Accessible apartment tenant storage

[Otter]

A R-2 apartment building is proposing to provide personal storage units for each of the dwelling units, located outside of the units on the site. The building is not required to have Type A units, but Type B units are provided. I'm assuming the storage areas need to be accessible per 1108.3, but do the storage units need to be accessible just for the quantity of B units? For example, 8 total dwelling units, 8 storage areas. 4 units are Type B, so do only 4 storage areas need to be accessible? 2021 IBC, 2017 A117.1
Thanks for looking.

 

[RLGA]

Clarification:

1. Are the non-Type B units on a second story without elevator access?
2. If the answer to #1 is yes, are all of the storage areas on the ground level?
3. If the answer to #2 is yes, are the storage areas associated with a specific unit or assigned randomly?

If you get down to #3 and your response is "assigned randomly," all storage areas would need to be accessible. However, if each storage area is assigned to a specific unit, then only those assigned to the Type B units would need to comply with those Type B requirements that would apply to storage areas (e.g., located on an accessible route, provide an accessible entrance, comply with walking surface provisions, and operable parts within applicable reach ranges).

 

[SCBO1]

Can they all be accessible? Is there a significant $$ savings on non-ADA compliant storage units?

What's an ADA storage unit look like?

 

[Otter]

Thanks RGLA, that makes sense. This particular building has no elevator but 3 Type B ground floor units. They provided one accessible storage area at grade but put the remaining storage units in a basement with no elevator. Looks like they are 2 short.
Local zoning regs make apartments provide exterior storage areas even for city infill lots where real estate is tight, so they needed to make a basement to get the storage.

 

[Jean Tessmer-HI]

Can they all be accessible? Is there a significant $$ savings on non-ADA compliant storage units?

What's an ADA storage unit look like?

It could be a shallow side approach storage unit that allows the wheelchair user to reach into the shelves. The shallow storage would need: door access hardware within reach range, does not require tight pinching, twisting of the wrist, or more than 5 pounds of force to operate and the area where the wheelchair can approach is less than 2% slope in two directions connected to an accessible route.

 

[SCBO1]

I haven't seen an ADA storage unit set-up, maybe someone has and can elaborated?
The locking mechanism and door lift, what's that look like?

 

[Yankee Chronicler]

A R-2 apartment building is proposing to provide personal storage units for each of the dwelling units, located outside of the units on the site. The building is not required to have Type A units, but Type B units are provided. I'm assuming the storage areas need to be accessible per 1108.3, but do the storage units need to be accessible just for the quantity of B units? For example, 8 total dwelling units, 8 storage areas. 4 units are Type B, so do only 4 storage areas need to be accessible? 2021 IBC, 2017 A117.1
Thanks for looking.

I would say that only the storage units assigned to the Type B units would have to be accessible, but this question really should be asked of the AHJ, not on an Internet forum.

 

[Yankee Chronicler]

It could be a shallow side approach storage unit that allows the wheelchair user to reach into the shelves. The shallow storage would need: door access hardware within reach range, does not require tight pinching, twisting of the wrist, or more than 5 pounds of force to operate and the area where the wheelchair can approach is less than 2% slope in two directions connected to an accessible route.

That sounds like a pantry, not a storage unit.