How to calculate slopes and gradients

As an architect you will come across the need to calculate gradients of ramps and slopes. The most common occurrence of this is working with ramped access to buildings, groundworks and so on. Slopes can be measured in angles, percentages and ratios. For this post I will focus on the measurement of slopes in ratios, mainly because gradient ratios are stated in the building regulations.

Approved Document Part M of the building regulations specifies limits for ramp gradients for access to a building. If access to a building is too steep it is not deemed to be a safe access and creates difficulty for people in wheelchairs who may not have the strength to propel themselves up a slope, or may have difficulty slowing down when descending a slope that is too steep. Some people find they need to stop frequently when ascending/descending ramp and therefore suitable landings are required at specified intervals to allow for this.

The table below shows the guidelines from the building regulations:

To work out the gradient of an existing slope you will need the distance of the slope (run) and the height of the slope (rise). The method that follows may not be the most mathematical way to work out the ratio gradient of a slope – but it is really simple and has always worked for me!

Remember to convert units so they are the same. For example, we have a 10m ramp run and a rise of 500mm. Convert the run to 10,000mm.

HOW TO WORK OUT THE GRADIENT

Example:

We want to work out the gradient of a ramp that has a run of 10m and a rise of 500mm.

Gradient = Run / Rise

Gradient = 10m / 500mm

Convert the units:

Gradient = 10,000mm / 500mm

Gradient = 20

Gradient = 1:20

HOW TO WORK OUT THE RISE

We want to work out the rise of a ramp that has a run of 5m and a gradient of 1:15.

Rise = Run / Gradient

Rise = 5m / 15

Convert the units:

Rise = 5,000mm / 15

Rise = 333mm

HOW TO WORK OUT THE RUN

We want to work out the run of a ramp that has a rise of 166mm and a gradient of 1:12.

Run = Gradient x Rise

Run = 12 x 166mm

Run = 1,992mm

Run = 1.99m (round up to 2m)

I hope you find this post helpful for working out your slopes and ramps!