What Are Part M Ramps?

We appreciate ramps and part m of the building regulations can be puzzling; therefore, we have broken down the main fundamentals concerning ramped access. If you require part m ramps, please get in touch as we have a fully compliant system for temporary and permanent use.

Please note that ramps must adhere to both Part M and Part K of the building regulations; however, if there is a conflict between the guidance, then Part M takes precedence.

Specifying ramped access

Usage is an important consideration when specifying. For example, consider the types of traffic using the ramp or steps and the sort of building or space.

Please note: countless other scenarios are not listed below.


Example Scenario	Recommended Solution	Case Studies
Private Dwellings Very little daily footfall. Example Buildings & Spaces - flat, apartment, caravan, mobile home, private house, or garden.	Our standard ramp. It is the homeowner’s choice if they require a Part m and Part K compliant ramp. A wide platform is recommended if the system is for a powerchair user to provide turning space.	https://www.rapidramp.co.uk/case-studies/gate-ramp-bexhill https://www.rapidramp.co.uk/case-studies/caravan-wheelchair-ramp-canterbury
Council-owned properties Very little daily footfall. Example Buildings & Spaces - garden, house or flat.	Council properties will need to comply fully with Document M, Volume 1, Dwellings. A modular ramp is ideal as it can easily be dismantled if the tenant were to move. Also, the ramp can be reused, reconfigured, and relocated at a different council property. A wide platform is recommended if the tenant is a powerchair user to provide turning space.	https://www.rapidramp.co.uk/case-studies/hainault-homeless-centre
Festivals & Events High daily footfall is expected with diverse traffic, including prams, pedestrians (adults & children), wheelchair users, mobility scooter users, and heavy-duty trollies. Example Buildings & Spaces - accessible toilets, changing facilities, marquees,viewing platforms, warfare cabins and temporary walkways.	A temporary, fully compliant ramp on hire. Concrete pads can be added underneath the feet to ensure rigidity in muddy conditions.	https://www.rapidramp.co.uk/case-studies/university-graduation-ceremony www.rapidramp.co.uk/case-studies/mobile-changing-unit-preston
Airports & Train Stations High daily footfall is expected with diverse traffic, including prams, bikes, pedestrians (adults & children), wheelchair users, mobility scooters users and luggage trollies.	A fully compliant ramp with wide GRP, slip-resistant platforms. Wide platforms provide turning space for wheelchairs and trollies. Plus, they can be designed to cover traffic moving in both directions. Our platforms have a weight capability of 1,000kgs.	https://www.rapidramp.co.uk/case-studies/wigan-wallgate-train-station https://www.rapidramp.co.uk/case-studies/semi-permanent-wheelchair-ramps-manchester-airport
Schools High daily footfall, mainly students and staff. Example Buildings & Spaces - playgrounds, modular classrooms, offices and other school buildings.	A slip-resistant, fully compliant ramp with Safetread Rubber Crumb Surface and Fine Underside Mesh. Safetread Rubber Crumb is a soft, slip-resistant ramp covering that reduces the impact of falls. The product is made from the same materials used in soft play areas. Fine Underside Mesh has 20mm x 20mm small square holes designed to stop litter from blowing underneath the ramp.	https://www.rapidramp.co.uk/case-studies/palmarsh-primary-school https://www.rapidramp.co.uk/case-studies/woodthorpe-infant-school https://www.rapidramp.co.uk/case-studies/lord-derby-academy
Vets Large daily footfall is expected with diverse traffic, including prams, pedestrians (adults & children), wheelchair users, and dogs.	A fully compliant ramp with Safetread Rubber Crumb Surface and Underside Mesh Hoarding. Safetread Rubber Crumb is a slip-resistant, soft padded surface ideal for a dog’s paws and craws. Underside Mesh Hoarding is designed to prevent children and animals from gaining access to the underneath of the ramp. It is often specified for schools and public buildings.	https://www.rapidramp.co.uk/case-studies/ramp-for-dogs-plunketts-veterinary-surgery
Hospitals Large daily footfall is expected with diverse traffic, including prams, pedestrians (adults & children), wheelchair users, mobility scooter users, heavy medical equipment, and hospital beds.	A fully compliant wide ramp with slip-resistant GRP surface. Wide platforms provide turning space for hospital beds, wheelchairs, and wheeled medical equipment. Plus, they can be designed to cover traffic moving in both directions. Our platforms have a weight capability of 1,000kgs.	https://www.rapidramp.co.uk/case-studies/hammersmith-hospital https://www.rapidramp.co.uk/case-studies/modular-platforms-qeqm-hospital https://www.rapidramp.co.uk/case-studies/sedlescombe-house-surgery

Part M & K design points for dwelling ramps

The minimum width of a ramped approach is 900mm (Doc M, Vol 1. P12, 2.9B).
If the ramp height exceeds 600mm, then Infill handrail is required to prevent falling (Doc K, Page 22.A).
Once the maximum length of the ramp has been achieved, you should provide a level landing to allow the user to rest. The minimal length of a level platform is 1200mm (Doc M, Vol 1, P13, 2.10g).

The maximum gradient that your ramp can reach is determined by the change in rise (aka the height) to overcome. If the maximum gradient has been reached, a resting platform must be provided to allow the user to pause, as they may become tired and out of breath.
Often a dwelling ramp can accomplish a gradient of 1:12.

Diagram – The relationship of ramp gradient to the going of a flight.

part m ramps - ramp length

Part M & K design points for public and other buildings

The minimum width of a ramped approach is 1500mm (Doc M, Vol 2, P19, 1.26e).
Once the maximum length of the ramp has been achieved, you should provide a level landing to allow the user to rest. The minimal length of a level platform is 1500mm (Doc M, Vol 2, P20 / Doc K, 2.13b).
The maximum length of a ramp can be found in the above diagram.
You can specify continuous handrails (Doc K, P14, 1.35).
The minimum step width is 1500mm (Doc M, Vol 2, P19, 1.26e)
The minimum handrail height for a level platform is 1100mm (Doc M, P24, Diagram 3.1)
If the ramp height exceeds 380mm, then Infill handrail is required to prevent falling (Doc K, P16, 1.39a/22b).
The maximum gradient that your ramp can reach is determined by the change in rise (aka the height) to overcome. If the maximum gradient has been reached, a resting platform must be provided to allow the user to pause, as they may become tired and out of breath.
Often ramps for public use (whether to a building or space) can accomplish a minimum ramp gradient of 1:15 or a 1:20 gradient is frequently specified.