Florida Building Code Practice Exam

For a ramp used as part of a means of egress with a vertical rise of 24", what is the minimum horizontal length required according to the Florida Building Code?

1. 10'

2. 12'

3. 18'

4. 24'

The correct answer is: 24'

The Florida Building Code specifies that ramps used as means of egress must have specific slope requirements to ensure accessibility and safety. For a ramp with a vertical rise of 24 inches, the code dictates that the maximum slope should typically be 1:12. This means for every inch of vertical rise, there should be at least 12 inches of horizontal run. Calculating the minimum horizontal length required for a 24-inch vertical rise using the 1:12 slope ratio, you multiply the rise (24 inches) by 12, which gives you a horizontal length of 288 inches or 24 feet. Therefore, a ramp with a rise of 24 inches should have a horizontal run of at least 24 feet to comply with the Florida Building Code. Thus, the correct response aligns with these requirements, confirming that 24 feet is necessary for adequate slope and accessibility on the ramp.