Building ramps and accessible paths at the condominium entrance

The technical requirements of an accessible ramp

An accessible ramp is not just an inclined platform: the technical rules on removing architectural barriers set requirements on slope, width, the presence of resting landings and railings or safety kerbs. The slope must stay within values that allow travel independently or with assistance, the lower the longer the ramp, to prevent it from becoming too tiring or dangerous.

The usable width also matters, which must allow the wheelchair to pass, along with the non-slip surface of the walking plane and the presence of side guards that stop the wheel from slipping off the ramp. A technician designs the ramp by checking the available space and the level change to overcome, so that the work is genuinely usable and compliant.

• Contained slope, the lower the longer the ramp
• Usable width adequate for the wheelchair to pass
• Non-slip surface, resting landings and side guards

Fixed ramp or removable solution

A fixed masonry work is not always needed. Where the level change is modest and space limited, a removable or modular ramp can solve the problem with minimal impact on the building and, often, with lighter building formalities. A fixed ramp, instead, offers greater stability and durability and is preferable for significant level changes or very busy entrances.

The choice also affects the process: a removable ramp that does not alter the building may require reduced formalities, while a fixed ramp that modifies the entrance or affects the structures generally requires a building permit and a more structured resolution. It must be assessed case by case with a technician and the applicable regime verified with the municipality.

The condominium process: resolution and common spaces

The ramp usually sits on common parts, the hall, the courtyard or the access area, so its construction by the condominium is an innovation with an accessibility purpose: it is resolved with the reduced majority of Article 1120 of the Italian Civil Code. The agenda must indicate the work, the design and the cost-sharing criterion.

The general limits apply here too: the ramp must not impair the building's stability and decorum or make the common parts unusable for other owners, for example by obstructing pedestrian passage or an area intended for another use. A design that reconciles accessibility and common usability reduces objections at the meeting.

• A ramp on common parts is an accessibility innovation
• Resolved with the reduced majority of Article 1120
• The design must preserve stability, decorum and common use

When the meeting does not act

If the condominium refuses or does not resolve after the written request, the person with a disability can build the ramp at their own expense within the limits of Law 13 of 1989, provided it respects stability, safety and decorum and does not make the common parts unusable. Removable solutions are often the most suitable in this scenario, because they are reversible and low impact.

In any case it is useful to document the request and the meeting's outcome, because it sets the deadlines running and legitimises the independent action. A technical design, even for a simple ramp, helps prove compliance with the legal limits and prevent challenges from other owners.

Managing design, costs and maintenance

Even a seemingly simple work like a ramp generates documents to keep, costs to share and, if fixed, maintenance over time. Keeping this documentation orderly is useful both for the regularity of the work and to access any incentives.

With management software like AmministraPro the manager can archive the resolution and design, share the costs among owners and schedule any maintenance of the ramp. The available features can be reviewed on the /funzioni and /prezzi pages.

Frequently asked questions