Bathrooms
Thursday, December 1st, 2022
Have you noticed that there are many instances in the ADA that uses 60″ as a requirement?
- Turning spaces
- Passing spaces
- Manuevering clearances at some doors
- Landings at ramps
- Clearance around the toilet
- access aisle as parking spaces
I am not sure exactly why they like that dimension….but one thing is clear is that it confuses many of my architects. This newsletter will clarify (hopefully) that even though these are the same numbers, they are meant to be for two SEPARATE instances.
Turning spaces
Toile rooms are required to be large enough in order to provide a turning space. It can either be a circle or a “T” turn. This turning space can overlap door clearances. It can overlap fixture CLEARANCES but it cannot overlap the fixture itself.
304.3.1 Circular Space. The turning space shall be a space of 60 inches (1525 mm) diameter minimum. The space shall be permitted to include knee and toe clearance complying with 306.
304.3.2 T-Shaped Space. The turning space shall be a T-shaped space within a 60 inch (1525 mm) square minimum with arms and base 36 inches (915 mm) wide minimum. Each arm of the T shall be clear of obstructions 12 inches (305 mm) minimum in each direction and the base shall be clear of obstructions 24 inches (610 mm) minimum. The space shall be permitted to include knee and toe clearance complying with 306 only at the end of either the base or one arm.
The drawing above shows the turning space overlaping the clerances of fixtures and the door clearance can also overlap the turning space. This turning space is essentially a representation of where a person in a wheelchair could use to turn, but it is not a permanent element.
Clearance around a water closet
Toilet rooms require a minimum of 60″ x 56″ in order for a person in a wheelchair to transfer onto the toilet room. This is different and separate than the 60″ turning space. It is only related to the toilet even though they have the same dimension.
604.3 Clearance. Clearances around water closets and in toilet compartments shall comply with 604.3.
604.3.1 Size. Clearance around a water closet shall be 60 inches (1525 mm) minimum measured perpendicular from the side wall and 56 inches (1420 mm) minimum measured perpendicular from the rear wall.
This image shows the clearance required for a wheelchair to transfer onto the toilet
This toilet in the picture above did not have the 60″ min. clearance around the toilet- it does have the 60″ turning space, but that is a different requirement.
Upcoming Classes
December 13th- Understanding the ADA: Case Studies
I will be giving a zoom to the Mother’s In Architecture Facebook Group, but I am opening it up to others.
Here is the Zoom Link. Email me for the password.
Friday, July 1st, 2022
July 2022: Inspector’s Corner
I do ADA inspections every Wednesday and I always find some interesting things that I wanted to share. Here are some interesting solutions and products that are good for accessibility, and I will show them in this newsletter.
Diaper Changing Counters and Cane Detection
A diaper changing counter will sometimes be located in a circulation path around the restroom and when it is left open it can be a protruding object. TDLR issued a technical memo on the topic. Here is the link. At some of my inspections I have seen some interesting ways of handling this:
The figure above shows the requirements for objects mounted in a circulation path so they will not be hazards for people with visual impairments.
The photo above shows a diaper changing counter in the open position and located on the circulation path to the toilet compartments and exit door and is a protruding object.
Recently I have seen this Koala diaper counter installed. What is unique and interesting about it is that they are taking into consideration the “protruding object” concern and they have designed it so that the handle you use to open it, once it is in the down position, acts as cane detection.
This diaper counter’s handles will reach below 27″ a.f.f. if installed correctly and it acts as cane detection.
Reflective Surface at Mirrors
Most of us understand the rule about mirrors over lavatories or sinks. They must be located so that the reflective surface is not higher than 40″ a.f.f. I was recently at an inspection where the mirror had a frame as part of the mirror where the outer edge was the reflective surface, then frosted glass and back to the reflective surface. Obviously, the intent was for a person in a wheelchair to be able to see themselves in the mirror, so although technically there is a reflective surface at 40″ a.f.f., the real “mirror” was above that.
The mirror in the picture above has a frosted glass frame that has an outer edge made of the reflective surface of the mirror.
The “reflective” surface of the mirror (as the Standards intended) will be the one above the frosted glass, even though there is a reflective surface below the frosted glass.
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Monday, August 3rd, 2020
Introduction
The ADA Standards (and the Texas Accessibility Standards) states:
106.5.5 Alteration. A change to a building or facility that affects or could affect the usability of the building or facility or portion thereof. Alterations include, but are not limited to, remodeling, renovation, rehabilitation, reconstruction, historic restoration, resurfacing of circulation paths or vehicular ways, changes or rearrangement of the structural parts or elements, and changes or rearrangement in the plan configuration of walls and full-height partitions.
Normal maintenance, reroofing, painting or wallpapering, or changes to mechanical and electrical systems are not alterations unless they affect the usability of the building or facility.
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When doing “alterations” in buildings you have two sets of requirements: Requirements for alterations ( ADA Section 202.3) and requirements for alterations that occur in an area that contains a primary function ( ADA Section 202.4) If your alteration is in an area that is not a primary function, only the new things will have to comply. Some examples are doing renovation in bathrooms, break rooms, closets etc.
If your alterations are in an area that is considered primary function then all the new things must comply, but also the path of travel elements that serve the altered area including: accessible route, entrance, restrooms, drinking fountains and telephones that serve the altered area. In Texas they included parking that serves the altered area.
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The yellow line in the figure above depicts the path of travel elements that must be compliant when an alteration occurs in an area that contains a primary function
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Case studies
With the above information, let’s take a look at a few examples and what it would trigger:
Case Study #1: What if we do an alteration in an existing school of an entire bathroom?
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This is an existing school building where they were going to renovate the existing toilet room.
- Restrooms are not a primary function
- They are demo-ing the entire restroom
- They are installing new fixtures and new partitions.
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Because the toilet rooms are not a “primary function” in the school, only the new elements installed would have to comply
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Case Study #2: What if we only renovate one element in the restroom?
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This is an existing restroom, but only the lavatory will be altered. Because the ADA allows element by element alteration, only the lavatory will have to comply. The rest of the restroom that was not altered will remain as is and will not be required to be brought up to compliance.
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Case Study #3: What if only the toilet is altered?
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This one is a little more complicated. Just like with the lavatory, only the toilet would have to comply. But does that mean that it would also require compliant grab bars? What about compliant toilet paper dispenser? The answer is yes. Those are also elements that are part of the water closet.
One gray area question is whether the clearance around the water closet part of the toilet? Would the clearance need to be 60″ wide? If the toilet room was built prior to 2012, then it is allowed to remain at 36″ clearance.
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The image on the left is the 1991 ADAAG clearance at the toilet. The image on the right is the 2010 ADA Standards clearance at the toilet. If the toilet was built prior to 2012 (the year that the new standard became mandatory) then it is compliant.
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Case Study #4: What if new bleachers are installed in an existing gymnasium in the school?
- The gymnasium is a primary function
- The bleachers will have to comply
- The path of travel elements that serve the altered area must also comply
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Case Study #5: What if we alter the floor at the gymnasium only?
- The gymnasium is a primary function
- The flooring must comply
- The path of travel elements that serve the altered area must also comply
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Case Study #6
What if we paint the walls in the gymnasium only
- The gymnasium is a primary function
- Painting doesn’t affect the usability and therefore it is not an alteration
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In Summary:
•Existing buildings are not “grandfathered”. They must comply
•Texas requires compliance at the time of construction
•ADA requires compliance when it is readily achievable
•Existing buildings that comply with 1991 ADAAG/1994 TAS are a safe harbor
•Altered elements must comply
•Altered elements in an area of primary function must comply, plus:
•Accessible entrance
•Accessible route
•Accessible restrooms
•Drinking fountains
•Telephones
•Parking
Here is a presentation I did about the subject
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Tuesday, June 2nd, 2020
Vertical Diaper Changing Counters
Diaper changing counters have been discussed in several of my past newsletters, from the rules about where to locate them, to general rules about height and knee clearance. So we are all mostly aware that they must comply with the ADA under “work surfaces” (and why “work” you may ask…well have you ever tried to change a diaper?)…Some of the items that must comply is the reach range of the opening mechanism of the diaper changing counter. Most of them have handles that you grab and pull down.
The handle should be no higher than 48″ a.f.f.
Once open, the second thing that must comply is that the counter be no higher than 34″ a.f.f. and have a knee space no lower than 27″ a.f.f.
the counter in the open position should have the top no higher than 34″ a.f.f. and the bottom no lower than 27″ a.f.f.
These work nicely when you are using a horizontal diaper counter. But what happens when you want to use a vertical diaper changing counter?
Vertical Diaper changing counter
The handle on a vertical counter is shown higher than 48″ a.f.f. in the unit above. But if they lower it, then the bottom of the counter (when open) will be lower than 27″ a.f.f.
the handle is mounted at 53″ a.f.f.
the top of this counter when open is 37″ a.f.f. and the bottom knee space is 33″ a.f.f.
So unless the manufacturer has a model with a handle mounted lower so that it is able to be mounted within reach and with the proper clearances, it is not recommended to use a vertical diaper changing counter for the accessible counter.
here is a good chart to follow:
Automatic Flush Controls
One of the requirements in the ADA is to have the flush control located on the transfer side of the water closet
Sometimes the water closet has an automatic flush control which does not have the person flush on their own, therefore the location is not dictated. But what happens when the automatic mechanism breaks and the unit has a manual option located in the middle of the water closet? We found this exact condition on one of our inspections.
water closet with automatic flush control located behind the toilet
sign that is broken and to push the button located behind the toilet
There are many issues with this, one being that now the flush control is not located on the transfer side, but also, the fact that to reach for the control you have an obstruction that is likely more than 25″ long which is not within reach range.
If at all possible, when installing automatic flush controls, try to also install the override button on the transfer side.
Funnies
not sure this ATM meets the reach range required by ADA
Friday, May 1st, 2020
Transient Lodging: Common Mistakes
Being all cooped up at home due to the Covid19, made me nostalgic for traveling and staying at hotels. So I thought I would dedicate this newsletter to that topic! After the ADA became a law, people with disabilities were able to also enjoy staying in hotels with friends and family.
As an accessibility specialist, I review and inspect many hotels for ADA compliance. One of the most common mistakes that I see is that the corporation that owns the hotels has a “standard” that they want to adhere to. This may be for the type of fixtures they install, or the aesthetic or certain amenities they provide. Sometimes the “corporation” may not understand the ADA standards and they will select fixtures that are not compliant with the ADA.
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| as I will explain in the next entry, the showers are not always designed correctly for ADA |
Today I will focus on some of those “corporate standards” that I find during my inspections that are not compliant with the ADA or other accessibility standards.
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Minimun number of guest rooms with communication features
One of the common mistakes I see is the lack of understanding about guest rooms that must have communication features. These are rooms for people who are hearing impaired or sometimes for guest who are visually impaired.
The table below shows the amount of rooms that are required to be available with communication features:
#ADAFact: At least one guest room (but no more than 10%) is required to provide both mobility features and communication features as described in the 2010 ADA
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 the 1991 ADAAG this was not required 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.
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| The drawing above shows some examples of communication features
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| 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.
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Hand Held Shower Units and Adjustable Rods
In guest rooms that are required to have mobility features, the bathrooms within the room must comply. One of the common mistakes I see are hand held shower units. The ADA requires that all accessible showers and tubs have hand held shower units. The units must be located where a person in a wheelchair or other mobility devices can reach it and use it.
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| this is a roll in shower and the hand held unit and control are within 27_ from the seat wall |
In a roll in shower it must be no farther than 27″ from the seat wall. In a transfer shower it is located right in front of the seat and in a tub it is located at the control wall.
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| in the tub the hand held shower unit is at the control wall |
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| this is a transfer shower and the hand held device is also at the control wall |
One thing that gets missed is the fact that the hand held shower unit MUST have an on/off control with a non-positive shut off directly on the unit. Most of the ones I see installed, have different spray settings, but no on/off control.
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| this hand held unit only controls the spray but it does not turn off the shower unit when being held |
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| This unit has the on/off controls on the unit |
A non-positive shut off is also required. What that means is that if a person who is using the shower unit needs to turn it off, the water will not be completely off but will trickle a bit. This will prevent the pressure to be built up and will not over spray once it gets turned back on.
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Wish you were here…..
Pools, fitness rooms, guest laundry, saunas, golf or any other sports, lobby, restaurants, bars, reception desks all must be accessible. I will devote another newsletter for those specifically….but for now, enjoy the nice images and imagine you are all there! Stay safe!
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Some Resources I used for this Newsletter:
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Friday, November 1st, 2019
Showers are not all the same. There are three types that are described in the ADA standards for showers: transfer showers, roll in showers and alternate roll in showers (which is like a hybrid between the transfer and the roll in shower). Their requirements also vary depending on where they are located.
Below are the requirements in showers, and specifically in a transient lodging facility.
Minimum number of roll in showers required
In the ADA Standards under 224 Transient Lodging there is a chart that we use to calculate how many rooms must be accessible.
There are requirements for rooms with mobility features (for persons with mobility disabilities) and there are requirements for how many rooms with communication features (rooms for persons that are either hearing impaired or visually impaired). When designing rooms with mobility features one of the requirements is to provide a minimum number of rooms with roll in showers and without roll in showers.
If you notice the chart above, note that if you have less than fifty rooms in a transient lodging facility, then you MUST provide rooms WITHOUT a roll in shower. So that would mean either a tub or a transfer shower must be provided in a certain number of rooms. All your bathing facilities cannot be roll- in-showers.
The photos below show you two bathing facilities that are not roll-in-showers:
Transfer Shower
Tub with a fixed and folding seat
If you would like to also provide roll in showers for persons with disabilities you could, but you must first provide the rooms without the roll in showers as stated in the chart. Any additional rooms provided with mobility features beyond the amount on the chart can have a roll in shower.
Transfer shower
Fixed Shower Seats
There are also requirements for seats in showers. In a typical installation that is not located in a transient lodging, the only shower that requires seats are the transfer showers. If you provide a roll in shower or an alternate roll in shower, having a seat is optional. If you do provide them then you must locate the shower controls close to the shower seat.
But in a transient lodging you MUST install a shower seat no matter what type of shower you are providing.
Part of the requirement is that the seat be fixed and either folding or non-folding, EXCEPT in a transient lodging room with a roll in shower.
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.
So what that means is that if you have a roll in shower that is not located in a transient lodging facility you can provide a seat that is fixed but not folding.
Wednesday, October 2nd, 2019
Safe Harbors in Restrooms
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Safe Harbor is a provision that was adopted by the Department of Justice as well as the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation where it allows an existing element that meets the original Standard to remain as it is even if it does not meet the new standards. It can only remain a safe harbor as long as it is not touched. Once it is remodeled, removed or relocated then it must comply with the new standards. Our newsletter gives a couple of examples of safe harbor provisions in restrooms.
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Toe clearance at toilet compartments
The 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible design (and the 2012 TAS) requires that a 9″ high toe clearance be provided on two sides of the toilet compartments so that a person in a wheelchair can maneuver inside the stall and be able to exit. But the 1991 ADAAG (and the 1994 TAS) only required a toe clearance if the “stall” was less than 60″ deep.
4.17.4 Toe Clearances. In standard stalls, the front partition and at least one side partition shall provide a toe clearance of at least 9 in (230 mm) above the floor. If the depth of the stall is greater than 60 in (1525 mm), then the toe clearance is not required.
If you have a hard wall toilet compartment built prior to 2012 that is more than 60″ deep and 60″ wide, but no toe clearance, it is allowed to remain narrow. It does not require the additional 6″ of width as the 2010 ADA does.
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| This toilet compartment is 60″ wide but because it is longer than 60″ it does not require toe clearance |
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“Alternate” Toilet Compartments
There was a term in the original ADA standards that is no longer used: “Alternate stall”. This was what we now call an ambulatory compartment but it was allowed to be used instead of a standard wheelchair accessible compartment if there was not room and only in alterations.
4.17.3 EXCEPTION: In instances of alteration work where provision of a standard stall (Fig. 30(a)) is technically infeasible or where plumbing code requirements prevent combining existing stalls to provide space, either alternate stall (Fig. 30(b)) may be provided in lieu of the standard stall.
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These are the “alternate” stalls allowed in alterations |
The word “technically infeasible” is meant to imply that a variance would be required where a AHJ like The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation is involved. So in order to determine if the compartment is a “Safe Harbor” the variance that allowed it to be used would need to exist.
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“Ambulatory” Toilet Compartments
In the 1991 ADAAG the “ambulatory” stall is described as a stall required when six or more stalls are provided.
4.22.4 Water Closets. If toilet stalls are provided, then at least one shall be a standard toilet stall complying with 4.17; where 6 or more stalls are provided, in addition to the stall complying with 4.17.3, at least one stall 36 in (915 mm) wide with an outward swinging, self closing door and parallel grab bars complying with Fig. 30(d) and 4.26 shall be provided. Water closets in such stalls shall comply with 4.16. If water closets are not in stalls, then at
least one shall comply with 4.16.
So only restrooms with toilet compartments are required to also provide “ambulatory stalls”. So if a mens’ restroom has three urinals and three toilet compartments, that would not add up to six “stalls” therefore an ambulatory stall would not be required.
But in the 2010 ADA changed the wording to say:
213.3.1 Toilet Compartments. Where toilet compartments are provided, at least one toilet compartment shall comply with 604.8.1. In addition to the compartment required to comply with 604.8.1, at least one compartment shall comply with 604.8.2 where six or more toilet compartments are provided, or where the combination of urinals and water closets totals six or more fixtures.
So now, when a restroom has three urinals and three compartments, then one of the compartments would have to be an ambulatory compartment.
So an existing pre-2010 ADA restroom with three urinals and three compartments and no ambulatory stall, is a safe harbor and can remain this way until it is remodeled.
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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.
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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.
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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
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| controls in the roll in shower were located no farther than 27″ from the seat wall |
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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.
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Here are some examples of communication features |
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| 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.
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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.
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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
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| 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.
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| 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 |
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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.
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the open diaper changing station is in the way of the
60 inches of required clearance to enter the restroom |
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| this diaper changing counter is in the way of the 18 inches minimum required at the pull side of the door |
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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.
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| 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
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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.
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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.
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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
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| 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.
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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.
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| this feminine napkin dispenser operable part requires tight grasping and pulling to operate |
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| this faucet has an operable part that requires graping and twisting to activate |
Below are some more examples.
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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.
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| the operable part is the handle to open the cabinet door |
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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.
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| this call button has a red lever that can be pushed down with a closed fist which has a compliant operable part |
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| this call button also has a lever that can be pushed down with a closed fist which is a compliant operable part |
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| 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.
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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.
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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.
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| this mechanism does not require tight grasping to loosen or tighten |
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| this adjustable mechanism requires pinching to loosen |
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Abadi 
