On my inspections to ensure compliance, I see some interesting corrections to ADA violations. I wanted to share with you some examples in this newsletter.

CANE DETECTION

An open riser stair creates a vertical hazard and the risers behind the stair are protruding objects. It is recommended to add a cane detectable element to prevent a person who is visually impaired to hit themselves with the risers or stinger. Below is an example of that open stair and how they decided to create cane detection.

The stair in the photo above shows an open sides on a circulation path which is a hazard in the vertical clearance for people with visual impairments.

The solution they chose is to add river rock under the stair to obstruct the circulation under the open side. The river rock became cane detection and prevents them from walking along the open sides

EXCESSIVE SLOPE AT PARKING

A parking lot had slopes steeper than 1:48 (2%) in all directions. This was a violation. The way they decided to correct it was to add more concrete on top of the existing surface in order to provide a flat area for the vehicles intended for persons with disabilities to park.

The accessible parking spaces had a violation of slopes being steeper than 2% in all directions. The solution they used to correct is was to build up the concrete so create a flat (2% slope) area at the vehicle and access aisle

Notice the concrete was built up concrete. This allows just the accessible parking to be corrected without having to tear out the entire surface lot.

TOILET LOCATED FARTHER THAN 18″ FROM THE SIDE WALL

A toilet in an accessible restroom must be located between 16″-18″ from the side wall to the centerline of the toilet. There are many ways to correct such a violation: move the toilet, use a offset flange if possible or make the side wall closer to the toilet as shown below.

The side wall was furred out in order to provide the required location of the toilet from the side wall.

The centerline of the toilet was 19″ from the side wall.

SOME FUN SOLUTIONS

The accessible route was incorporated onto the steps and created a nice feature

The entrance to this pool is through a sloped surface that is integral part of the landscape and not an afterthought.

DON’T CREATE MORE PROBLEMS WHEN SOLVING THEM

In order to correct violations, one has to understand what they are trying to correct and install them in ways that will not cause more issues. Below are two examples of solutions that were not thought through and caused additional issues

These drinking fountains were located inside an alcove that was built with two gyp wall walls on either side of the drinking fountains. Because they were within the alcove they were not projecting onto the circulation path.

• If you notice the photo also has “cane detectable” aprons installed on all the drinking fountains. These are used when the drinking fountains project more than 4″ onto a circulation path and would not be cane detectable by a person who is visually impaired (see figure below).
• Cane detectable aprons installed were also located at the low units (intended for wheelchairs) and would reduce the knee clearance required at that unit.
• In addition, if the wing walls were not installed, the low drinking fountains could have been located on the open sides and if the bottom was located at 27″ a.f.f. exactly it would have had knee clearance and it would have provided cane detection. That would have saved the client money because they would not have needed the wing walls or the aprons.

This is the figure that explains the parameters for cane detection on elements that are located on a circulation path.

Click on the photo to show you a solution for a handryer that is a protruding object