What is the maximum slope for a ramp?

• A. 1 unit vertical in 6 units horizontal
• B. 1 unit vertical in 8 units horizontal
• C. 1 unit vertical in 10 units horizontal
• D. 1 unit vertical in 12 units horizontal

Answer: (B)

Ramps are described by rise over run, so the slope is how much vertical height you gain for a given horizontal distance. A maximum slope means the steepest rise that is still allowed by safety and code. Among the given options, one vertical unit for eight horizontal units is the steepest that remains within the typical allowable range. The option with six horizontal units would be even steeper and is not permitted by the standard maximum, while the options with ten or twelve horizontal units are gentler than eight. So, one vertical in eight horizontal represents the steepest ramp slope that is still allowed in these choices. (For context, some codes use even gentler slopes for accessibility, such as one in twelve, but within these options, one in eight is the maximum.)