Are ADA Path of travel Improvements Required for Demo / Shell Work

[arwat23]

I got a project that involves demolishing a few suites in a shopping center. We're leaving the space as a "shell" - empty and unoccupied. Do the ADA path of travel improvement (PoTI) requirements for existing building apply to a project like this? Or is that for the future tenant's TI permits to handle?

I know that if this was going to be an occupied space, PoTI would defiantly be required. But what about if we're leaving the space unoccupied? Does that change anything?

Using the 2022 California Building Code, section 11B-202.

 

[Yankee Chronicler]

I can't comment on what the California codes says about it. The way I would view it is that a shell preparation project isn't going to get a certificate of occupancy, since we don't know what the occupancy will be. My state amended Chapter 1 to add provision for a Certificate of Acceptance for work that doesn't generate a Certificate of Occupancy, so that's what we issue for shell prep projects.

For a shell prep, I would enforce accessibility and accessible route to include accessible parking, the route from the accessible parking to the entrance(s) to the altered space(s), and the entrance doors themselves. (Doors, hardware, threshold, amount of force needed to open the door(s) against the closers.) Everything else would be addressed as part of the tenant fitout project(s).

If the shell fitout includes adding or renovating the toilet rooms, then I would include that in accessibility requirements. If each space only includes one toilet room, just remember that some occupancies may generate a requirement for more fixtures, or for separate fixtures for male and female (although California may have completely adopted unisex toilet rooms, so the California language may be different from what I'm accustomed to).

 

[steveray]

Here....technically....yes.....

 

[Jean Tessmer-HI]

I got a project that involves demolishing a few suites in a shopping center. We're leaving the space as a "shell" - empty and unoccupied. Do the ADA path of travel improvement (PoTI) requirements for existing building apply to a project like this? Or is that for the future tenant's TI permits to handle?

I know that if this was going to be an occupied space, PoTI would defiantly be required. But what about if we're leaving the space unoccupied? Does that change anything?

Using the 2022 California Building Code, section 11B-202.

yes, path of travel 20% for improvements to existing facilities is required. The only time the DOJ knows this is when there is a complaint, and you need to present proof by way of plans and contract fees showing where the barriers were and how you made improvements to the path of travel. All this is assuming the shopping center has some path of travel issues. You touch it you fix it.