheelchair. You may be thinking of (1) standard wheelchairs used on ramps vs. (2) specialized stair-climbing wheelchairs (e.g., models with tracks or powered stair-climbing mechanisms like the Scewo Bro, TopChair-S, or iBOT) that can negotiate stairs directly instead of needing a ramp.

Rise is the vertical height change; run is the horizontal distance. The ratio should be no steeper than 1:12 (example: 12-inch rise needs at least 12 feet of run). For every 1 inch of rise, you need 12 inches of run. Landings (flat areas) are required every 30 inches of rise or 30 feet of run.