COMPLEX ISSUES ARISING WHILE CONDUCTING RESEARCH ON WHEELCHAIR RAMPS FOR ACCESS TO BUILDINGS BY PERSONS WITH REDUCED MOBILITY AND DETERMINATION OF WHEELCHAIR RAMPS’ COMPLIANCE WITH BUILDING STANDARDS AND REGULATIONS

Abstract

The article outlines issues which arise when conducting research on wheelchair (reconstructed) ramps of existing buildings, technical re-equipment of building porches and buildings or their construction projects for compliance with building standards and regulations. As a method of research we have chosen visual inspection of construction and planning solutions, namely measuring of geometric parameters of over 30 ramps in different districts in the city of Kharkiv has been conducted.

Requirements of current building regulations are analyzed, their applicability to public and residential buildings for access by persons with reduced mobility is established. Main types of violations of building standards and regulations while construction of ramps, which create significant obstacles for people with limited mobility to access residential and public buildings, have been identified and systematized. Recommendations are provided regarding the possibility of making necessary changes in the design of ramps and adapted porches of residential and public buildings in order to prevent injury to persons with reduced mobility.