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This is a hi-lo unit that also has a bottle filler. A bottle filler by itself cannot substitute one of the drinking fountains

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this is a toilet compartment that is made of walls that go from floor to ceiling

this is a multi-user toilet room with toilet compartments within

this plan shows a toilet room with a water closet and lavatory

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Protruding object correction

…Because the bar was a protruding object

A blind person who uses a cane to find their way, can only detect objects that are located 27″ a.f.f. Any object mounted higher cannot be detected by the cane. So the ADA puts limits on how far an object can project onto the pedestrian circulation path. The ADA under section 307 only allows 4″ of projection onto a path of travel for an able bodied visually impaired person.

This is the ADA figure that shows the limits of objects mounted along a circulation path.

In one of my inspections there were wall mounted TV monitors that were deeper than 4″

Because the TV is in a circulation path to the back door, a person who is visually impaired, might run into it and hurt themselves because they would not be able to detect it.

At the same project, they added glass panels around the TV which acted as a recess.  As you can see the TV is surrounded by glass panels.

Without the glass panel we measured 4 1/2″ from the bare gyp to the edge of the TV.

5 lbs opening force at Windows

Under Section 309, any operable part must have an opening force no heavier than 5 lbs. Operable windows also have the same requirement. A single hung window is is very difficult to achieve less than 5 lbs of opening force. A third party mechanism like a “Fenestrator” or a “Window Ease” can be used to make the opening force compliant.

Window Ease

Fenestrator

Need Barrier Free CEUs?

What ADA requires of drinking fountains?

The ADA requires the following:

1) No fewer than 2 drinking fountains should be provided in a building (if they are located in the facility). One should be for wheelchair users, and the second one should be for standing persons that cannot bend down. This can be done with one unit like the photo shown below

2) If there are more than two drinking fountains 50% should be for wheelchairs and 50% should be for standing person. If there is an odd number, it is allowed to round down to yield an even number.

3) The drinking fountains do not have to be a single unit (hi-lo), but it can be multiple drinking fountains mounted at the required heights, and they can be distributed throughout the facility.

4) At the wheelchair drinking fountain there should be a floor clearance that has a forward approach and is 30″ wide x 48″ long centered on the unit, like shown in the drawing below. In addition, there should be a 27″ high knee clearance.

Since the clearance underneath the wheelchair drinking fountain must be centered, when there is a lower drinking fountain for wheelchairs next to a drinking fountain for standing persons, the clearance underneath the lower drinking fountain will sometimes be located partially underneath the higher drinking fountain depending on the distance between the two fountains.

The person using the drinking fountain is using not only the space underneath the wheelchair drinking fountain but also part of the space of the higher drinking fountain. Why is this important?

Like in the image above, this drinking fountain is located in a circulation path and it protrudes more than 4″ above the finished floor and since it is higher than 27″ a.f.f. (the high drinking fountain specifically), then it is not detectable by a cane of a visually impaired person.

One solution to correct the protrusion is to install a cane detectable apron underneath the higher drinking fountain which is higher than 27″ a.f.f.

The higher drinking fountain has a cane detectable apron mounted below the leading edge which aligns with the 27″ required knee clearance of the lower drinking fountain.
But sometimes the apron is mounted lower than 27″ a.f.f. This would not be a problem for the high drinking fountain since it is primarily used by standing persons that do not require a knee space to use the fountain. It is, however, a barrier for the person using a wheelchair because now the knee space that it shares with the second drinking fountain has been reduced to less than 27″ a.f.f. and not usable.

The cane detectable apron at the high drinking fountain shown in this photo was lower than the 27″ a.f.f. and it encroaches the knee space at the lower one.

This photo shows both the high and low drinking fountains with cane detectable aprons below it. Both do not have the proper knee clearance because of the apron

When locating a cane detectable apron keep in mind this requirement about the floor space needing to be centered. Any obstruction from the fountain adjacent must not reduce the knee space of the lower fountain.

October 24 – 2 hr Barrier Free HSW class “ADA and Fair Housing Room by Room” 10:00 a.m. Dallas Design Center

ADA Section 405 Ramps and 406 Curb Ramps

We all know that one of the ways that people in wheelchairs maneuver between changes in level greater than 1/2″ is by using a ramp. When an accessible route crosses a curb, it requires a “curb ramp”. There is confusion between requirements for ramps vs. curb ramps. Let’s see if we can make it more clear:

1. The first thing to remember is that curb ramps are also ramps. The main difference is that a “curb ramp” is located at a curb and a “ramp” is located elsewhere (like along the route to the front door, or on the interior of the building)

The curb ramp is the one that crossed a curb at the parking spaces. The ramp in the background is part of the entry and does not cross the curb

2. Both ramps and curb ramps require a maximum running slope of 1:12 and a maximum cross slope of 1:48 (per 405.2 and 405.3)

Cross slope

running slope

3. Both ramps and curb ramps require that the surface be stable, firm and slip resistant and should not have changes in level at ramp runs. (per 405.4)

4. Both ramps and curb ramps require a minimum clear width of 36″ (per 405.5). The width is measured inside the handrails if they are provided.

5. and Both ramps and curb ramps and their landings require that they do not accumulate water. (per section 405.10)

The curb ramp shows water accumulated

Those are the only requirements that they share. There are other requirements that only apply to Ramps and some that only apply to Curb Ramps.

ADA Section 405 Ramps

Besides all the items listed above, ramps have other requirements.  These requirements only apply to ramps and NOT to curb ramps:

1. Only a ramp cannot have a vertical rise greater than 30″ without a landing.  In other words, if a ramp rises more than 30″ it must have a landing before the next run begins (per section 405.6)

2. Only a  ramp requires flat landing at the top and bottom of the ramp run (per section 405.7).  Flat can be no steeper than 1:48 that is 60″ deep and the width of the ramp (like the figure shown above).  Only a ramp requires a 60″x60″ landing when it changes direction

 

 

this curb ramp is parallel with the curb and no flares are required

3. Only a curb ramp requires a 36″ deep landing at the top.  The slope of that landing is not specified and it would depend on where is it located.  For example, if the curb ramp terminates at a sidewalk that is parallel to the ramp, then the slope could be as steep as 1:20 (5%).  But if it is located so that the ramp and the walkway are perpendicular, then the landing must not have a slope steeper than 1:48 since it will also be part of the cross slope of the sidewalk. (per 406.4)

this curb ramp did not require the flared sides_ and the one_s provided project onto the vehicular way

Curb Ramps at Public Rights of Way

 If you are wondering why we haven’t mentioned detectable warnings (i.e. contrasting color and texture/truncated domes), it is because curb ramps do not require them anymore.  Some Departments of Transportation in different States have adopted a Public Right of Way Guidelines that give us a scoping for when the detectable warnings are required.

Basically any curb ramp located inside the property line will not require detectable warnings.

Any curb ramp that is located in the public right of way will require a portion of the ramp to have detectable warnings.  The bottom 24″ of the curb ramp must have the truncated domes and the contrasting color.

Helping Houston

Abadi Accessibility will be donating 5% of the fees received in the month of September to help the victims of hurricaine Harvey.  Thank you for your assistance!

 

Need Barrier Free CEUs?

 

September 18-  TAID Day of Education: “Common mistakes in the Texas Accessibility Standards” at the Dallas Market Center

Save the dates: October 24 and 25th- “Barrier Free Design Room by Room” 2 hr Barrier Free HSW class at Inspire! 2017, Dallas Texas

Online courses:

Green CE On Demand Webinar: “Understanding the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design”

Green CE On Demand webinar “How Accessible is Your work place?”

Green CE On Demand webinar “ADA and Residential Facilities”

AIA U online course:  “Applying the ADA on Existing and Altered Buildings”

or

Green CE “Applying the ADA on Existing and Altered Buildings”

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. 

 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, FAIA RAS #240

Abadi Accessibility

214. 403.8714

marhoads@abadiaccess.com

www.abadiaccess.com

Section  404.2.10 Door and Gate Surfaces

The 2010 ADA Standards require that the push side of swinging doors have the bottom rail that is 10″ measured vertically from the finish floor or ground be “smooth”.

This door is a flush door and therefore considered to have a “smooth surface” within 10″ from the floor

Sometimes the doors are paneled by joints and may not be considered to have a “smooth surface”. If there are joints in the surface below 10″ from the finish floor, it is only allowed to be within 1/16 inch of the same plane as the other to be considered “smooth”.

This paneled door is not considered to have a smooth surface because there are joints deeper than 1/16 inches and below 10″ a.f.f. creating a paneled effect.

The locking mechanism on this door is more than 1/16 inches from the face of the bottom rail and therefore will not be considered to have a smooth surface

This door has glass panels that are located above 10 inches a.f.f. , therefore the bottom rail is considered smooth

According to the 2010 ADA , the smooth surface should extend full width of the door or gate. This may be an issue when door hardware is located within the 10 inch smooth surface.

The kick plate extends the entire width of the door and therefore considered to have a smooth surface

The door hardware at this door is located within the 10 inches and therefore it is not considered to have a smooth surface

The hinges have a chrome plate on either side of the door which makes the bottom rail not smooth since it is not extending all the way across the door

There are some exceptions:

1. Sliding doors shall not be required to comply with section 404.2.10

This door does not have a smooth surface within 10″ of the floor, but since it is a sliding door then it is allowed

2. Tempered glass doors without stiles and having a bottom rail or shoe with the top leading edge tapered at 60 degrees minimum from the horizontal shall not be required to meet the 10 inch bottom smooth surface height requirement.

This door has tempered glass and the bottom rail is tapered 60 degrees at the top, therefore the 4″ height of the bottom rail is compliant

This bottom rail is not tapered and it is less than 10″ high, therefore is it not compliant

3. Doors and gates that do not extend to within 10 inches (255 mm) of the finish floor or ground shall not be required to have smooth surface at the bottom of the gate or door

This door does not extend to 10 inches from the ground, therefore it will not require a smooth surface at the bottom

“But it is only 1/4″ off…”

Construction is not a perfect science.  All construction work has tolerances to allow for variations in construction materials and workmanship skills.  Zero tolerance in construction is not feasible.

This ramp was obviously not built correctly…the slope exceeds the 1_12″ maximum allowable slope

Tolerance is defined as the:
*permissible range of variation in a dimension of an object
*permissible variation of an object in some characteristic such as hardness, density, or size
*permissible deviation from plan alignment, location or grade.

So knowing this…how does the ADA deal with construction tolerances? First of all the tolerances ONLY apply to “construction”. There are no tolerances allowed in design. Therefore as architects and designers, we must design our spaces with enough room for construction errors.

This detail did not have all the dimensions noted which will tell the contractor how to achieve compliance for a knee space per the ADA. If the dimension is not provided_ the contractor might make assumptions and make a mistake in the field.

This door did not show the minimum dimension required at the pull side maneuvering. If the drawings do not show this dimension_ the contractor might not build it in a compliant manner.

this drawing showed the toilet compartment door in front of the water closet rather than on the opposite corner as required. If the compartment door would have been built per the drawing, there would not be any tolerances allowed to be taken.

The position of the U. S. Access Board – as formalized in the ADA/ABA Guidelines in Section 104.1.1 – is that industry standard tolerances should be relied on when questions regarding this issue arise. However, few trades have codified specific tolerances for many of the elements mentioned in ADA/ABA Guidelines, nor have they developed accepted industry protocols for measuring when questions of accessibility arise. The US Access Board has completed research (‘Dimensional Tolerances in Construction and for Surface Accessibility’). Here is the link

Ranges

The 2010 ADA provides conventions in their requirements that state a specified range.  For example, the location of the signage is between 48″ to 60″ a.f.f. to the bottom of the lowest and highest raised character.

When a range is stated, it provides an adequate tolerance and therefore no tolerance outside of the range at either point is permitted.

This sign was mounted lower than 48″ a.f.f. which is the minimum height allowed. Even though the amount that the sign was off was small, the fact that the ADA provided a range between 48″ minimum and 60″ maximum, the tolerances were already built in by the range provided by the Standards and they cannot deviate.

Maximum and Minimums dimensions

When the ADA states a maximum or a minimum dimension that does not have two specific minimum and maximum end points, tolerances may apply. For example, a door pull side maneuvering clearance is stated to require 18″ min. If the door has a 17 1/2″ maneuvering clearance instead, it might be allowed according to the amount of lee way given as the industry standard.

This figure shows that the maneuvering clearance on the pull side of the door that has a forward approach is 18″ min.

This is a photo of a pull side of the door

The door maneuvering clearance was 17 1/4″ rather than the 18″ minimum required. According to the Access Board, only 3/32″ is allowed as tolerances

Absolute dimensions

Some dimensions in the ADA are a complete absolute. For example in a transfer shower you are only allowed a 36″x36″ size . There is no maximum or minimums allowed and there is not a range. Therefore industry standard tolerances are allowed.

Some manufacturers will make the walls 36″x36″ but the base is narrower.  The Access Board allows a smaller foot print at the base of the shower knowing that the manufacturers products may vary.

Summary

1. Remember that as you design, allow for construction mistakes (because we all know they happen). There are no tolerances allowances for design mistakes.
2. If the ADA gives you a range, don’t design to the highest or the lowest number. Always pick a number in the middle.
3. If the ADA gives you a number not to exceed, then there might be some tolerances, but again do not design to the maximum or minimum number they give you. Always allow for some built in tolerances.
4. If the ADA gives you an absolute number, then the industry standard tolerances will be able to be used if that number is not achieved. These vary but some references below have codified it a bit.

References

The US Access Board created a document along with the AIA, CSI and other industry leaders to determine their acceptable industry tolerances for issues related to accessibility. Here is the report

Here is a good article about ADA tolerances by our colleagues at Evan Terry and Associates

Janis Kent, Architect, FAIA, CASp © January, 2016 wrote a blog about tolerances. Here is the link

The following is an excerpt from an interview by Naomi Goldberg of Hamodia.com published June 14th.

Did you know that when you play with LEGO and Magnatiles, envisioning and planning what to build, you’re practicing the skills of an architect? That’s where the fun begins. Architects use those skills to turn ideas — such as how someone wants their house to look — into reality.

Some architects build houses, while others build office buildings or skyscrapers, bridges or runways.

Today, we’re meeting with a modern-day architect who specializes in making the world more accessible for people with disabilities. Marcy Rhoads is the owner of Abadi Accessibility, an architecture firm in Dallas, Texas.

Download the full article here.

In last month’s issue of the publication, I had the honor of being featured in the May profile. Have a quick read of the full article here