How to calculate slopes and gradients

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As an architect you will need to know how to calculate slopes and gradients in differing situations. The most common occurrence of this is working with ramped access to buildings, groundworks, car parks 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. At the end I will also take a quick look at slope percentages and how to work them out.

 

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:

how to calculate slopes and gradients

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

how to work out the gradient of a ramp

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

How to work out the rise of a ramp

 

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

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)

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How to work out slope percentage

how to work out Slope percentage

If we want to work out the percentage of a slope, you first must ensure you convert the units so they are the same, similar to working with the ratios above.
 
Working on one of the previous example, lets assume we have a slope that has a run of 10m with a rise of 500mm. First convert the units.
 
Rise: 500mm
Run: 10,000mm
 
Percentage of slope = Rise / Run x 100
 
Percentage of slope = 500 / 10,000 x 100
 
Percentage of slope = 5%
 
I hope you find this post helpful for working out your slopes and ramps!

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24 Comments

  1. Handy for my building work.

    Reply
    • Cheers .

      Reply
    • Please e-mail copy if your video and part M.

      Reply
  2. Cant seem to be able to download this pdf, I have subscribed is there something I am not doing correctly

    Reply
    • Hi Francois, I have emailed it to you directly 🙂

      Reply
  3. The calculations you will be sending me is helpful in my studies.

    Reply
  4. Is there a grad level that works the gradient out for you?

    Reply
    • Not sure….

      Reply
  5. Excellent; so simple and concise information.
    Just what’s required for me to work out a project query.

    Thank you.

    Bill Darling

    Reply
    • Thank you Bill 🙂

      Reply
  6. I’m a freshly graduated architecture student & I’ve only recently encountered this site. It’s very neat & well organised. Contents are very easy to understand. Thank you for the things i learned here. I wish you all the very best.

    Reply
  7. How these lucky person got downloaded block “Slopes and Gradients ” I have booked on 50% from last several days

    Reply
    • Hey there Arshad, I have emailed you the pdf. Please check your inbox. Any problems – let me know 🙂

      Reply
  8. Excellent for mine learners

    Reply
  9. I am not able to download the pdf version. Might have something wrong in the link? How could I get it?
    Excellent site by the way.

    Many thanks

    Reply
    • Hey Tamara, I’ve emailed the pdf to you directly. Any problems please let me know 🙂

      Reply
  10. Hello,

    This is really useful, can you please confirm if this is the same calculation that builders use for the garden? I have been told that the garden they are building has 1:17 and is approximate 29 feet. Does this mean the rise is around 50-52cm?

    Reply
    • Yes, based on your figures that is what I would expect the rise to be. Does that sound right according to your project?

      Reply
  11. WHAT ABOUT FALLING GRADIENTS CALCULATIONS PLEASE

    Reply
  12. Hi,

    What is the maximum slope gradient for ramps for basement parking?

    i currently have a 6m runway and a 3,5m height.

    I am trying to determine a safe slope for it.

    Regards,

    PD

    Reply
  13. Very well explained and easy to follow

    Reply
  14. I need help! I am struggling to work out the correct ratio for a slope. I know a slabbed path can have a maximum of 1:12. Therefore over a 600mm slab it is within regulation to rise or fall by 50mm per slab. However I’m trying to work out what the ratio is using 680mm distance and 50mm fall. 680 divided by 50 = 13.6 meaning the ratio is 1 in 13.6, This cannot be correct as how can the slope be steeper than 1:12 when the fall/rise is 50mm and it’s over a longer distance than 600mm it’s over 680mm? This is really confusing me any help would be really appreciated .

    Reply
    • Hi Chris, a gradient of 1:13 is shallower than a gradient of 1:12. So the slab of 600mm with a rise of 50mm is steeper than the 680mm with a rise of 50mm. Your calculations are correct, I think you are just misunderstanding the gradient ratios. 1:20 is a shallow slope, while 1:5 is a steep slope. Hope that helps.

      Reply
  15. Hi Emma,

    Just wondering if this is a typo here.
    In your first example, you have stated that gradient=run/rise.
    I think it should be gradient = rise/run

    Reply

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