Accessible Solutions: Entrances

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Accessible Solutions: Entrances
Most single-family homes have several different entrances including, for example, a front door, garage door, kitchen door, and deck or patio doors.

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Entrances can all be located on a single floor level or several floors depending on the house plan and lot slope. To allow for proper drainage, the entry floor of any home must be higher than the surrounding grade. The available options for creating accessible entrances depend on several key factors, including the home's structural floor system, the exterior wall materials, and the lot slope or "topography."

Methods of Making an Entrance Accessible
There are several techniques that can be used to make an entrance accessible. The best choice depends on many factors, including the entry's height above grade and the floor and wall construction.

The following examples illustrate typical architectural solutions that address each of these factors:

Sloped Walks - A gently sloped walk (less than 5% incline) is the best alternative for achieving entry access when the lot is relatively flat or when the driveway is approximately on the same level as the home's entry floor. The other key factor is the type of construction used for the home's entry floor and walls. If the house has a concrete slab-on-grade floor, soil can be graded to the entry floor level. A sloped masonry or concrete walk can then be constructed flush with the entry floor. If the house has wood floor framing, masonry walls can provide the necessary separation between soil and wood that makes it feasible to grade up to the finished floor level.


Sloped walks can be used to provide access to the entrance of houses with a slab-on-grade floor system or homes with masonry exterior walls. The incline of accessible walks should be limited to approximately 5%.
Ramps can be used to maintain separation between a wood floor system and the outside grade. The maximum recommended ramp slope is 8.33%. When a ramp is too long the practical usefulness is reduced and the construction cost is increased.
Bridges can be used to maintain separation between a wood floor system and the outside grade. The bridge illustrated begins adjacent to the garage, which has a slab-on-grade floor, rather than wood, and spans to the wood porch deck.

Ramps or Bridges - If a home has a wood-framed entry floor and its exterior walls are sheathed in wood, vinyl, or aluminum siding, finished grade must be held below the bottom of the framing or wall finish. Without this separation, wood will eventually rot and destructive insects can enter at the joint between the foundation and the wood framing.

Depending on the floor framing depth, at least an 18" height difference is required between the yard and the entry floor level. If the house has a crawl space below the entry floor, the height difference must be greater to allow for air vents.

If a house or entry porch is wood-framed, bridges or ramps are possible alternatives to provide wheelchair access and still protect wood framing. Wood bridges can span between concrete platforms and wood platforms. The wood is protected from grade by a low retaining wall. The bridge can be accessed by a sloped walk.

Ramps are practical alternatives if the height difference between the entry floor and yard is 18" or less. As the height difference increases, however, ramps must be lengthened to maintain a proper slope (less than 1:12). Long circuitous ramps are problematic for many wheelchair users because of the strength and stamina necessary to ascend the ramp. Construction costs for long ramps can also be significant.

Platform Lifts - For entrances where the height difference between the yard and entry floor is substantial, an outdoor lift can be installed. Lifts can be integrated into the home's design and covered with a roof structure that protects both the occupant and the mechanism from inclement weather. Lifts can be expensive ($7,000 and up), but these costs should be compared with the marginal accessibility provided by long ramps. In many instances, a combination of different alternatives can be effective. A bridge, for example, can be ramped up to reach a wood porch. Entrances can also be grouped to decrease cost. Perimeter decks, for example, can connect multiple accessible entrances from a single ramp, bridge, or platform lift.

Accessible Entrance Options Based on House Construction

House Floor Construction	Typical Floor System Application	Options for Accessible Entrances
Slab-on-Grade Floor	• Basement floors in all homes. • First floor level in some one-story homes constructed on flat lots.	• Regrade the lot as necessary to provide an accessible walk directly to the entrance.
Wood-Framed Floor	• First floor level in most multi-story houses. • First floor level in houses with crawl spaces or basements.	• If house has masonry veneer exterior walls, regrade the lot to provide an accessible walk. • If the house has wood, vinyl, or aluminum siding on the exterior walls, maintain separation between the earth and wood framing. • Options are ramps, bridges, or lifts.

Reducing Exterior Grade Differences
Front entrances of most suburban single-family homes are accessed from driveways rather than sidewalks. Grade differences between driveway drop-offs and the house's entry floor can be reduced by constructing a sloped connecting walkway. Walks can slope a maximum of 5% without creating difficulties for most wheelchair users.



	This home uses a platform lift to provide access to the first floor, which is approximately 4'6" above the ground. The canopy roof protects the lift mechanism and the users from inclement weather.

For new construction projects, the yard that surrounds a new home or addition is typically regraded to ensure proper site drainage. In some cases, regrading provides an opportunity to adjust the driveway height in order to reduce the height difference between the front door and the driveway. Regrading is a less practical and more expensive option for existing homes. Driveway drop-off points should be relatively level, however, in order to aid wheelchair transfer and passenger loading.

Accessible Doors and Platforms
Accessible entrances should include a level platform that is large enough for maneuvering during door operation (recommended 5' x 5'). Entry doors should be wide enough to permit wheelchair passage (32" minimum clear opening) and should be equipped with accessible hardware, including easy-to-operate lock mechanisms.

Entry platforms, particularly at the front door, should be protected by a roof or overhang. A roof provides shelter to residents as they unlock the door and protects visitors while they wait for the door to be answered. Overhangs also reduce water penetration at flush door thresholds.

Door thresholds should be no higher than 1/2" and tapered for easy passage by a wheelchair's small front wheels. Entrances should not include steps between the home's interior and the outside porch or stoop. As a practical matter, there will always be a construction joint at this location. At wood-framed entry decks, this joint will not obstruct access. At concrete or masonry stoops, however, builders should take precautions to prevent settlement.

Accessible Entrance Options Based on Elevation Difference

Elevation Difference	Typical Application	Options for Accessible Entrances
Minimal Level Difference	• Lots where either the driveway or the public sidewalk is approximately level with the house entry.	• loped walk can be used if the house has a slab-on-grade floor or has masonry veneer walls. • Bridge or ramp can be used if the house has wood-framed floors and wood, vinyl or aluminum siding.
Moderate or Greater Level Difference	• Lots where either the driveway or public sidewalk is more than 24" below (or above) the house entry.	• Long ramp system can be used from the walk to a deck, landing, or porch. • Platform lift can be used between the walk and a deck, landing, or porch.

Garage and Carport Entrances



	This addition is a wide one-car garage that provides the necessary interior clearances and room for a ramp inside.

Vehicular access is critical to a homeowner's independence, so an accessible garage entrance is important. Garages and carports protect wheelchair users from inclement weather as they transfer and disassemble and load their chairs. To accommodate transfer, garages must be wide enough to provide access for transfer. Accessible garages should ideally include a 5' access aisle adjacent to the parked vehicle. Lift-equipped vans may require an 8' aisle. If homeowners drive a raised-top van, garage door height is also a consideration.

Many building codes require a step (or curb) between the house and the garage floor. The step prevents spilled gasoline from entering the house and protects residents from carbon monoxide fumes. In some jurisdictions, wheelchair users can request a waiver from this requirement. If a waiver isn't possible or if the project involves an existing home, a ramp can be constructed between the garage and the house.

In some existing homes, the height difference between the garage and house is three or more steps. This exaggerated difference occurs because the garage is typically slab-on-grade construction while the main house has wood-framed floors. If the height difference is too great, an accessible ramp may be too long to fit inside the garage.

Because of both access aisle and ramp requirements, it is common for existing garages with a two-car capacity to be used as an accessible one-car facility. In new construction projects, the garage size should provide sufficient access clearances and accommodate a ramp, if necessary.

From Accessible Home Design: Architectural Solutions for the Wheelchair User
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Text by Paralyzed Vetrans of America
Copyright Paralyzed Vetrans of America © 2001