One of my clients asked me yesterday why isn’t there just one accessibility standard rather than having so many to follow….If I knew the answer to that I could probably cause Peace on earth….
But alas, since there are so many all I can do is help you to figure out which standard to use when.
Remember that March 15, 2011 is when the new 2010 Standards will become effective and States will have to adopt them (or not) by March 15, 2012 when they will be mandatory.
ADA Standards
The ADA applies to facilities in the private sector (places of public accommodation and commercial facilities) and to state and local government facilities. Standards issued by the Department of Justice (DOJ) apply to all ADA facilities except transportation facilities, which are subject to standards maintained by the Department of Transportation (DOT). DOJ is in the process of adopting new ADA standards, and further information on this update is available on DOJ’s website . DOT has adopted new ADA standards which apply to bus stops, rail stations, and other transportation facilities.
For commercial facilities and places of public accommodations in the private sector use The 2010 Standards for Accessible Design with ADA scoping
For State and Local Government Facilities (except transportation facilities) use the 2010 Standards for Accessible Design with Title II requirements, unless the municipality requires ANSI and therefore you will need to use both. Although the new Standards are almost identical to ANSI.
The ADA Standards for Transportation Facilities deal with Transportation Facilities
ABA Accessibility Standards
The ABA applies to federally funded facilities. The General Services Administration (GSA) updated its ABA standards, which apply to most facilities covered by the ABA. Similar standards have been adopted by the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) for postal facilities and by the Department of Defense for military facilities. The Department of Housing (HUD) is in the processing of updating its ABA standards, which apply to federally funded residential facilities.
For Federal Facilities (other than postal, housing, and military facilities) use the GSA’s AB Standards
For Postal Services facilities use the USPS ABA Accessibility Standards (also known as the RE-4 Standards)
For Military facilities use the Department of Defense ABA Accessibility Standards
Federally funding Housing use UFAS (but in the new standards this will be replaced by HUD’s standards)
State and Local Accessibility Standards
Even though the 2010 Standards is a Federal law, each State and local municipality is allowed to adopt this or any other accessibility standard also. The Access Board has a list of all the States and what Accessibility Standards they adopted
Note: A few friends on LinkedIn have sent me these corrections:
The Connecticut information listed is obsolete. The correct information is as follows:
Access Code- 2003 International Building Code Portion of the 2005 State Building Code of Connecticut- as amended on 2009 )
Washington State’s code listing on the Access Board site is obsolete as well. WA has adopted the 2006 IBC/2003 ANSI and will shift to 2009 IBC/2003 ANSI in late July.
Multi-Family housing
The Housing and Urban Development office of the Federal Government has developed the Fair Housing Act Section 504 that deals with the discrimination of people with disabilities as it pertains to their renting or owning an apartment or dwelling unit. There is a great handbook that they created that shows you graphically how to apply the Fair Housing Act Section 504
Public Rights of Way
Sidewalks, street crossings, and other elements of the public rights-of-ways present unique challenges to accessibility for which specific guidance is considered essential. The Board is developing new guidelines for public rights-of-way that will address various issues, including access for blind pedestrians at street crossings, wheelchair access to on-street parking, and various constraints posed by space limitations, roadway design practices, slope, and terrain. The new guidelines will cover pedestrian access to sidewalks and streets, including crosswalks, curb ramps, street furnishings, pedestrian signals, parking, and other components of public rights-of-way. Here is the draft of those standards Public Rights-of-way
There are others that are covered by the guidelines like parks, outdoor recreation facilities, prisons and more. Check out the Access Board’s website and the ADA’s website for more information
“ADA: The Next Generation”
The National ADA Coordinators are putting on webinars on the new ADA, and we can view them as a group. Abadi Accessibility and ARS purchased the webinars and want to share them with you.
Each webinar is $10 and below is the agenda. If you have any questions, call me at 214-403-8714
Webinar Agendas
Session 1 – ADA Standards – Admin provisions; Accessible Routes; & Building Blocks
Wednesday, 11/3/2010, 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm
At Sitelark 5000 Quorum Ste 100, Dallas, Tx
Overview of the new ADA Standards;
What has been clarified, added, dropped, or changed from the 1991 Standards?
Equivalent facilitation, tolerances, and the expanded definitions section.
How will changes affect different facility types?
• Significant scoping and technical requirement changes:
Accessible routes
Accessible means of egress
Stairways
Elevators, platform lifts, LULAs, and private residence elevators
Doors, doorways, and gates
Floor and ground surfaces
Changes in level
Ramps and curb ramps
Turning spaces
Clear floor and ground spaces
Knee and toe spaces
Protruding objects
Reach ranges
Operable parts
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Session 2 – ADA Standards – Common Space & Element Types; and Communications
Wednesday, 11/10/2010, 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm
At the Miele Showroom 1700 Oak Lawn Avenue Suite 200 Dallas, Texas 75207
What has been clarified, added, dropped, or changed from the 1991 Standards?
How will changes affect different facility types?
Significant scoping and technical requirement changes:
Common space types including
Parking spaces and passenger loading zones
Dressing, fitting, and locker rooms
Common element types including
Dining surfaces and work surfaces
Storage elements
Benches
Handrails
Windows (this is completely new)
Automatic teller machines and fare machines
Check-out aisles, sales and service counters
Depositories, vending machines, change machines, mail boxes, and fuel dispensers
Communications systems and devices including
Telephones
Signs
Fire alarm systems
Assistive listening systems
Two-way communication systems (this is also new)
Detectable warnings
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Session 3 – ADA Standards – Toilets, Bathing, Kitchens and Plumbing Elements
Wednesday, 11/17/2010, 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm
At the Miele Showroom 1700 Oak Lawn Avenue Suite 200 Dallas, Texas 75207
In many facility types, these requirements are some of the most critical to the users. Significant changes have made certain sections stricter and others less restrictive than the 1991 Standards.
The 1991 Standard allowed six by six and five by seven foot single user toilet rooms. What are the smallest configurations a single user toilet room can have under the new Standards?
How do these requirements compare to the IBC and ICC/ANSI A117.1 Accessibility Standards?
How will these changes affect different facility types?
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Session 4 – ADA Standards – Specialized Rooms, Spaces and Elements including Recreation and Residential
Wednesday, 12/1/2010, 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm
(This session may be extended beyond 1 ½ hours)
Location:
HALFF Associates Inc. Office (214.346.6200) – 1201 North Bowser Road / Richardson, Texas 75081 – Coordinated by Ms. Joni Caldwell – 214.346.6310
Many new sections covering whole new facility types have been added in the 2010 ADA Standards. Two common facility types no longer have their own sections. Some VERY significant changes and clarifications have been made in those sections that were already included in the 1991 Standards. What has changed and how must those changes be incorporated into new, altered, and existing facilities?
If residential facilities are not (typically) covered by the ADA, why are there new standards for them? How do the covered residential facility types correlate with the ADA transient lodging and Fair Housing requirements?
Significant scoping and technical requirement changes:
Transportation facilities
Assembly areas
Medical care and long-term care facilities
Transient lodging guest rooms
Transportation facilities
Completely new sections:
o Judicial facilities and courtrooms
o Detention and correctional facilities
o Holding and housing cells
o Residential dwelling units and facilities
o Recreational facilities including amusement rides, exercise machines and equipment; boating, fishing, golf and miniature golf facilities, play areas, swimming pools and spas.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Session 5: Overview of Title II and Title III Regulations, Part I
December 8, 2010 12:00-1:30 (Recorded)
At the Miele Showroom 1700 Oak Lawn Avenue Suite 200 Dallas, Texas 75207
Overview of the new rules;
Service animals: Emotional support animals aren’t service animals, but what about animals that assist people with psychiatric disabilities?
Segways and service animals: What questions can you ask about either one, and when can you say “no”?
Effective communication: can you use video interpreting services, how, and when? How do the new provisions on automated phone systems and relay calls affect you?
DOJ’s separate notices on electronic/web communication, theater captioning/video description, and next generation 9-1-1;
Testing and licensing, with a focus on documentation; and transitioning/ time frames.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Session 6: Overview of Title II and Title III Regulations, Part II
Wednesday Dec. 15, 2010 12:00-1:30 (Recorded)
At the Miele Showroom 1700 Oak Lawn Avenue Suite 200 Dallas, Texas 75207
Overview of the new rules;
New construction and alterations: how these now overlap with barrier removal and program access;
Making sense of the DOJ-drafted provisions in tandem with the Access Board’s Guidelines;
New definition of “place of lodging” and implications under both titles (for higher education, shelters, and others);
Hotel reservations, assembly event ticketing and seating;
The new element-by-element safe harbor;
DOJ’s notice of its intent to regulate furniture and equipment;
Certification of state codes: if you comply with a code certified before 2010, does it “count”? Should you urge your state to go for certification, under relaxed new procedures? and,
Compliance and enforcement: DOJ can now retain Title II complaints for investigation, rather than sending them to “designated agencies.” What are the implications?
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Session 7: Planning for the transition and beyond, and using the safe harbors
Wednesday, 12/22/2010, 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm (Recorded)
At the Miele Showroom 1700 Oak Lawn Avenue Suite 200 Dallas, Texas 75207
What should you do first to get to policy compliance within the six month deadline?
Is it time for a do-over? Do you need to do a new or revised self-evaluation, transition plan, or barrier removal plan? If you don’t think you have to, should you anyway?
How safe are the “safe harbors” under Title II and Title III? Are you “grandfathered” out?
Is there any advantage to doing barrier removal in the next 6 or 18 months, under the 1991 Standards, versus using the 2010 Standards?
Is this a sleeper provision? They call it “maintenance,” but it addresses reducing access below 1991 Standards. How and when are reductions allowed?
What can you learn from the preamble (analysis) and the appendices, with their helpful explanations and drawings? How do they relate to the requirements themselves?
How do you ensure compliance with all applicable laws, including state and local codes and ordinances?
Do the new provisions apply under section 504 too? Or should state and local governments and others who receive federal funds, and federal agencies, continue to follow the 504 rules?
One of my clients asked me yesterday why isn’t there just one accessibility standard rather than having so many to follow….If I knew the answer to that I could probably cause Peace on earth….
But alas, since there are so many all I can do is help you to figure out which standard to use when.
ADA Standards
The ADA applies to facilities in the private sector (places of public accommodation and commercial facilities) and to state and local government facilities. Standards issued by the Department of Justice (DOJ) apply to all ADA facilities except transportation facilities, which are subject to standards maintained by the Department of Transportation (DOT). DOJ is in the process of adopting new ADA standards, and further information on this update is available on DOJ’s website . DOT has adopted new ADA standards which apply to bus stops, rail stations, and other transportation facilities.
For commercial facilities and places of public accommodations in the private sector use The ADAAG 1991 version
For State and Local Government Facilities (except transportation facilities) use the ADAAG 1991 version or The Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards (UFAS)
The ADA Standards for Transportation Facilities deal with Transportation Facilities
ABA Accessibility Standards
The ABA applies to federally funded facilities. The General Services Administration (GSA) updated its ABA standards, which apply to most facilities covered by the ABA. Similar standards have been adopted by the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) for postal facilities and by the Department of Defense for military facilities. The Department of Housing (HUD) is in the processing of updating its ABA standards, which apply to federally funded residential facilities.
For Federal Facilities (other than postal, housing, and military facilities) use the GSA’s AB Standards
For Postal Services facilities use the USPS ABA Accessibility Standards (also known as the RE-4 Standards)
For Military facilities use the Department of Defense ABA Accessibility Standards
Federally funding Housing use UFAS (but in the new standards this will be replaced by HUD’s standards)
State and Local Accessibility Standards
Even though the ADAAG is a Federal law, each State and local municipality is allowed to adopt this or any other accessibility standard also. The Access Board has a list of all the States and what Accessibility Standards they adopted
Note: A few friends on LinkedIn have sent me these corrections:
The Connecticut information listed is obsolete. The correct information is as follows:
Access Code- 2003 International Building Code Portion of the 2005 State Building Code of Connecticut- as amended on 2009 )
Washington State’s code listing on the Access Board site is obsolete as well. WA has adopted the 2006 IBC/2003 ANSI and will shift to 2009 IBC/2003 ANSI in late July.
Multi-Family housing
The Housing and Urban Development office of the Federal Government has developed the Fair Housing Act Section 504 that deals with the discrimination of people with disabilities as it pertains to their renting or owning an apartment or dwelling unit. There is a great handbook that they created that shows you graphically how to apply the Fair Housing Act Section 504
Public Rights of Way
Sidewalks, street crossings, and other elements of the public rights-of-ways present unique challenges to accessibility for which specific guidance is considered essential. The Board is developing new guidelines for public rights-of-way that will address various issues, including access for blind pedestrians at street crossings, wheelchair access to on-street parking, and various constraints posed by space limitations, roadway design practices, slope, and terrain. The new guidelines will cover pedestrian access to sidewalks and streets, including crosswalks, curb ramps, street furnishings, pedestrian signals, parking, and other components of public rights-of-way. Here is the draft of those standards Public Rights-of-way
There are others that are covered by the guidelines like parks, outdoor recreation facilities, prisons and more. Check out the Access Board’s website and the ADA’s website for more information
According to the March/April 2005 National Fire Protection Association Journal, “Roughly 20% of the U.S. population is disabled, including those who have mobility impairments, who are deaf or hard of hearing, who are blind or partially sighted, people of size, the elderly, those who have cognitive or emotional impairments and those who are vertically challenged.” As a result, it is of the highest importance that measures be taken to ensure their safety in the event of an emergency. This includes providing adequate refuge space and means of communication, where required, alternative means and routes of evacuation other than elevators and clearly illustrating available accessible evacuation routes on emergency evacuation plans. In addition to this, it is critical that building staff be trained in general evacuation procedures. The American Disabilities Act (ADA), signed in 1990, requires that that all newly constructed buildings be accessible to people with disabilities.
Chapter 3 defines Egress as:
3.5.26 Means of Egress. A continuous and unobstructed way of exit travel from any point in a building or facility to a public way.
This photo shows an accessible route striped with a curb ramp leading to the public sidewalk.
This part of the definition is always a point of contention. How far does one consider the “public way”? The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, requires that the means of egress be taken to a public sidewalk. In the absence of a public sidewalk, they defer to requirements from the fire Marshall.
Means of Egress in New Construction
4.1.3 in the ADAAG and in the Texas Accessibility Standards we find the requirements for new construction.
TAS and ADA 4.1.3 (9) states:
“In buildings or facilities, or portions of buildings or facilities, required to be accessible, accessible means of egress shall be provided in the same number as required for exits by local building/life safety regulations….”
For example, if the building code requires two means of egress and two are provided, then both those exits must be on an accessible route. On the other hand, if a building code only requires two means of egress but four are provided, only two must be accessible.
Means of Egress at Alterations
It is exempted….
Believe it or not, in an existing facility where renovations are being made to a primary area, the means of egress does not have to be brought up to compliance with the accessibility standards if it is not accessible.
TAS 4.1.6 (1) (g) states:
“In alterations, the requirements of 4.1.3(9), 4.3.10 and 4.3.11 do not apply.”
4.1.3(9) speaks about the means of egress requirements stated above. 4.3.10 discusses egress and 4.3.11 discusses areas of rescue assistance. These sections will not apply in an alteration.
The picture above shows an existing building that was renovated, and this was one of their required exits. Since the exit was existing, it will not be required to be brought up to compliance.