Abadi 
November 2023: Inspector’s Corner
Posted on - Wednesday, November 1st, 2023Signage clearance
The ADA and TAS requires that an 18″x18″ centered clear floor space be provided at the permanent room signage
Sometimes elements get inadvertaly placed in front of the signage which violates this requirment.
The above image is of a drinking fountain located in front of the restroom signage which does not allow for the 18″x18″ space at the floor centered below the sign.
Not all shower seats are created equal
When showers require seats to be provided, it can’t just be any shower seat. There are requirements that we must follow:
- No more than 3″ from the entrance of the shower
- No more than 1 1/2″ from the side wall and
- 2 1/2″ from the rear wall
Many times, I have seen shower seats that are too short to meet the requirements. Most of the time they don’t take into consideration the depth of the shower and the seat is typically farther than 3″ fron the entry
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The shower seat in the photo above was located 7″ from the entrance
What are the cane detectable apron at drinking fountains for?
There is an accessory that is available to specify for drinking fountains called “cane detectable apron”. And they are not cheap….
This accessory is for Halsey Taylor but other drinking fountains also carry it.
The apron is used when the high drinking fountain (for standing persons) is located along a circulation path and possibly a protruding object. The apron is installed under the high drinking fountain bringing the leading edge to 27″ a.f.f. making it detectable to canes used by people with visual impairments..
This drinking fountain is located where pedetrians would circulate and mounted where a person that is visually impaired would not be able to detect it.
This depicts a drinking fountain that is not cane detectable.
This photo shows the cane detectable apron installed at the high drinking fountain making it cane detectable.
TheBut not everyone understands how to install it and how it works. At some of my inspections I have found the apron mounted to the low drinking fountain which is not needed and removes the knee clearance. I have also seen them installed where built cane detection was provided.
This photo shows the cane detectable apron installed at the low drinking fountain instead of the high one
This photo shows the cane detectable apron installed at all drinking fountains (high and low), but because the drinking fountains were recessed in an alcove, they weren’t even required. The walls that make the alcove acts as cane detection. None of these drinking fountains were protruding objects.