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Modular Threshold Ramps
Threshold ramps are used to modify door thresholds and other small rises to remove barriers that changes in level landing create, particularly with regards to access by people with disabilities. Modular threshold ramps are typically used for retrofitting buildings to comply with the Architectural Barriers Act (ABA) of 1968, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards (UFAS) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990. Modular threshold ramps made from rubber, aluminum, and steel can be made from recovered materials.
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Recommended Recovered Materials
Content Ranges
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Product Specifications
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Product Information
- Additional Links
Recommended Recovered Materials Content Ranges:
EPA's Recovered Materials Advisory Notice (RMAN) recommends recycled-content levels for purchasing modular threshold ramps as shown in the table below.
| Material | Postconsumer Content (%) | Total Recovered Materials Content (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Steel 1 | 16-67 | 25-100 |
| Aluminum | -- | 10 |
| Rubber | 100 | 100 |
šThe recommended recovered materials content levels for steel in this table reflect the fact that the designated item may contain steel manufactured in either a Basic Oxygen Furnace (BOF) or an Electric Arc Furnace (EAF), or a combination of both. Steel from the BOF process contains 25% - 30% total recovered steel, of which 16% is postconsumer. Steel from the EAF process contains 100% total recovered steel, of which 67% is postconsumer. According to industry sources, modular threshold ramps containing a combination of BOF and EAF steel would contain 25% - 85% total recovered steel, of which 16% - 67% would be postconsumer. Since there is no way of knowing which type of steel was used in the manufacture of the item, the postconsumer and total recovered material content ranges in this table encompass the whole range of possibilities, i.e., the use of EAF steel only, BOF steel only, or a combination of the two. These recommendations are for modular threshold ramps. EPA understands that ramps may also be constructed of cement and concrete. For these ramps, procuring agencies should follow the procurement guidelines for cement and concrete containing recovered materials.
Product Specifications:
Although the federal government is not governed by ADA, the Access Board's ADA standards are more current than the UFAS and are therefore generally used by federal facilities. According to the "Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines for Buildings and Facilities" (28 CFR Part 36), published in the Federal Register, July 26, 1991, ground and floor surfaces along accessible routes and in accessible rooms and spaces including floors, walks, ramps, stairs, and curb ramps, must be stable, firm, and slip-resistant. The guidelines do not define what is meant by "stable, firm, and slip-resistant," but the Access Board recommends static coefficient of friction values of 0.8 for ramps and 0.6 for accessible routes.
Product Information:
Database
of Manufacturers and Suppliers
This database identifies manufacturers and suppliers
of modular threshold ramps containing recovered
materials.
Additional Links:
2007
Buy-Recycled Series: Construction Products (PDF) (11 pp, 104K, About PDF)
This fact sheet highlights the construction products
designated in the CPG and includes recommended
recovered-content levels and a list of resources.
Technical
Background Document
This background document includes EPA's product
research on modular threshold ramps as well as a more
detailed overview of the history and regulatory requirements
of the CPG process.
