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accessibility

  1. N

    Daycare Restroom Accessibility Compliance

    Working in MN, we have one child restroom accessed directly from each preschool/toddler room (2 toilets/2 sinks in each restroom). The restrooms are not currently ADA compliant. My coworker was saying that a long time ago he contacted the state, and they informed him that as long as the staff...
  2. N

    Accessible Ramp - minimum width

    Hi all, first time posting here. I'm working on a project in NC (2018 NCBC) that is a renovation of an old warehouse building, with a new elevated patio wrapping the entire building and various stairs and ramps leading from the patio to grade. The ramp in question is an exterior ramp at the...
  3. A

    Do All Offices Need To Be Accessible

    I'm working on a small TI project in California. I'm remodeling an office suite for a new tenant. The tenant is a therapist. The suite will consist of a small waiting room, a short corridor connecting the waiting room and offices, and three offices. Each office will be used for in-person...
  4. T

    Accessibility for apartments over commercial in a small 2 story building

    I am designing a small two story, 10000sf mixed use project. Desired program is 5000sf ground level commercial, 5000sf 2nd level residential. My understanding is if we break the residential up into 3 or less apartments, then none of them would need to be accessible units, and we would not need...
  5. C

    Common Accessible Toilet on Ground Floor of a Multiple Dwelling

    I wasn't successful in finding the regulation related to this either in NYS MDL, NYC BC, and FHA. I know there is one somewhere. Does anyone know where is this regulation coming from? Thank you.
  6. W

    Accessibility of two-story townhouses

    I'm working on a site where we are proposing 14 townhouses, 6 are 3-unit two-story buildings and 8 are 4-unit two story buildings. In each unit there is one bedroom on the ground floor, with 2 or 3 more bedrooms on the second floor. Where I'm getting tripped up is the IRC says "IRC Section...
  7. K

    Accessible Egress Door

    Does an accessible egress door have to swing out? This particular door serves an occupant load less than 50. How do you handle exit hardware if it opens in?
  8. M

    Ambulatory Stall in Single W/C Restroom?

    The only images for ambulatory washrooms I have seen have the door on the short end in plan view, leading directly to the washroom. https://www.macneilldesignservices.com/temp3https://www.macne I have a case where I have one washroom which is required to be ambulatory however I also would like...
  9. K

    Remote Controls

    I have a vent hood with contols that are mounted too high (not accessible reach range). However, the manufacturer provides a remote control device. Any opinion as to whether this is acceptable under IBC 2015 / ANSI A117.1 - 2009? It is a redundant control, but because it is not part of the...
  10. C

    Accessibility and Multi-building Condo Development

    Hello - We have a project where the owner wants to convert all of his units to condos. There are 9 duplexes on the development. I know that for fair housing (and I think IBC) only buildings with 4 or more units apply. BUT, I'm assuming that since all 18 units are part of the same development...
  11. Simonsays

    Enhancing accessibility for existing buildings in Indiana

    Can anyone cite the applicable code and section number for enhancing the accessibility of existing buildings in Indiana? According to the Indiana amendments, the applicable 2014 Indiana Building code sections for accessibility in existing buildings have been deleted without substitution, both...
  12. classicT

    Accessibility per IRC R320 and Townhomes

    In accordance with IRC Section 320.1, where there are for or more dwelling units or sleeping units in a single structure, the provisions of Chapter 11 of the IBC for group R-3 shall apply. This would most notably require that an accessible route be provided between exterior and interior spaces...
  13. T

    Accessibility arguments

    Hello all, Lately I've been running into an argument against providing accessible features for first responders. For example, in reviewing plans for an ambulance building. It goes something like this: "Well, they aren't going to hire EMTs in wheelchairs!" The details vary but you get the idea...
  14. K

    Ambulatory toilet stalls

    If a toilet compartment is not required to be ambulatory (2015 IBC 1109.2.2), can the builder still install grab bars in those toilet compartments? Must the bars then be in compliance with ICC A117.1-2009 section 604 as to dimensions & location? I think the argument being made is that there...
  15. T

    Repair of Chair Lift

    I have a turn of the century building (not sure if it's on the National Historic Registry) that had a chair lift added in the 90's. The lift is in the main entrance foyer and ascends 5 steps into the main portion of the office building. The building has since changed ownership and the chair lift...
  16. LGreene

    Automatic Doors - "Knowing Act"

    There is a standard for automatic doors - BHMA A156.19 - that is referenced by the IBC, IFC, and NFPA 101, as well as ICC A117.1 and the ADA standards. The standard covers low-energy automatic doors - the type of doors that are usually actuated by a push button and open slowly (not the type at...
  17. A

    Is ADA applicable to my 4-unit building? - Oakland, CA

    Hi all, Can you please help in determining whether ADA applies to my 4-unit building in Oakland, CA? I am of the opinion it does not as the building was built in 1924, contains 4 apartments and no elevator and therefor no "covered multi family dwellings" but would like a second opinion as the...
  18. LGreene

    Number of Operations for ACCESS

    I really need some help with this one. I have been contacted about a new apartment building in California where each dwelling unit has an electronic lock on the door leading from the corridor to the apartment. For egress, turning the lever retracts both the latchbolt and deadbolt, so this goes...
  19. LGreene

    Classroom Security

    I saw a post on LinkedIn from a fire marshal who is battling with the local police chief and school district about the use of classroom barricade devices...the law enforcement argument is that life safety codes are archaic. If anyone else is facing this problem, I just wrote an article for...
  20. C

    setting fieldset for better readability

    Hi, I understand <fieldset> is required in html structures for readability by screen readers. However, what if I use fieldset where there is no requirement to group input field? For example, my form has only 1 set of input fields, say address, and I still group it into a fieldset? Does it have...
  21. A

    Mass Code: 521 CMR Doorways

    A question for anyone with Massachusetts accessibility code experience. Within 521 CMR 26, there is no dimensional restriction on the hinge side of the door for pull side, latch side approach (figure 26d); the clear space required is just shown as a break line with no information. Can someone...
  22. J

    Multi-story buildings and accessibility

    I've read some other posts on here concerning the general topic but would like some feedback specific to a project and interested to hear feedback on a discrepancy between the IBC and ADA: Scope: Interior remodel of existing two story building, each floor over 4000 sq. ft. The interior...
  23. LGreene

    Hardware Mounting Height

    This question has been coming up quite a bit lately, so I wrote about it on my blog today: http://idighardware.com/2017/03/qq-accessible-mounting-height/ It's actually 2 questions...for a long pull handle that is not installed completely within the allowable mounting range for hardware, how...
  24. swampcypress

    Is a new elevator required in an existing building - converted to museum

    This is a question that deals with the "accessible path to areas of primary function" The project is an old home that was converted to office space. Then sold and is being converted to a museum - it has been given local status as an historical property (building). It has a second floor and...
  25. LGreene

    Wordless Wednesday and Fixed-it Friday

    Every Wednesday and Friday I post photos of what not to do - usually code issues with door openings. Today's WW photo isn't so much code-related, but you might like last week's FF photo of padlocked panic hardware. Here are links to all of the WW photos...
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