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Break Room appliances/counter height vs ADA

Examiner

Examiner

Registered User
Joined
Oct 22, 2009
Messages
521
Location
USA
Given:

Business Occupancy

Break Room has an L-shape counter that contains within the counter the following;

Under counter Dishwasher, free standing range/oven and a double compartment sink.

Refrigerator is located at the end and there are work surfaces between and/or over the appliances within the counter.

Due to dishwasher and free standing range/oven the designer is showing the entire counter height to be 36” high.

Microwave ovens to be located within the upper cabinets. One will be a combination unit vent hood/microwave and another is to be within an upper wall cabinet recess. Reach range for ADA is also an issue as I see it. Do you agree?

Will part or all of the counter be required to comply with Work Surface heights? Language in 2010 ADA 804.3 implies that you have to be a residential application. However, the Break Room and appliances therein would, in my opinion, cause the room to be a Kitchenette.
 
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Chapter 2 requires compliance with "new" and existing buildings & facilities,

...both "new" construction and alterations......Since yours is a "B" Occupancy,

it sounds as though it has to comply with the reach range requs. and work

surfaces heights.

Section 226.2 Dispersion: "Dining surfaces and work surfaces

required to comply with 902 shall be dispersed throughout the

space or facility containing dining surfaces and work surfaces."



See also, Section 902!

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International Building Code 2012

1109.4 Kitchens and kitchenettes.

Where kitchens and kitchenettes are provided in accessible spaces or rooms, they shall be accessible.

1109.3 Sinks.

Where sinks are provided, at least 5 percent but not less than one provided in accessible spaces shall be accessible.

Exception: Mop or service sinks are not required to be accessible.

1109.13 Controls, operating mechanisms and hardware.

Controls, operating mechanisms and hardware intended for operation by the occupant, including switches that control lighting and ventilation and electrical convenience outlets, in accessible spaces, along accessible routes or as parts of accessible elements shall be accessible.

Exceptions:

1. Operable parts that are intended for use only by service or maintenance personnel shall not be required to be accessible.

2. Electrical or communication receptacles serving a dedicated use shall not be required to be accessible.

3. Where two or more outlets are provided in a kitchen above a length of counter top that is uninterrupted by a sink or appliance, one outlet shall not be required to be accessible.

4. Floor electrical receptacles shall not be required to be accessible.

5. HVAC diffusers shall not be required to be accessible.

6. Except for light switches, where redundant controls are provided for a single element, one control in each space shall not be required to be accessible.

1109.11 Seating at tables, counters and work surfaces.

Where seating or standing space at fixed or built-in tables, counters or work surfaces is provided in accessible spaces, at least 5 percent of the seating and standing spaces, but not less than one, shall be accessible. In Group I-3 occupancy visiting areas at least 5 percent, but not less than one, cubicle or counter shall be accessible on both the visitor and detainee sides.

Exceptions:

1. Check-writing surfaces at check-out aisles not required to comply with Section 1109.11.2 are not required to be accessible.

2. In Group I-3 occupancies, the counter or cubicle on the detainee side is not required to be accessible at noncontact visiting areas or in areas not serving accessible holding cells or sleeping units.
 
Must comply

ADA

Corridors, toilet rooms, kitchenettes and break rooms are not employee work areas, AND THEREFORE MUST BE ACCESSIBLE.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
brudgers said:
Accessible worksurfaces, etc. And a hood for the free standing range/oven.
Click to expand...
nice catch brudgers, don't forget the dishwasher if the mechanical system is not designed to accomodate the vapors.
 
I had to modify the interiors drawings. The microhood combo's bottom was under 24" from the cook surface of the range and the cabinet bottom above the sink was under 22-inches. This is a small office break room and per the Code Commentary domestic type appliances can be used. There will not be any commercial cooking. There will be another microwave on the ADA work surface.

Brudgers, are you saying that the hood's controls have to be per ADA reach ranges?
 
*

Does the hood require [ human ] activation of an electrical switch to operate,

or does it operate automatically?

*
 
north star said:
Does the hood require [ human ] activation of an electrical switch to operate,or does it operate automatically?
Click to expand...
1109.13 Controls, operating mechanisms and hardware.

Controls, operating mechanisms and hardware intended for operation by the occupant, including switches that control lighting and ventilation and electrical convenience outlets, in accessible spaces, along accessible routes or as parts of accessible elements shall be accessible.
 
Examiner said:
I had to modify the interiors drawings. The microhood combo's bottom was under 24" from the cook surface of the range and the cabinet bottom above the sink was under 22-inches. This is a small office break room and per the Code Commentary domestic type appliances can be used. There will not be any commercial cooking. There will be another microwave on the ADA work surface. Brudgers, are you saying that the hood's controls have to be per ADA reach ranges?
Click to expand...
1. The commentary is not the code. 2. What would exempt them from ADA?
 
The jurisdictions that I cover would feel that if the free standing range is a domestic cooking appliance and there is no intent to use this for “commercial cooking purposes” then no hood would be required.

IMC 2009; 507.2.3 Domestic cooking appliances used for commercial purposes. Domestic cooking appliances utilized for commercial purposes shall be provided with Type I or Type II hoods as required for the type of appliances and processes in accordance with Sections 507.2, 507.2.1 and 507.2.2.
 
COMMERCIAL COOKING APPLIANCES. Appliances used in a commercial food service establishment for heating or cooking food and which produce grease vapors, steam, fumes, smoke or odors that are required to be removed through a local exhaust ventilation system. Such appliances include deep fat fryers; upright broilers; griddles; broilers; steam-jacketed kettles; hot-top ranges; under-fired broilers (charbroilers); ovens; barbecues; rotisseries; and similar appliances. For the purpose of this definition, a food service establishment shall include any building or a portion thereof used for the preparation and serving of food.

Are they preparing and serving food?......sounds like a commercial food service establishment....hood required...
 
A commercial food service establishment is not a office worker warming up a can of soup... sometime you guys are so anal retentive and obsessive compulsive.

It maybe a commercial building but The use is not a "commercial food service establishment ".

Think about each word.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
mark handler said:
A commercial food service establishment is not a office worker warming up a can of soup... .
Click to expand...
Agreed

If they are not preparing food for sale and are not using commercial appliances it is not a commercial cooking appliance.

Incidential cooking in an office is lower hazard than cooking at home.
 
I've been holding off to see what some others have to say, and I have to agree with Mark and Frank. No commercial hood required. It is an over reach to require a hood, when just as Mark said "The use is not a "commercial food service establishment "."
 
mark handler said:
A commercial food service establishment is not a office worker warming up a can of soup...
Click to expand...
That's why there are hotpots and microwaves.
 
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