How To: Assess a Handicap Ramp

Goal: check the slope of an accessibility ramp and whether it is safe and within code. In the United States, ADA guidance calls for a running slope no steeper than 1:12 — that is 1 inch of rise per 12 inches of run, about 8.33%, roughly 4.76°. Always check the exact requirement for your area and situation.

The tools: the measurement window's SLOPE, PITCH, and ANGLE fields, which describe the tilt of the line between two cubes.

What you need

Two cubes: one at the bottom of the ramp, one at the top. Because cubes pin to your immersive space, you can walk the ramp and place each one on the real surface.

Steps

  1. Press Start and turn on the pivot point.
  2. Walk to the bottom of the ramp and pinch‑drag the cube so its center rests where the ramp meets the lower level.
  3. Press Spawn Cube, walk to the top of the ramp, and place the second cube's center where the ramp meets the upper landing.
  4. Read the measurement window between them:
    • PITCH (imperial) — inches of rise per foot. For 1:12, this reads about 1 in/ft. Steeper than that is over the limit.
    • SLOPE — the grade as a percent. 1:12 is about 8.33%.
    • ANGLE — degrees above level. 1:12 is about 4.76°.
  5. Compare your readings to the requirement: lower numbers are gentler, higher numbers steeper.

Also worth checking

  • Cross‑slope. Place two cubes across the ramp (side to side) instead of along it; the slope there should be nearly flat.
  • Landings. Place two cubes on a landing and confirm it reads essentially level (bubble centered, ANGLE near 0°).
  • Rise per run over a section. The AXIS BREAKDOWN gives the pure Y (rise) and the horizontal run so you can check a specific segment.
  • Total run length. The TOTAL DISTANCE along the ramp helps confirm whether landings are required between runs.

Accuracy notes

  • You can walk the ramp to place each cube, or push one out to a spot from where you stand — pinch, push your hand away, release, and repeat (Action - Move and Rotate a Cube). Placing up close on the real surface gives the most reliable slope.
  • Place each cube's center carefully on the true top and bottom of the sloped surface; the slope is measured center‑to‑center.
  • Take a second reading to confirm. Real ramps vary along their length, so check a few segments, not just end to end.
  • This is a useful field check, not a replacement for a certified inspection or a calibrated inclinometer where one is legally required.