| ADA at 20
Revised federal accessibility guidelines make more sense for builders, enforcers and people with disabilities
By Kleo King
In July 2004, the Federal Access Board updated accessibility guidelines for new or altered facilities covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Architectural Barriers Act (ABA). The “Revised ADA/ABA Accessibility Guidelines” (herein after Revised ADA/ABA) are an update of the original 1991 ADA Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG). The Revised ADA/ABA was developed by an advisory committee made up of representatives from the design and construction industry, building code community and people with disabilities.
The goal was to update specifications to continue to meet the needs of people with disabilities, improve the format and usability to make it easier to use, harmonize the guidelines with model building codes and industry standards, and to make the requirements for facilities covered under ADA and the ABA facilities more consistent. In fact, they have been harmonized with the International Building Code’s scoping provisions for accessibility and with the American National Standards Institute’s technical provisions for accessibility (ANSI A117.1) referenced in the International Building Code.
The Revised ADA/ABA includes separate scoping sections for facilities covered under the ADA and ABA, but references a single set of simplified technical requirements.
For example, one set of accessible reach ranges and maneuvering clearances are provided so the same accessible height and the same amount of knee clearance is provided at sinks, counters and cafeteria tray slides whether they are located in a government building or at your local restaurant.
While the technical requirements (i.e., dimensions) are uniform, scoping provisions for privately owned facilities that are open to the public differ from those owned by federal, state or local governments. For example, an elevator exemption is provided for most privately owned facilities that are less than three stories or less than 3,000 square feet per floor. However, multi-story facilities owned by government entities do not provide an elevator exemption.
Enforceability of the Revised ADA/ABA
The Revised ADA Accessibility Guidelines apply to facilities in the private sector (places of public accommodation and commercial facilities) and to state and local government facilities. However, the Revised ADA/ABA has not been adopted as an enforceable standard by the Department of Justice (DOJ) for Title II and Title III compliance. DOJ is in the process of adopting the Revised ADA Accessibility Guidelines as an enforceable standard. Transportation facilities covered by the ADA (i.e., bus stops, rail stations, and other transportation facilities) are subject to the Revised ADA/ABA since the Department of Transportation (DOT) adopted them in November 2006.
The Revised ABA Accessibility Guidelines apply to federally funded facilities. In May 2006 the General Services Administration (GSA) adopted the Revised ABA (February 2007 for leased facilities). The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) adopted the Revised ABA in October 2005 for postal facilities and the Department of Defense adopted them in October 2008 for military facilities. The Department of Housing (HUD) is in the process of updating its ABA standards, which apply to residential facilities that are federally funded.
Improvements over ADAAG
The Revised ADA/ABA provides a great deal of clarification on the design of facilities that are readily accessible to and usable by people with disabilities. For example, the new technical requirements for accessible showers specify a maximum water temperature of 120 degrees, adjustable and fixed spray units, and curbs or thresholds of no more than half an inch in new construction, and no more than 2 inches in existing facilities where providing a half-inch threshold would disturb the structural reinforcement of the floor slab. They also allow more flexibility to allow for construction tolerances. For example, the Revised ADA/ABA allows a toilet to be mounted so that its centerline is 16 to 18 inches from the closest wall while the current ADAAG requires it to be mounted 18 inches from the wall.
Another substantial change relates to reach ranges for accessible controls. Current ADAAG allows objects to be mounted with operating controls at 54 inches above finish floor when being reached from a side approach. Revised ADA/ABA limits the height for accessible controls to a maximum of 48 inches above finish floor when being accessed from a side approach. Accessible reach ranges apply to objects such as light switches and paper towel dispensers located in toilet rooms.
The Revised ADA/ABA also contains accessibility guidelines for a number of recreational facilities that are not found in current ADAAG. Some of the recreational areas covered include: amusement rides, recreational boating facilities, exercise machines, fishing piers and platforms, golf facilities, miniature golf facilities, play areas, saunas and steam rooms, swimming pools, wading pools, and spas and shooting facilities with firing positions. Increasing the accessibility of these areas will surely provide greater options for people with disabilities that are active in their communities and want to be more physically active.
For more information on the Revised ADA/ABA Accessibility Guidelines, you can visit the US Access Board’s Web site at www.access-board.gov/ada-aba/.
Kleo King is senior vice president of Accessibility Services.
