What to know about ADA Ramps and Cable Protectors

By Layer5 Solutions
Apr 21, 2021
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ADA Ramps and Cable Protectors - What to Know

ADA ramps are cable-protection ramps designed to provide an easier crossing for wheelchairs, pedestrians, and vehicles. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was passed into law in 1990. The ADA prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in any public or commercial domain. Title III of the ADA requires places of public access as well as commercial facilities to accommodate persons with disabilities by implementing structural accessibility features in compliance with ADA standards.

ADA ramps from Checkers Safety™ have a wide range of applications. The principal application for ADA ramps is to provide ease of crossing for wheelchairs or other pedestrians who might have difficulty navigating over a standard cable protector. In general, ADA ramps offer a more gradual transition from the ground to a cable protector’s surface. The incremental sloping design of ADA ramps and cable protectors makes them ideal, not only for ADA compliance but for safer vehicle and pedestrian crossing in a variety of settings.

This guide will outline the design features that are common to all ADA ramps, as well as examine the applications for specific ADA cable protectors, in an effort to help users understand the range of applications for ADA ramps and cable protectors.

ADA Ramps

ADA ramps are not the same as other structural accessibility features like sidewalk ramps, curb ramps or concrete ramps. Rather than being permanent fixtures, ADA ramps from Checkers Safety are a component of cable protection units that can be deployed wherever cables and hoses present a potential tripping hazard for pedestrians. An ADA ramp can be a design feature of a cable protector, or they can be accessories that are later added to existing cable protection systems.

In accordance with ADA standards, all ADA ramps are designed with slopes no steeper than 1:12. This means that for every 12 inches of run, an ADA ramp would have only one inch of rise. This gradual sloping feature makes navigating over cable protectors less difficult for pedestrians and vehicles. The gradual sloping feature of ADA ramps also serves to reduce tripping hazards for all pedestrians.

ADA ramps are primarily manufactured with a safety blue design—though other colors are available—and are imprinted with the international symbol of accessibility (ISA) to help pedestrians identify them in crowded areas. Checkers Safety has a wide range of ADA ramps and cable protectors designed to function in various settings. Here is a breakdown of some of the most common ADA ramps and cable protectors and an outline of their ideal application.

All-In-One ADA Cable Protectors. An all-in-one ADA cable protector is a cable protection unit manufactured with ADA ramps. Cable protectors like the Guard Dog Series 5-Channel ADA Cable Protector or the Yellow Jacket Series 5-Channel Cable Protector feature ADA-compliant ramps as a design component. All-in-one ADA cable protectors feature recessed connectors that virtually eliminate all seams and cracks from the unit. This seamless design can help reduce the possibility of trips and falls in crowded settings.

All-in-one ADA cable protectors can also connect to other cable protection units with the same connectors. This feature allows users to have ADA sections in their cable runs where wheelchairs, pedestrians, and small-wheeled vehicles can cross without having the entire run composed of ADA protectors. All-in-one ADA cable protectors are available in lightweight 18-inch sections for easy transporting.

Advanced Modular System Accessibility Ramps. The Advanced Modular System (AMS) is an innovative cable protection option from Checkers Safety that allows users to protect an endless number of cables and hoses by linking together cable protection units. With the AMS Accessibility Ramps, users can implement an AMS system with the added feature of ADA-compliant accessibility ramps.

One advantage of the AMS System Accessibility Ramps is that the ADA ramp is combined with two blue side ramps, which offer a greater range of access for wheelchairs and pedestrians. ADA ramps for the AMS system can also be interchanged with standard ramps or cable boxes. This customizable option gives users maximum control over their cable protection.

Ramps and Rails. An ADA Ramp and Rail system provides users with the option to add ADA ramps and guard rails as accessories to existing cable protection units. For example, the ADA ramps for the Guard Dog Series 5-Channel Cable Protector simply slide over the existing ramps of the cable protector, instantly transforming the unit into an ADA-compliant cable protector. The high-visibility side rails easily attach to the ADA ramps, creating access points for wheelchairs, pedestrians, and small-wheeled vehicles.

Using ADA ramps as an accessory to existing cable protectors allows users to maximize the utility of their cable protectors. For crowded venues with long cable runs, detachable ADA ramps make it possible to create crossing points for pedestrians without implementing ADA ramps along the entire run of cables. The detachable ADA ramps require no tools to install, and users can still access cable and cords while ADA ramps are in use.

Finding the ADA Equipment That’s Right for You

For over 30 years, Checkers Safety has provided cable protectors to industrial, commercial, and public settings all over the world. Using ADA ramps and cable protectors will provide greater accessibility for pedestrians and vehicles, as well as minimize trips and falls in crowded areas.

For more information regarding our products, use our cable protection selector tool or contact a Checkers Safety specialist who can help you find the cable protector that is best suited to your needs.