The right wheel chair ramp design not only allows easy access to those confined to a wheel chair but also to those with limited mobility as well. Negotiating stairs can be difficult for many people. My dad developed emphysema and could have used a chair ramp long before he was confined to a scooter. Wheel chair ramps need not be sterile looking; the right design and landscaping can actually complement the style of your home.

Many people do not realize how much space is required for an effective wheelchair ramp. The rule of thumb is 12 inches of ramp length for every inch of height. As an example, if your porch or deck is 18 inches from the ground you need at least 18 feet of ramp. For a more gentle slope, the ideal is 20 inches for every inch of height. You would then need 30 feet of ramp length.

Not many of us have 30 feet in which to install a straight ramp. Besides that, it is not very aesthetically pleasing. The solution is to add a flat landing in the middle so the person can rest. Here are few other critical wheel chair ramp design landing considerations:

- A landing is required every time the ramp changes directions

- They must be a minimum of 60 inches (5 feet) square

- They are required at the top and bottom of a wheel chair ramp

- Must be level side to side. Even a little slope makes it harder to negotiate

Chair ramps are used year round so consider the following:

- Ensure water does not pool on the surface

- Ensure the ramp is not slippery when wet or damp. Attach grit tape or add sand to polyurethane for texture

- Do not build the ramp under trees where leaves can make it slippery when wet

- Try to have it face south to catch the sun in winter

- Build a set of stairs adjacent to the top landing so those not wishing to use the ramp have access to the porch.

You also have several options for wheel chair ramps. Consider if a portable wheel chair ramp is more suitable for your particular situation. Often times, a wheel chair may be a temporary; a portable ramp is designed for the correct slope and can make 90 degree turns as well as switchbacks if required. Another popular option is a modular ramp system. They assemble quickly with common tools. Modular ramps can be configured to fit your needs and can also be moved easily.

Check your local codes department to determine the requirements for your area before building a wheel chair ramp. You will probably have to get a permit before installing the ramp. This will ensure you not only abide by local codes but also ensure your ramp is safe to use.

To learn more about wheelchair ramp design for your porch, please visit <a target=”_new” href=”http://www.front-porch-ideas-and-more.com/wheelchair-ramp-design.html”>http://www.front-porch-ideas-and-more.com/wheelchair-ramp-design.html</a>.

Dave R. Morris is a co-creator and co-founder of <a target=”_new” href=”http://www.front-porch-ideas-and-more.com/front-porch-ideas.html”>http://www.front-porch-ideas-and-more.com/front-porch-ideas.html</a>, your portal for front porch ideas and designs.

Dave is a retired Air Force officer, teacher, logistics analyst, woodworker, remodeler, and niche e-business developer. A grandfather and lover of the outdoors, Dave lives in Nashville, TN. Take a break and enjoy your porch!



Due to today’s modern technology, enormous amounts of people are spending most of their working hours behind a desk in an uncomfortable office chair. Because of this deskbound lifestyle, more and more individuals are becoming overweight, out of shape, and developing other health problems.

Although a sedentary lifestyle causes health problems in itself, an uncomfortable office chair causes a completely new arena of problems. Hours upon hours in a chair without ergonomic features brings about back problems, neck pains and just overall body aches from bad posture.

Below are guidelines that can help you select the right office chair, therefore reducing body aches, stiffness and pains.

Buying an office chair is like buying a car. Would you buy a car without test-driving it first? Probably not.

The same applies to selecting your chair, you need to sit down and feel it. You want it to be comfy, just like you want a car to be comfortable for longer journeys. You will be spending most of the day in your chair so choose it wisely.

Guidelines for purchasing your next office chair:

Back support
Your chair should provide adequate back support. The back support of the chair should also be adjustable to fit properly to your back. The back support of the chair should remain the same as you move and recline in your chair. A good office chair with proper back support will improve your posture and therefore eliminate or reduce back pain and stiffness. Selecting an office chair without adequate back support can cause back problems that could stay with you for life.

Seating
The padding and design of the seat should be considered. The front of the seat should have a rounded edge. A straight horizontal front will cut off circulation on the backside of the knees.

Width of the seat and armrests
You need to fit into the chair. If you have to squeeze into the chair then it does not fit, no matter how comfortable it may seem once you are seated. There should be room between the armrests and your body. In addition, the armrests need to interact with the desk. A good office chair will have adjustable armrests. Quality armrests can help with tasks like reading and writing, and taking pressure and tension off the neck and shoulders.

Height Adjustments
People are not all the same height; therefore, your office chair must have a height adjustment. The specifications to adjust your office chair and to promote good posture are as follows: thighs should be horizontal to the ground while both feet are on the ground and wrists should be straight while typing.

If you cannot find an office chair height that allows both of the above, you may want to find a way to alter the height of your keyboard so that you can have straight wrists while typing and your body is aligned properly with the chair and the floor.

Stability
Your chair must be stable. Your chair tipping over when you are in it is not good. Serious and permanent injury can occur. Look for a chair on wheels that swivels and a five-point base that will not flip you over on your head when you recline.

So, when you are shopping for new office furniture, remember these points and once you have decided on your new office chair, make sure it possesses all of the above features.

Link to original article: http://www.btoffice.com/blog/2010/02/office-chair/

BT office stocks a range of office chairs, follow this link to visit BT Office Furniture.

Millions of dollars in lost productivity occurs in companies across the country due to scores of workers absent from the workplace suffering with back issues that prevent them from working. Sidelined and forced to miss work by painful back problems, many of these workers performed their work tasks in office settings, before becoming unable to work.  Few of these individuals are probably aware that the culprit behind the back pains and strains that cause record numbers of lost workdays each year may be as seemingly harmless as the office chair that you sit in while working. Not all office chairs are necessarily the best choices when it comes to the health of your back.

All too often, the aesthetic values that office chairs can bring into a working environment are given precedence over important considerations , such as whether they may pose a threat to the health of a users back and spine. This does not have to be an either or proposition. Whether you are in charge of buying chairs for the whole office, or just want to buy your own chair to use at work, you can find office chairs with smart lines and sleek finishes, which are also kind to your lumbar region.

Have you ever heard of ergonomic office chairs? These are chairs specifically designed to help keep your posture straight while sitting in them, which saves you from straining or overstressing your neck and back.

The BOSS brand includes a full line of ergonomic office chairs, like High, and Mid Back chairs in executive, reception, office, and task versions. Put together with materials like leather, wood, mesh, and upholstered fabrics, they are pleasing to the eye and offer protection from back and neck strain. Let’s take a closer look at some of the fine chairs that are good for your back that are available in this collection.

The BOSS Leather Ergonomic Executive Chair

This great chair has what is referred to as a passive ergonomic seat with lumbar support. The Executive Chair has a large base which provides more stability and a “Pneumatic gas lift” for easier seat height adjusting. Besides these great features, this office chair has a wide seating area and can be moved easily due to its special wheels.

BOSS Mesh Back Task Chair

The BOSS Mesh Back Task Chair has extra padding on the seating area and armrests, and has a breathable mesh cover as well as lumbar support. The armrests are adjustable and the chair has a metal frame which provides additional stability.

This office chair has other comfortable features as well. It tilts and has been constructed with something called tension control, which sounds really comfortable, and has quality wheels which help movement and longevity.

Boss Caressoft Backed Stool

For those individuals who have hurt or injured their back while cleaning, the BOSS Caressoft Backed Stool might be for you. This office chair has upholstered vinyl which makes it easy to keep clean and maintain. The adjustable height for this particular chair is 6 inches, and has a comfortable back cushion.

BOSS Deluxe Task Chair

This chair has thick seat padding for additional comfort and a unique designs which acts to alleviate any stress absorbed by the legs. The Deluxe Task Chair has a solid base for stability as well.

Other brands of office chairs that are good for your back and very stylish additions to the office include:

Ergocraft Task Chair

The Ergocraft Task Chair has a base which is constructed to offer increased stability. It also has a “Pneumatic” lift which provides easier seat height adjustment. The Ergocraft Task Chair’s loop arms and medium sized back act in conjunction to offer an increased level of support for the back area.

You may spend hours every day sitting in an office chair while performing work tasks. It is important for the health of your back that you choose an office chair with features built in to help reduce stress on your back and neck. Specially designed neck and back pillows are worth considering the purchase of if you spend a lot of time sitting in an office chair every day. Foot massagers that fit neatly under your desk can help to relieve muscle tension in your body. Get up and stretch your legs by walking around every few hours as well, to release tension from your body.

Do not take the chance of your old office chair sidelining you from work because it does not offer you the support needed for the health of your back. Invest in your good health by investing in an office chair that is good for your back if you want to improve the productivity of your employees, office chairs that are good for your back can make a tremendous difference in office productivity.

Arianna Jordan is a freelance writer who writes about decorating for the home and workplace, often discussing specific products such as Office chairs





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