Chapter 30: Barrier Free Design

• ADA became law in 1992

• ADA is not code and does not depend on inspection, However, owner must comply or be liable for
civil suits
• ADA does not cover single or multi family housing
• ADA regulations follow ICC/ANSI A117.1 Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities

ACCESSIBLE ROUTES

• Accessible route: continuous unobstructed path connecting all accessible elements and spaces in
a building
• Routes and clearances based on dimensional requirements of wheelchairs
- Stationary wheelchair is 30” x 48”
- Maneuverability: min 60”dia circle or T-shaped space (all 36” wide)
• Min clear width for accessible route = 36” continuous and 32” at a passage not deeper than 24”
- If passage is deeper than 24” then 36”
- Min passage for two wheelchairs = 60”

DOORWAYS

Width and Arrangement

• Front approach
- door swing towards user
- 60” deep in front of door
- 18” clear on pull side
- door swing away from user:
- 48” deep in front of door
- 12” clear on push side
 • Hinge side approaches
- Door swings towards user:
- 36” from latch jamb if corr width is 60”
- 42” from latch jamb if corr width is 54”
- Door swings away from user
- 42” depth in front of door
- 54” width in front of door measured from latch jamb

• Latch side approaches

- Door swings toward user
- 48” depth in front of door
- 24” clear on pull side of door
- Door swings away from user
- 42” depth in front of door
- 24” clear on push side of door

• 4’ between two doors in sequence

Opening Force
• Max opening force to push or pull Max 5lbf-ft
- Can be greater if a fire door
• Closers, sweep period so from open position of 70° door will take 3sec to move to a point 3” from
latch

Hardware
• Thresholds cannot exceed 1/2”
• If greater than 1/2” = beveled edge so slope not greater than 1:2
• Door levers max 48”

ELEVATORS
• Car must be self leveling to within 1/2” of floor landing
• Lobby call buttons: 42”
• Hall lantern: visible and audible signals
- 72” and 2 1/2” min is smallest dimension
• Braille character floor designation: 2” high on both jambs and mounted 60”
• 5sec min notification between time when lantern is visible and when directional sound is heard
- One tone = “up” twice = “down”
• 3sec min for doors to remain open
• Car control buttons between 35” – 54”
• Clear door width: 36”
PLUMBING FIXTURES AND TOILET ROOMS

ICC/ANSI A117.1 and ADA govern design of components

Toilet Stalls (SEE Pg 30-5)

• Clearance depth varies bet wall hung vs floor mounted
- If depth increased by 3” then floor mounted can be used
• Door: 32” & must swing out
• Grab bars: 33” – 36”
• CL toilet: 16” – 18”
• TP: 7” – 9” from leading edge
- Bet 15” – 48”
- If above grab bar: min 12” bet bar & dispenser
- If below grab bar: min 1 1/2” clearance

Urinals
• Stall type or elongated rim
• Max height 17”
• Floor space of 30” x 48” (may overlap accessible route)
• Shields may not extend beyond front edge w/ 30” between them
 Lavatory Sinks
• Wall hung lavs best
• Pipes must be insulated
• Underside free of abrasive & sharp surfaces
• Faucets: operable w/ one hand w/o tight grasp
- Lever operated, push or automatic
- Mirrors: max 40” to bottom edge
• Depth: max 6 1/2”

Drinking Fountains
• If free standing or built in w/o clear space: 30 x 48” floor space in front w/ long dimension parallel to
fountain
• Spout max 5” from front edge

Bathtubs
• Tub seat or seat at head
• Grab bars
• If enclosure used, it cannot obstruct controls or transfer from wheelchair
• Enclosure tracks cannot be mounted on rim

FLOOR SURFACES

• Change in level transitions:

- If change is less than 1/4”, transition may be vertical w/o edge treatment
- Between 1/4” – 1/2”, beveled w/ slope no greater than 1:2
- Greater than 1/2”, ramp
• Carpet must have firm cushion or backing
- If no cushion, then level loop
RAMPS AND STAIRS

• No greater than 1:12 (1” rise in 12” run)

• Limited to 30” rise before level landing
• 1:10 permitted if max rise does not exceed 6”
• 1:8 permitted if max rise does not exceed 3”
• Min clear width: 36”
• Landing length min 60”
• If ramp changes direction then 60” sq landing
• Handrails if rises greater than 6” or lengths greater than 72”
• Handrail from 34” – 38” & must extend 12” beyond top and bottom of ramp
- 1 1/4” – 1 1/2” dia

PROTRUDING OBJECTS

• Based on use of cane

• Objects 27” above floor may projet any amount as long as min clear passage width is maintained

DETECTABLE WARNINGS

• Warning surfaces: truncated domes typically at transportation platforms

SIGNAGE AND ALARMS

• Emergency information and general circulation

• Warning systems that provide visual and audible alarm with sounds that exceed prevailing sound
level by 15dB
• Visual alarms must have flashing lights w/ frequency of 1 Hz (1 cycle per second)
• Permanent rooms identified with signs having lettering from 5/8” to 2” & 1/32” above surface
- All uppercase
- Sans serif or simple serif
- Accompanied by Grade 2 braille
• Pictograms min 6” high accompanied by equivalent verbal description below
- Non glare finish w/ characters & symbols contrasting w/ background
• Mounting height to baseline of the characters must be 48” min and 60” max
• Individual characters that are tactile and visual must have a stroke thickness at least 10% and not
more than 15% of the height based on upper case letter “I”

TELEPHONES

• In two or more banks of phones, one must conforming phone per bank
• Four or more phones, one interior public text phone is required

SEATING

• Fixed or built in seating or tables are provided in accessible public or common use aras then at least
5% but not less than 1%