What to know about ADA Ramps and Cable Protectors

By Layer5 Solutions
Apr 21, 2021

ADA Ramps and Cable Protectors - What to Know

ADA ramps are designed to create accessible transitions that allow individuals using wheelchairs, walkers, and other mobility devices to navigate changes in elevation safely. In cable management applications, ADA-compliant ramps are integrated into cable protection systems to maintain accessible pedestrian pathways where cords and hoses cross walkways.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), passed in 1990, requires public and commercial facilities to provide structural accessibility features that comply with established slope and access standards.

This separates:

General ADA ramps
Cable-protection ADA ramps
Legal context

ADA Ramps vs. Permanent Accessibility Ramps

ADA cable-protection ramps are different from permanent structural ramps such as concrete curb ramps or built-in accessibility ramps. Permanent ADA ramps are fixed architectural features, while ADA cable ramps are temporary or modular components designed to cover cables and hoses without creating barriers in pedestrian pathways. This clearly differentiates the two.

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. 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 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.

Choosing the Right ADA Ramp Solution

When selecting an ADA cable ramp, consider:

Slope ratio and ramp height
Pedestrian traffic levels
Whether the installation is temporary or permanent
Cable quantity and channel requirements
Whether vehicles may cross the ramp

ADA-compliant cable ramps are most commonly used in event venues, public walkways, construction sites, and other temporary environments where cables must cross accessible routes.