Abadi 
The 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design are only minimum requirements to ensure that the facility will be, to the maximum extent feasible, be readily accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities.
What that means is that the requirements are a base line for how to make buildings accessible, and if something better or more accessible can be provided, that would be ideal.
As an inspector, I cannot tell my architects and owners to do more than the minimum, but this newsletter will give guidance on elements that may not be required, but would be a good practice to provide.
Wheel Stops
Wheel stops are not required by the ADA standards. The minimum requirement is that the sidewalks and parking should be desiged as to prevent the parked cars from reducing the clear width of the accessible route:
ADA Section 502.7 Relationship to Accessible Routes. Parking spaces and access aisles shall be designed so that cars and vans, when parked, cannot obstruct the required clear width of adjacent accessible routes
Wheel stops are a good way to prevent the cars and vans from obstructing the clear width of the accessible route.
The photo above shows an accessible route located in front of the parking spaces, and because there are no wheelstops the front of the parked car is partially obstructing the route.
The photo above shows parked cars that are obstructing not only the walking surface but also the curb ramps that are part of the accessible route. Wheel stops would prevent it.
Benches at Shower rooms
The ADA Standards section 803 requires that dressing, fitting and locker rooms provide a bench.
ADA Section 803.4 Benches. A bench complying with 903 shall be provided within the room.
As an inspector I find that design professionals think they need to have a bench at shower rooms. Technically the shower rooms would be a place to undress in order to take a shower, but it is not considered a “dressing room”. Therefore a shower room is not required to have a bench as stated in section 803.
Even though it is not required, a bench in the shower room would be a good practice to provide, since the likelyhood of a person with disabilities to need to undress in order to use the shower would be high, the bench would be helpful.
For information: A bench is different than a shower seat
The drawing above shows a locker room with showers. Because this is a locker room, a bench is required in this room.
The drawing above shows a shower room. Even though there is a bench shown in the shower room, it is not required.
The photo above shows a bathing room without a bench.
Power Assisted doors
Exterior doors are not required to have an opening force more than 5 lbs. That requirement is only for interior swing doors. But exterior swing doors might be difficult to open due to the wind pressure or other factors that are not within out control. One way to provide assistance with difficult doors is to install power assisted doors. They are not required, but if used they must comply.
Even though a power assisted door is not required by the ADA Standards, it would be a good practice to provide one in order to assist persons with disabilities to open exterior doors.
The photo above shows a power assisted mechanism on the exterior entrance in order to provide assistance for persons with disabilities to open the door.
34″ a.f.f. Counter Heights
There are two different requirements at fixed counters depending on what they are used for.
Section 902 requires that a fixed dining or non-employee work surface be mounted at 34″ a.f.f.
Section 904 on the other hand has a requirement that the fixed sales or service counters be mounted at 36″ a.f.f.
As an inspector I find violations when the fixed dining counters are mounted higher than 34″ a.f.f. or the fixed sales or service counters are mounted higher than 36″ a.f.f.
In order to avoid this it would be recommended to mount all counters at 33″ a.f.f. therefore they will be meet both requirements.
The fixed dining counter shown in the photo above is required to be mounted a maximum of 34″ a.f.f.
The fixed ticket counter shown in the figure above is considered a “sales and service counter” and will be required to be mounted a maximum of 36″ a.f.f.
The movable reception counter is not required to provide an accessible portion since it is considered furniture, but it would be good practice to provide one so that a person with disabilities will be able to approach it and utilize it.
