What Are Part M Ramps?

If you are managing a construction project, upgrading a commercial entrance, or overseeing school estates, navigating UK accessibility laws can feel complex, but installing a Part M compliant ramp ensures your entrance meets statutory building control standards.

This legal requirement originates from Schedule 1 to the Building Regulations 2010. The official statutory guidance published by HM Government to help developers, architects, and specifiers achieve compliance is divided into two distinct volumes:

1. Approved Document M: Volume 1 – Dwellings: Focuses on new residential homes across three tiers: Category 1 (Visitable dwellings), Category 2 (Accessible and adaptable dwellings), and Category 3 (Wheelchair user dwellings).
2. Approved Document M: Volume 2 – Buildings Other Than Dwellings: Applies to non-domestic spaces, including commercial offices, retail outlets, schools, healthcare facilities, and public venues.

Where site constraints necessitate an approach gradient of 1:20 or steeper from the site boundary or designated parking bay to the building entrance, an approach incorporating a ramped access route must be provided. 

We can advise you on the most suitable ramp solution for your specific requirements and supply fully compliant components designed to meet the requirements of Parts M and K of the Building Regulations.

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Part M vs. Part K: How the Wider Regulations Work Together

When specifying or installing an access ramp in the UK, you cannot look at Approved Document M in isolation. Ramp design sits at the direct intersection of two key parts of the Building Regulations 2010: Part M (Access to and use of buildings)  and Part K (Protection from falling, collision and impact).

How Part M and Part K Work Together?

• Part M Focuses on Accessibility: Its primary objective is ensuring that everyone—regardless of age or disability —can approach and enter a building independently. It dictates ramp gradients, clear widths, level rest landings, visual contrast, and handrails that are comfortable and "warm to the touch" in cold weather. 
• Part K Focuses on Safety & Fall Prevention: Its primary objective is safeguarding all pedestrians against physical hazards, falls, or collisions. It sets structural rules for ramp construction, edge protection, guarding heights (900mm along ramp flights and 1100mm on landings), and child-safety containment.

Which Regulation Takes Precedence?

Because both documents address ramps, handrails, and changes in level, building control regulations establish a clear hierarchy: where an access route or entrance ramp is concerned, guidance in Approved Document M explicitly takes precedence over Approved Document K if any conflict arises.

However, the two documents operate co-dependently. For instance, Part M specifies that open sides of ramps require a 100mm raised visual kerb to prevent wheelchair castors or crutches from slipping off, in addition to the structural guarding required under Part K.

Utilising a prefabricated

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Please note: countless other scenarios are not listed below.

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 & 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.

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