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    The ADA Companion Guide

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    Applying the ADA

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    Designing for The 2010 ADA for Accessible Design in Multiple Building Types.

     

    Bathrooms

    Accessible Hotel Rooms

    Wednesday, April 10th, 2019

    Transient Lodging

    The minimum number of guest rooms required to be accessible in transient lodging facilities is covered by section 224 of the 2010 ADA Standards. Scoping requirements for guest rooms with mobility features and guest rooms with communication features are addressed at section 224.2 and section 224.4, respectively.

    Accessible guest rooms are used not only by individuals using mobility devices such as wheelchairs and scooters, but also by individuals with other mobility disabilities including persons who use walkers, crutches, or canes.

    Guest rooms with communication features are used by persons that are visually and hearing impaired.
    Even knowing where to look does not always make it simple to understand the requirements.  This newsletter will give you some examples of the not so well known rules about Transient lodging.

    Roll in Showers

    #ADAFact: If there are less than 51 guest rooms in a hotel or dorm, you are required to have mobility rooms without roll in showers.
    This rule is very easy to miss because most of hotels have more than 50 guest rooms.  If you have less than 50, there are zero roll-in showers required.  But there are still required accessible bathing fixtures.  In a recent hotel review, I performed there were exactly fifty guest rooms.  I looked at the chart to see how many rooms with mobility features were required and saw that it was two.  But what I also noticed was that both of them could not have a roll in shower.  As a matter of fact, there is always a minimum number that is required without roll in showers.  So they could provide tubs or transfer showers instead.  See the chart below.

    If they are interested in providing a roll in shower as an option, they would have to add a third guest room with mobility features.

    Shower seats

    #ADAFact:  All showers in a “transient lodging” facility are required to have a wall or floor mounted folding seat.
    Generally, in the ADA Standards, the only showers that are required to have a seat are transfer showers.  There is one exception: “Transient lodging”
    608.4 Seats. A folding or non-folding seat shall be provided in transfer type shower compartments. A folding seat shall be provided in roll-in type showers required in transient lodging guest rooms with mobility features complying with 806.2. Seats shall comply with 610.

    When a roll-in shower has a seat , the controls will have to be located no more than 27″ from the seat wall
    controls in the roll in shower were located no farther than 27″ from the seat wall

    Dispersion

    #ADAFact:  At least one guest room (but no more than 10%) required to provide mobility features as described in the 2010 ADA shall also provide communication features.
    That means that you can’t have all your guest rooms with communication features in the mobility rooms.  But you are required to provide at least one of the rooms with both communication and mobility features.
    In addition, they have to be dispersed as described below:
    224.5 Dispersion. Guest rooms required to provide mobility features complying with 806.2 and guest rooms required to provide communication features complying with 806.3 shall be dispersed among the various classes of guest rooms, and shall provide choices of types of guest rooms, number of beds, and other amenities comparable to the choices provided to other guests. 
     
    Where the minimum number of guest rooms required to comply with 806 is not sufficient to allow for complete dispersion, guest rooms shall be dispersed in the following priority: guest room type, number of beds, and amenities. 
     
    At least one guest room required to provide mobility features complying with 806.2 shall also provide communication features complying with 806.3. 
     
    Not more than 10 percent of guest rooms required to provide mobility features complying with 806.2 shall be used to satisfy the minimum number of guest rooms required to provide communication features complying with 806.3.
    In the 1991 ADAAG this was not the case and some establishments made all the rooms with communication features the same as the rooms with mobility features.  Communication features must be available as soon as the guest arrives.  It is no longer allowed to have a device at the front desk for the guest’s to request.

    Here are some examples of communication features
    this is a hard-wired notification device for the hearing impaired.
    There typically is more communication rooms required than mobility rooms, and therefore some would be exclusively rooms with communication features.  Designers must be careful to make sure that they are providing 90% of the rooms with communication features without mobility features.

    Location of Diaper Changing Stations

    Friday, March 1st, 2019

    Diaper Changing Stations

    #ADAFact: Diaper changing stations must be compliant with the 2010 ADA section 902, and be able to be used by persons with disabilities.
     In this blog, we will explore the proper locations of a diaper changing station within the restroom, which will allow the technical requirements to be met without creating any other accessibility issues.

    The Location could affect Clear Floor Space

    One of the requirements is for the diaper changing station to have a forward approach knee space. The location of the table or counter must not have anything in front of it which will impede the forward approach
    This baby changing station does not have a clear forward approach because the toilet is in the way
    Can the diaper changing station be inside a toilet compartment?  Yes, as long as there is enough room for a forward approach. Even though it is not a violation to have the only diaper changing station in the accessible stall, it would be recommended that it be located so that most of the public can use it without having to wait for the stall to be freed up.
     
    The diaper changing station in the photo above is located in the toilet compartment_ but it has plenty of room after entering to have a forward approach

    The Location could affect Door Clearance

    When locating the diaper changing station on a wall within a single user restroom, it is important to locate it so that it is not in the way of the door maneuvering clearance.  The door should be able to swing clear of the diaper changing station like it is shown on the drawing below 
    Not only do we have to be concerned about the diaper changing station when it is closed, but also when it is open.  If the diaper changing station is left open and a person in a wheelchair wants to come into the restroom, they would have a hard time maneuvering through the door since there is not a clear 60 of floor space.

    the open diaper changing station is in the way of the
    60 inches of required clearance to enter the restroom
    this diaper changing counter is in the way of the 18 inches minimum required at the pull side of the door

     

    Possible Protruding Objects

    Depending on where the diaper changing counter is located it might be considered a protruding object when open (or closed).  If the person who might have been using it forgets to close it and a person who is visually impaired enters the restroom, if the counter is mounted so that the bottom edge is higher than 27″ a.f.f. then the counter will be an undetectable hazard and a protruding object. This was explained by TDLR in a  Technical MemoTM 2013-15 published in June 2013.
    This open counter is higher than 27″ a.f.f. and is located in the way to the toilet. Therefore, it is considered a protruding object

     
    The solution would be to either mount the counter so that the bottom edge is EXACTLY 27″ a.f.f. which provides the required knee clearance, but also allows it to be cane-detectable.  Or it can be relocated away from the circulation path.

    Accessible operable parts and mechanisms

    Tuesday, July 3rd, 2018
    One of the guidelines that seem to be misunderstood is for operable parts.  This guideline requires that an accessible operable part have a mechanism that allows for operating or use without tight grasping or pinching, twisting of the wrist, with less than 5 lbs of force and to operate using only one hand.
    ADA section 309.4 Operable parts shall be operable with one hand and shall not require tight grasping, pinching, or twisting of the wrist. The force required to activate operable parts shall be 5 pounds (22.2 N) maximum.
     
    Why this is required?
    There are persons that don’t have proper use of their hands.  People with rheumatoid arthritis for example, or cerebral palsy, have a hard time grasping elements.  Also, there are people, like amputees, or people that were born without hands or fingers that cannot operate elements which require tight pinching.  In addition, some people with disabilities or older people may not have the amount of strength required to operate an element or activate an operable part if the force required is more than 5 lbs.  Therefore, the ADA design guidelines provides rules to assist those people to navigate their environment in an equal manner.

    Scoping:

    Operable parts on accessible elements, accessible routes, and in accessible rooms
    and spaces shall comply with with the standards.  There are some exceptions which explain that certain operable parts do not have to comply:
    1. Operable parts that are intended for use only by service or maintenance personnel
    2. Electrical or communication receptacles serving a dedicated use (like a refrigerator)
    3. Where two or more outlets are provided in a kitchen above a length of counter top that is uninterrupted by a sink or appliance, one  outlet shall not be required to comply
    4. Floor electrical receptacles
    5. HVAC diffusers
    6. Except for light switches, where redundant controls are provided for a single element, one control in each space  shall not be required to comply 
    7. Cleats and other boat securement devices
    8. Exercise machines and exercise equipment
    9. Operable windows that are only operated by staff and not occupants
    There is an advisory  that gives us more guidance and explanation;
    205.1 General. Controls covered by 205.1 include, but are not limited to, light switches, circuit breakers, duplexes and other convenience receptacles, environmental and appliance controls, plumbing fixture controls, and security and intercom systems.
     
    Section 309 
    Operable parts have three requirements:
    1) They must be within reach ranges as spelled out in the Section 308
    the operable part of the coffee maker must be no higher than 48″ a.f.f.
    2) They must have a 30″x 48″ clear floor space to reach the operable part as specified on 305.  The clear floor space should have a slope no steeper than 1:48 (2%) in all directions.
    the slope at the push button door opener was steeper
    than 2%
    3) and the operable part should be the type that will not require tight grasping and twisting of the wrist and no more than 5 lbs, like explained before.
    this feminine napkin dispenser operable part requires tight grasping and pulling to operate
    this faucet has an operable part that requires graping and twisting to activate
    Below are some more examples.

    Fire Extinguisher cabinet

    I get this question a lot about fire extinguisher cabinets:
    “Do we mount the cabinet so that the top of the fire extinguisher is between 15″-48″ a.f.f.?”
    The answer is no.  The reach range is for “operable parts” of fixed elements.  So a fire extinguisher would not be the operable part, but the handle to open the cabinet would be.  So one should locate the fire extinguisher cabinet door handle between 15″-48″ a.f.f.
    the operable part is the handle to open the cabinet door

    Emergency Nurse calling

    Another operating mechanism that is confusing is the emergency call button located in medical care facilities and long term care facilities. They are used when a patient or resident needs a nurse.  They are typically located next to the toilet and in the shower and they are required to have a string that reaches the floor.  The string is used if a patient or resident falls and they need to pull the string if they can’t get up.
    this call button has a red lever that can be pushed down with a closed fist which has a compliant operable part
    this call button also has a lever that can be pushed down with a closed fist which is a compliant operable part
    this call button is only able to be activated by grasping and pulling the string. This would not meet the requirements for accessible operable parts
    In order for the call button to be compliant, it must not only have the string, but it should have a second way of calling the nurse which will not require tight grasping and pulling.

    Adjustable mechanism at the hand held shower

    One of the operating mechanism that is forgotten is the one required to adjust a hand held shower unit.
    the hand held unit height can be adjusted using the wheel next to the vertical bar.  The wheel requires tight grasping and twisting to
    operate it and therefore not a compliant operating mechanism.
    Once the height is adjusted, the mechanism to loosen or tighten the adjustable part is not always used again.  But the initial action to adjust must meet the requirements.  So the adjustable mechanism must also comply.
    this mechanism does not require tight grasping to loosen or tighten
    this adjustable mechanism requires pinching to loosen

    Need Barrier Free CEUs?

    We are giving classes in the following locations:
    Metrocon18-Dallas Texas
     
    Online courses:
    Green CE On Demand webinar “How Accessible is Your work place?”
    Green CE On Demand webinar “ADA and Residential Facilities”
    or
    If you want to learn more about these standards, be sure to check out my books:

    Revisiting Shower Seats

    Thursday, March 1st, 2018

    Shower seat installation, location and the effects of shower controls and other elements

    Seats are not always required at bathing facilities, but there are some situations that will require showers seats to be added.  For instance, a transfer shower always requires a seat. Also, in transient lodging facilities (hotels, halfway houses, dorms), a seat is required not only in transfer showers but also in roll-in showers.

    The shower must be permanently attached to the shower and not be movable.  The one exception will be at residential facilities which require blocking for future seats.

    This article will explain how the seat should be installed and how it affects the location of controls and other elements.

    Shower Seat: Scoping

    There are two types of showers: Transfer showers and roll in showers.  Transfer showers are one’s people with mobility impairment will “transfer” onto.  Roll-in showers are the ones that a person in a wheelchair will roll their wheelchair into.

    ADA Section 608.4 requires permanent shower seats in transfer showers.

    1. These must be either folding or not folding seat.
    2. The only exception is for residential dwelling units required to comply with ADA (not Fair Housing). Reinforcement in the wall for the future installation shall be provided instead.

    Roll-in showers are not required to provide a shower seat per section 608.4.  There are two exceptions where seats are required to be provided in roll-in showers:

    1. In social service establishments (i.e. homeless shelters) with more than 50 beds. (per DOJ’s Subpart D of 28 CFR Part 36) AND
    2. In transient lodging guest rooms with mobility features
    3. If a seat is provided in a roll in shower, either by choice or because it is required as stated above, the seat must be permanent and folding.  This allows a person to either use the shower as a transfer type with the seat or as a true roll-in-shower without the seat in the way.
    4. The same technical requirements must be provided as in a transfer shower with a seat (see next entry)

    This photo shows a folding seat mounted on a roll in shower.  The controls are located in the correct location, but there is a grab bar above it.  A grab bar should not be provided where the seat is located.

    This shower was intended as a roll in shower, but the seat provided is not “folding”, therefore a person in a wheelchair could not roll in and use it easily.

    Shower Seats: Technical

    ​Sections  610.3 describes the types of seats allowed at showers.  There can be a rectangular seat or an “L-shape” seat:

    1) Where a seat is provided, the seat shall extend from the back wall to a point within 3″ of the compartment entry.

    This seat did not extend from the back wall to 3″ of the entry

    The seat is 9″ away from the entry

    Sometimes, the seat is located around a gyp wall and the shower sits back a few inches.  So do we consider the wing wall part of the shower when measuring the location of the seat?  According to the Texas Department of Licensing, the shower begins at the shower pan and therefore the wing wall is not counted as part of the shower.
    This shower seat is located 3″ away from the shower pan which is technically where the shower entry begins.  The gyp wall extension is not technically part of the shower.  We recommend that if at all possible, you make the shower pan flush with the wall.

    2) The top of the seat shall be 17″-19″ above the bathroom finish floor.

    3)They can be rectangular meeting figure 610.3.1

    This seat is 4″ away from the end wall rather than 1 1/2″ max

    4) Or they can be “L-shape” meeting figure 610.3.2

    5) The structural strength should be able to sustain 250 lbs of applied force on the seat, fastener, mounting device or support structure.

     

    Roll-in Showers

     There are two types of roll in shower configurations allowed by the ADA.  The shower seat location in these showers will dictate where the controls and grab bars will be located.

    The Standard Roll-in shower with seat:

    The alternate shower with a seat.  An alternate shower is a combination of a transfer shower and roll in shower, so it is larger in depth than a standard roll-in shower.

    The photo above shows an alternate roll-in shower

     

    Depending on where the seat is located, the controls must be located no farther than 27″ away from the seat.

     

    Clear Floor Space

    In order to transfer onto the seat, there should be a clear floor space that meets the requirements at 305 parallel to the shower seat.  The requirements include the size to be 30″x48″ and that the slope is not steeper than 1:48.
    This shower has a ramp transition up to the entry which creates a slope steeper than 1:48 at the clear floor space of the seat
    This shower entry into a transfer shower has a sloped entry which would have been acceptable if the clear floor space would have been 30″ deep. The slope begins with that 30″ making the slope steeper than 1:48.

    Would you like to receive helpful information like the above article?  Subscribe to our accessibility newsletter. We send it only once per month. We promise not to spam you.

    Fair Housing

    Monday, February 1st, 2016

    Which projects have to comply?

    The Federal Fair Housing Act covers newly constructed multi-family housing projects that are first time occupancy residential.  The projects must also have more than four dwelling units.  In an a building with elevators, ALL dwelling units must comply with the guidelines.  In a building without an elevator, only the first floor units must comply.  If the building is only two story units, then none of them must comply.
    In addition to the Fair Housing Act, some municipalities have also adopted the ANSI A117.1 for their residential dwelling units.  These dictate that a certain percentage must be built as with mobility features (for the mobility impaired) and a percentage with communication features (for the hearing and visually impaired)
    c4988274-9ce0-4572-8bc7-70cf9511d5c2
    c40ca32e-6e23-411d-953a-a59b0abd3e23

    Seven Requirements

    The Fair Housing Act Guidelines have seven requirements for the covered residential dwelling units.  Here is the definitions.  This newsletter will just give an overview and will not describe all the details for each requirement.  We will plan to explain in more detail in future newsletters:
    REQUIREMENT 1
    Accessible Building Entrance on an Accessible Route:
    Covered multifamily dwellings must have at least one building entrance on an accessible route, unless it is impractical to do so because of terrain or unusual characteristics of the site. For all such dwellings with a building entrance on an accessible route the following six requirements apply.
    80850f64-ddf7-4329-9c75-22ec739b35b9
    REQUIREMENT 2
    Accessible and Usable Public and Common Use Areas:
    d4c7c601-e740-4459-b0f0-f415aec931bd
    REQUIREMENT 3
    Usable Doors:
    All doors designed to allow passage into and within all premises must be sufficiently
    wide to allow passage by persons in wheelchairs.
    2c3af288-31c9-40ce-8fb3-2e8eeb8d9d7e
    REQUIREMENT 4
    Accessible Route Into and Through the Covered Dwelling Unit:
    8438ccf6-a7d9-4c61-86a6-9f404912902e
    REQUIREMENT 5
    Light Switches, Electrical Outlets, Thermostats and Other Environmental
    Controls in Accessible Locations:
    All premises within the dwelling units must contain light switches, electrical outlets, thermostats and other environmental controls in accessible locations.
    17cd29e0-fdb2-4035-9470-7b7cdf2f8a56
    REQUIREMENT 6
    Reinforced Walls for Grab Bars:
    All premises within dwelling units must contain reinforcements in bathroom walls to allow later installation of grab bars around toilet, tub, shower stall and shower seat, where such facilities are provided.
    3f62da1e-3214-4afe-a792-35b672e20f4f
    REQUIREMENT 7
    Usable Kitchens and Bathrooms:
    Dwelling units must contain usable kitchens and bathrooms such that an individual who uses a wheelchair can maneuver about the space.
    baa5330a-5c94-4ef6-ad41-4b684c7b67d2
    fd148cf6-0e21-49e4-8a09-3f0976d66dd1

    Inspector’s Corner

    Requirement 1 of the Fair Housing Act states that an accessible entrance is required to the dwelling units.  This photo shows three steps up to the stoop which leads to the entrance, and no ramp or lift to get them to the stoop.  This unit does not meet the requirement.

    f7422d0e-f00e-4a51-9274-8edc8cbc4a65

    Need CEUs

    February 24th: “How Accessible is Your Work Space” at Herman Miller Showroom in Dallas, Texas
    If you are interested in Building Code seminars check out my colleague Shahla Layendecker with SSTL Codes
    If you want to learn more about these standards, be sure to check out my books:
    97c8a80a-9426-4c3d-88fb-ef6213d94712
    6fc8cab3-4989-476b-b86b-d65fdc8c74cc

    If you have any questions about these or any other topics, please feel free to contact me anytime.

    Marcela Abadi Rhoads, RAS #240
    Abadi Accessibility
    214. 403.8714
    marhoads@abadiaccess.com
    www.abadiaccess.com

    Private Bathrooms

    Wednesday, July 1st, 2015

    There is a misconception that a private bathroom is exempted from having to comply with the 2010 ADA Guidelines and the 2012 TAS.  In reality, even private bathrooms must comply, although there are some exceptions they can take. In order to take the exceptions, a bathroom is deemed “private” if  the bathroom is accessed from a private office and not for public or common use.  This newsletter will discuss what items are required to be provided at private bathrooms, and which one’s can be left out. There is a summary from TDLR on TM 2013-19 which we will discuss in detail.

    Toilets

    At a private bathroom that is accessed through a private office and not for common use, the toilets must comply with all the requirements except for:

    1. The height of the toilet does not have to be 17″-19″ a.f.f.  It can be higher or lower than the minimum required heights.
    2. Grab bars are not required to be installed, but blocking must be provided within the wall for future installation
    3. In the Toilet and Bathing rooms the door shall swing into the clear floor space of the fixtures in a private office

    So a private toilet must still have the clearances required at the floor area distance from the side wall, flush control and toilet paper dispenser must comply with 604

    a0d8821e-2e1c-4c69-ab04-d679d9a95e17

    The photo above shows the proper floor clearance, but the flush control and the toilet paper dispenser were not correctly located 

    76e54316-9f42-414f-b146-7f040efb2883

    The toilet in this photo does not have the proper floor clearance per 604 nor is the toilet paper dispenser mounted at the proper location

    Sinks

    At a private bathroom accessed from a private office and not for public use must have a sink that complies with everything in section 606 except:

    1. The sink does not have to have a knee space complying with 306 for forward approach.  A parallel approach is allowed to be provided.
    2. The height of the sink does not have to be a 34″ a.f.f. maximum.  It can be higher or lower than what the Standards require.

    The sink is required to have the proper faucet mechanism, the mirror at the correct height, and floor area for parallel approach.

    da3df706-dab6-4f57-97e6-5f663985ff42

    Because a private bathroom does not require a knee space at the sink, a pedestal sink can be used.  The mirror on the other hand must be mounted at 40″ a.f.f. to the bottom of the reflective surface.

    Showers and Tubs

    At a private bathroom accessed by a private office and not for public or common use, the showers and tubs have to comply with all the requirements of section 607 and 608 except for:

    1.  Grab bars do not have to be installed, but blocking within the walls for future installation must be provided.

    Otherwise, a shower must have the controls installed at the proper reach range, a hand held shower unit must be provided, the threshold at the entry must not be higher than 1/2″, the size of the shower must comply, and at a transfer shower a seat must also be provided.

    cf909f92-f84b-470f-977e-f71bd42db47f

    This shower doesn’t have a seat or a handheld shower unit.  In addition there is a door which doesn’t have clearance on the interior of the shower 

    Upcoming Continuing Education Opportunities

    HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!!!!

    Tuesday July 21st from 3:00-4:00 CST “Understanding the 2010 ADA Standards” Provided by Green CE

    Thursday July 23rd

    Sit in a wheelchair for a Day!  Join several of your fellow architects in Dallas and experience what a person who uses a wheelchair experiences.  For more information contact Marcela Rhoads at marhoads@abadiaccess.com

    Friday July 24th ALL DAY!  Join Us!!!

    Marking the 25th anniversary of the ADA, July 24th will be ADA Awareness day in Dallas Texas.  The AIA Dallas’s Codes and Standards committee is planning a day full of great programs.  Stay tuned.  If you want to be a sponsor, let me know.

    07234c16-f429-481c-8efe-60e53479df67

    Thank you to our Sponsors: Andres Construction, Access by Design and

    Abadi Accessibility

    If you are interested in Building Code seminars check out my colleague Shahla Layendecker with SSTL Codes

    If you want to learn more about these standards, be sure to check out my books:

    “The ADA Companion Guide”  “Applying the ADA” published by Wiley. 

    f6d0d3fd-b4dd-4507-a88a-ac46f993f5fb
    6fc8cab3-4989-476b-b86b-d65fdc8c74cc

     They are available for sale now. (also available as an e-book)
    If you have any questions about these or any other topics, please feel free to contact me anytime.

    Marcela Abadi Rhoads, RAS #240
    Abadi Accessibility
    214. 403.8714
    marhoads@abadiaccess.com
    www.abadiaccess.com
    Useful Links

     

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    23e5e0af-7846-472b-b702-19386acb4fca0e98de4a-47d4-412d-9302-b0212a4b2b0d

    Accessible Residences

    Sunday, March 24th, 2013

    In the new ADA there are residential scoping and technical guidelines.  But these guidelines only deal with Federally funded housing, residences in places of education or social service establishments that have dwelling within.  Other residential facilities, do not fall under the ADA, but Fair Housing or Model Codes.  There are four types of residential projects, but only two are required to follow the ADA Standards.

    1. Single Family Housing
    2. Multi-Family Housing
    3. Federally funded multi-family housing
    4. Residential facilities as defined by ADA

    This newsletter will explain single and multi-family housing that are not required to meet ADA Standards.

    Privately funded Multi-Family Housing

    The Fair Housing Act requires that any multi-family project be made accessible to the disabled community. Therefore the owner of a multi-famly property cannot discriminate against a family or individual who is disabled on the grounds that the property is not accessible.

    ALL multi-family housing projects are required to be accessible per the Fair Housing Act.  This includes apartment complexes, and even condominiums as long as there are four or more units in the property.

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    Here are the requirements from the fair housing act guidelines:

    – At walk-ups (no elevator) ALL ground level units must meet the requirements

    –  in an elevator building ALL units must meet the requirements

    Building code and ADA does have percentages for how many units are required to be fully compliant vs. adaptable, but fair housing does not.  Therefore all units must be designed using the minimum guidelines listed below.

    There are seven requirements:

    1) Accessible building entrance on an accessible route: At least one entrance into the building or unit

    9146523a-6d06-4d7f-aa21-3f2333461d3e

    2) Accessible and Usable public and common use areas: Places such as parking lots, mail boxes, recreational area, lobbies, laundry areas, community building must be accessible and usable.

    8b3b898f-a3bb-42a0-b4ab-53fdbd008b62

    3) Usable doors: all doors that allow passage must be wide enough (32″ nominal) and the main entrance must have proper hardware

    8d7b3786-9864-476b-950f-6de6a6fef29c

    4) Accessible route into and through the covered dwelling unit

    e71ff715-4db9-45a9-8fc6-757c96392f81

    5)  Light switches, Electrical outlets, thermostat and other environmental controls in accessible locations

    9136b875-f56b-4f7d-b40f-1aaec8ce827c

    6) Reinforced walls in bathrooms for future installation of grab bars

    4e2d0cee-fac1-46ca-8d89-4bdcb34672fc

    7) Usable kitchens and bathrooms: Should be designed and constructed so an individual in a wheelchair can maneuver in the space provided.  No knee clearances are required

    a76a2f60-f406-4428-a1f3-420fbb8ae549

    f4df75e5-ae9b-461c-89aa-e82d9d1436e3

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    To understand more in detail the requirements, visit the Fair Housing Act website or click here for the Design Manual

    Single Family Housing

    Single family homes, duplexes, triplexes and multi-story townhouses  are not required to be accessible by any accessibility standards. Therefore any single family home development are essentially exempted from having to be accessible to the disabled.

    A new movement called “Aging in Place” are advocating for remodeling or retro-fitting homes in order to make them more usable to the disabled and more universally designed so that families can stay together as they age. Below are some of the enhancements we did in a kitchen of a family with a disabled mother and son.  It is also good for their able body husband.

    Before the upgrades:

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    After the upgrades:

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    Inspector’s Corner

    This was a remodel of a single family home.  We installed a pull down shelving which made the shelves within reach range

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    Click here to watch the video of pull down shelving

    For more information

    If you want to learn more about the new Standards, The ADA Companion Guide explains the 2004 ADAAG Guidelines  with commentary and explanations throughout.  The 2004 Guidelines were adopted by the DOJ to create the 2010 Standards and by Texas to create the 2012 TAS.  This book explains the technical requirements for both.

     If you have any questions about these or any other topics, please feel free to contact me anytime.

    Marcela Abadi Rhoads, RAS #240
    Abadi Accessibility
    214. 403.8714

    Technical Memos

    Monday, December 24th, 2012

    The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation regulates the Architectural Barrier Act and the Texas Accessibility Standards in Texas.  They also issue memos that explain certain ambiguous terms and concepts in the Standards.  They have issued four so far to explain the 2012 TAS.  This newsletter explain them.

    TM 2012-01 Electrical Vehical Charging Station

    The Technical Memorandum TM 2012-01 has requirements for Electrical Vehicle Charging Station.

    Because the US Department of Justice have not issued guidelines for Electric Vehicle Charging station, TDLR decided to create one.  So in Texas this is the requirements:

    Twenty percent (20%) but not less than one, of each type of charging station in each cluster on a site shall meet the following criteria:

    1. Controls and operating mechanisms for the accessible charging station shall comply with TAS 309 (no twisting of the wrist and less than 5 lbs to operate) and shall be within the forward reach ranges specified in TAS 308.2;
    2. The vehicle space(s) with the accessible charging station shall be at least 96 inches wide and shall provide a 36 inch wide (minimum) accessible route complying with TAS  402 on both sides of the vehicle space to allow the user adequate space to exit their vehicle and access both sides of the vehicle. Striping of the accessible routes is recommended but not required.
    3. Directional and informational signage complying with TAS 216.3 shall designate the location of the accessible charging stations.  The symbol of accessibility is recommended but not required.

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    This figure is just one example.  There might be other ways to meet the requirements

    TM 2012-02 Emergency Response Building and Facilities

    The Technical Memorandum TM 2012-02 explains what to do with facilities for emergency response personnel.  This was taken from the US Access Board and DOJ Commentary.  There are basically Three type of areas within emergency response facilities:

    1. Crew quarters that are used exclusively as a residence by emergency response personnel and the kitchens and bathrooms exclusively serving those quarters shall comply with the requirements of 233 (including 233.3.1) and 809 for residential facilities and residential dwelling units.

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    2. All other common use areas, elements, and spaces, including, but not limited to, parking, drinking fountains, public restrooms, meeting and training rooms, and conference rooms, shall comply with the 2012 TAS.  Multi-story buildings and facilities shall comply with the accessible route requirements found in 206.2.3 unless exempted by 206.2.3, Exception 2, which states that in a public building that is less than three stories with less than 5 occupants on the upper or lower story, an accessible route is not required.

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    3. Truck bays, workshops, and other employee work areas, elements, and spaces used exclusively by emergency personnel for work shall comply with 203.9 and other provisions of the 2012 TAS applicable to employee work areas which state only approach, enter and exit is required.

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    TM 2012-03 Shopping Centers and Shopping Malls

    The Technical Memorandum TM 2012-03 explains what defines a shopping center or shopping mall and how this affects the elevator/accessible route exception.

    The definition of a shopping center is:

    a) A building housing five or more sales or rental establishments; or

    b) A series of buildings on a common site, either under common ownership or common control or developed either as one project or as a series of related projects, housing five or more sales or rental establishments

    If a private building is a shopping center and has more than one story, an accessible route is required, no matter what is going on on the second story.

    But there is an exception if it is a retail space in a one story building with a mezzanine.

    A free standing store, like Walmart is not a shopping center and therefore a mezzanine may not require an accessible route if it meets all the criteria on 206.2.3 Exception 1 or 206.2.4 Exception 3.

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    This photo is of a retail story with a second story and it does require an accessible route to the second story.

    TM 2012-04 Multi-Story Buildings and Facilities

    The Technical Memorandum TM 2012-04 explains what is meant by “square feet” and “per story” in 206.2.3, Exception 1:

    1. Square Feet. The reference to “square feet” shall mean gross square feet.
    2. Per Story. The term “story” is defined  in 106.5.64  as that portion of a building or facility designed for human occupancy included between the upper surface of a floor or the upper surface of the floor or roof next above.  A story containing one or more mezzanines has more than one floor level.

      3. Therefore, based on 106.1 and the indicated meaning of “story”, the reference to “per story” shall also apply to the first story when calculating square footage.

      These clarifications have been confirmed by the Department with the U. S. Access Board and do not constitute a substantive change to the compliance requirements of 206.2.3, Exception 1.

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      Continuing Education Opportunities

      New Orleans

      4 hr HSW: 2010 ADA and IBC

      Please use this link below for registration and details

      Little Rock

      4 hr HSW 2010 ADA and IBC

      Please  use this link below for registration and details

      If you want to learn more about the new Standards, The ADA Companion Guide explains the 2004 ADAAG Guidelines  with commentary and explanations throughout.  The 2004 Guidelines were adopted by the DOJ to create the 2010 Standards and by Texas to create the 2012 TAS.  This book explains the technical requirements for both.

       If you have any questions about these or any other topics, please feel free to contact me anytime.
      Marcela Abadi Rhoads, RAS #240
      Abadi Accessibility
      214. 403.8714

    Monet had Cataracts

    Thursday, August 26th, 2010

    I love impressionistic paintings. They are a marvel of color, textures and optical illusion! It is like painting the trees and getting the forest….How did the Masters do it? I recently found out that Monet, one of the great impressionistic painters, had cataracts and that is what made him paint the way he did. He had to get close to the canvas in order to paint. He hated his style once his cataracts got worse. He didn’t value its beauty….Thank goodness that others did. We are now lucky to have had him in the world with cataracts and we can enjoy his beautiful work.

    On the 20th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, a group of architects toured the Dallas Lighthouse for the Blind. This is an amazing facility that trains and employs visually impaired people to manufacture many items from eye glass cases, highlighters, and even military shovel carrying fanny packs. It was an “eye-opening” experience (pun intended). These people are truly incredible. They are able to use computers with a software that read them what is on the screen. But the software doesn’t read it like an audio CD that you read for fun….it speed reads. One of the trainees demonstrated the software and he had it read what was on the screen in the speed that he can understand. All I could hear was gibberish….it was reading 120 words a minute…. and he could actually understand it! INCREDIBLE!!!

    There is also a software that assists in reading called J.A.W.S.  this makes the text bigger as needed.  We also saw the others at work at sewing machines, assembly lines and their individual stations where they put together all sorts of products that are sold to companies. These people are so good at what they do, that all I could do is just open my mouth and be in awe!!!

    The building was also designed for the low vision people that worked there. The door frames were a contrasting color to the doors and walls so that they could “see” that there was a doorway there rather than just a wall of the same color. Their bathrooms had circular mirrors so that they would not think it was a window they were looking through. And many other items such as braille at signs, truncated domes on ramps so they can detect the change in environment, and they even use their sense of smell to move around their space.

    That experience really made me think of the disability and how truly remarkable our bodies (and these wonderful people) are that they can adjust to their limitations.

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    What do I think of the ADA…as an architect?

    Monday, July 19th, 2010

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    Thank you to Abadi Accessibility News for asking me to weigh in with my opinion as we approach the 20th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. My name is Bob Borson and I can typically be found at the helm of my own blog, Life of an Architect .

    On July 26, 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law by then President George. H. W. Bush. It was a momentous occasion and it would change the lives of millions of people, mostly for the better. So here we are 20 years later, well into living and working with the rules and regulations associated with the ADA, but how are we as architects doing implementing these rules? As architects we are probably doing okay because you can’t work on a project without implementing the requirements of the ADA. For example, this act was signed into law before I even graduated from college so it has existed all of my professional life. That having been said, how are our clients doing with it and are we helping them?

    On occasion, when I tell people that some portion of their project doesn’t currently meet code or when I try and explain why the bathrooms are as large as I have shown them, I get puzzled, sometimes irritated responses:

    Client: “I was in a restaurant the other day and their toilet room wasn’t anywhere near this big.”
    Me: “Well that doesn’t make it right, besides, it is possible that their toilet rooms were permitted before ADA was a requirement.”
    Client: “And why is that space behind the cashier so large – make it smaller..”
    Me: “I can’t, that is another ADA requirement. Someone who works back there might be in a wheelchair and they need to be able to turn around and maneuver properly.”
    Client: “It’s too big, I just won’t hire someone in a wheelchair.”
    Me: “It’s not called the Americans in Wheelchairs Act, there are other disabilities. You do realize that you are now practicing a type of discrimination and trying to break a federal law?”
    Client: “No one else seems to have to do it…now whose being discriminated against?”

    I am embarrassed to have to say that I have had this exact conversation or some form just like it several times and I am always shocked that people don’t even realize that they are practicing discrimination. I like to think I have smart clients but I have had a few tell me (after I pointed out what they were asking for) tell me that they don’t discriminate, that they like people from all races and backgrounds.

    Errr…that would be racism and something entirely different. Holy gorilla’s armpit – you have got to be kidding me………

    I have to be honest with you, I mostly do residential work and my knowledge of the intricacies of the rules and regulations associated with the ADA are pedestrian at best. I can handle looking things up in the rule book and coming to my own conclusions but what it really comes down to is having a Registered Accessibility Specialist, or RAS, who is there to help guide you. When I start a project, and I try to sit down with all the people who will be working with me and I have a conversation about how we are all on the same team and that we all have the same goals. See, the very nature of how most contracts are set up, adversarial relationships between architect and contractor are established from the very beginning. Another relationship that can be a bit…well maybe not adversarial but difficult at times is between the architect and their RAS. Sometimes, and I mean this with begrudging respect, RAS tend to be rule followers of the highest order. This “rule following” mentality can actually serve the architect well when trying to navigate the labyrinth that is the ADA rulebook. But I am not interested in just rule followers, I want my RAS to interpret how the rules might actually apply specifically to my project. And that’s where my particular RAS consultant specialist comes in.

    When I was asked to write this post, I was more than happy to do it. The type of RAS consultant I like to work with typically has an architectural background. Having a RAS who thinks like an architect while interpreting the rules and regulations associated with ADA, brings me that much closer to achieving a successful project while getting everyone working on the project on the same side and with the same ultimate goal. I don’t think that some people think about the type of role that a RAS can perform – if you get the right one. It is my intention to go beyond just “doing the right thing”, disabled persons should have their actions and challenges taken into consideration. Trying to be a rule breaker, or even a rule bender, holds no allure for me as a architect and designer. But just as I have to interpret the projects programs, I want a RAS consultant who will help me work within the guidelines established and to achieve all our common goals – a happy client. Incorporating ADA requirements into your projects is an indication on how far we as a society have come, how inclusive we can be. It should be more about what we can do, not what we have to do.