Sales and service counter

[Sifu]

Little confused by 2009 ANSI 117.1 section 904. 904.3.1 says that where the counter surface is less than 36" in length, the entire counter surface must be 36" maximum in height. So the code says to provide 36" min. in length, but then says if it isn't 36" min. in length it is OK as long as the entire counter surface is max. 36" high?

Given this scenario where the accessible portion would be at the end of a counter, it has a clear space the user can roll up to. It is 36" high. The depth of the counter is >36", but the width is 30 1/2". Width and depth are subjective depending on the orientation I guess. The entire counter surface is 36" high. Is this a compliant cash station?

 

[arwat23]

This is from the 2017 ICC A117.1. Not sure if this exists in the 2009 version.

For what it's worth, even though I know it's not the same, ADAS has this diagram showing the exceptions (diagram from the CA Building Code, but it matches ADAS):

 

[walker.t]

So the code says to provide 36" min. in length, but then says if it isn't 36" min. in length it is OK as long as the entire counter surface is max. 36" high?

Yeah, I noticed that before, it says it’s supposed to be 36” then turns around and tells you what to do when it’s not - should be listed as an exception. You are correct that you can provide less than 36” width with a parallel approach when the entire width is 36” maximum in height. A117.1-2017 clarifies this by listing the exception for counters less than 36” wide as a stated exception.

Is this a compliant cash station?

Yes, I would consider it to be compliant. It does look a little odd because the employee would not be on the other side of the counter, but I don’t see anything in A117.1 that requires an across-the-counter configuration. It’s really no different then the point-of-sale terminals built into tables in an Apple Store, the customer and employee are on the same side of the “sales table.”

This is from the 2017 ICC A117.1. Not sure if this exists in the 2009 version.

That’s not in A117.1-2009 904.3 (Sales and Service Counters) but it is in ADA 904.4 (Sales and Service Counters.) This exception applies to alterations, A117.1-2009 904.3.1 Parallel Approach does not state a minimum width if it’s new construction. Minimum width is 30” when you use a front approach per A117.1-2009 904.3.2 (Forward Approach.)