Design For Dignity
Retail Guidelines

Guidance on premises

Ramps, landings and walkways

The infrastructure requirements of buildings, ramps, landings and walkways is well specified in the Australian Standards.

Slope or Gradient

Retail environment terminology

Kerb ramp: as the name implies, a kerb ramp is a ramp that gives access from a footpath to a roadway. Kerb ramps are usually the responsibility of the local council and must have a slope of no more than 1:8 and a slip resistant surface.

Step ramp: like a kerb ramp but not attached to a kerb. It might assist someone to ascend a small step (no more than 190mm) in a store but can't be longer than 1900mm or steeper than 1:10. It must have a slip resistant surface.

Threshold ramp: a short slip resistant ramp which allows access to a doorway. They can only service a rise of 35mm and can't cover a distance of more than 280mm (a maximum slope of 1:8). A threshold ramp will enable people with prams, strollers and mobility devices such as wheelchairs to access the store or shopping centre more easily.

Ramp: this is the commonly understood meaning of the term ‘ramp’. It is a walkway that lets people walk between two levels or landing places on a gradual slope. It is steeper than 1:20 (which is almost flat), but shallower than 1:14 and be must slip resistant.

Design focus

Key features included in the Australian Standards are:

• Ensuring that there is sufficient width (1000mm between handrails) on walkways and ramps that is not impacted by intrusions such as door handles, signs and shelves.
• Passing spaces (at least 1800m wide and 2000mm long) that allow two people using a wheelchair to travel in opposite directions at the same time.
• Landings or circulation spaces are provided at changes of direction, doors or gates.
• Maximum slope of a ramp that is longer than 1900mm is 1:14.
• Regularity of landings on ramps depends on the slope 1:14 (at least every 9m), 1:20 (at least every 15m).
• Handrails on both sides.
• Ramps should be set back from property boundaries and corridors so that handrails and TGSIs don't intrude into the path of travel.
• Ramps must have kerbs or kerb rails on both sides to stop the wheels of wheelchairs catching vertical handrail supports.