• Welcome to the new and improved Building Code Forum. We appreciate you being here and hope that you are getting the information that you need concerning all codes of the building trades. This is a free forum to the public due to the generosity of the Sawhorses, Corporate Supporters and Supporters who have upgraded their accounts. If you would like to have improved access to the forum please upgrade to Sawhorse by first logging in then clicking here: Upgrades

EV and handicap parking requirements

khsmith55

Bronze Member
Joined
Oct 23, 2010
Messages
235
Location
Glenwood Springs, CO
Looking for opinions on handicap parking requirements for EV spaces. For conversation purposes refer to the 2015 and 2021 IBC. Generally IBC Chapter 11 has required handicap spaces for each “type” (i.e. covered, uncovered, etc.) of parking. Would you consider an EV space to be a different “type” of parking? If so, IF EV spaces are Provided would a handicap EV space be required, also would the first handicap EV space have to be van accessible? Note, the 2021 IBC Chapter 11 has dimensional requirements but is “silent” as to when a handicap EV space is required. I see this becoming a real issue/problem with the push for more EV’s. Any input, suggestions or thoughts would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

Ken
 
Is this what you are looking for?

1107.2 Electrical vehicle charging stations. Electrical
vehicle charging stations shall comply with Sections
1107.2.1 and 1107.2.2.
Exception: Electrical vehicle charging stations provided
to serve Group R-2, R-3 and R-4 occupancies are not
required to comply with this section.
1107.2.1 Number of accessible vehicle spaces. Not less
than 5 percent
of vehicle spaces on the site served by
electrical vehicle charging systems, but not fewer than
one for each type of electric vehicle charging system,
shall be accessible.
 
I recall that there was something different about EV parking stalls in that anyone can use them rather than just those cars with an ADA placard.
 
Not an IBC guy, but the EV spaces are not for parking, they are for charging and are expected to move when complete. There are accessible charging spaces required, but once again not "parking"
 
This is going to create a huge boondoggle to say the least. We presently have van accessible spaces but anybody can use them so when we pull up with our van number they are taken by a car that doesn't need it. I'm sure the same thing will happen with EV accessible parking spaces.
 
EV charging spaces shall include the number of accessible spaces per code but the spaces are not exclusive to to vehicles with an ADA placard. There is no signage or symbol painted on the pavement…..And if that’s not the way it is, it should be the way it is.
 
ICE, per page 12 of the DSA document, it indicates that the required van and regular accessible EV charging stations are to be identified by an ISA.
 
ICE, per page 12 of the DSA document, it indicates that the required van and regular accessible EV charging stations are to be identified by an ISA.
With the "....Installations of 26 or more EVCS..."
And
While the accessible EV space is designed for accessibility, its use is available to everyone and not limited to those with access license plates or placards.
 
Thanks Mark! I am adding 18 to a site currently. the code language is as confusing as ever. We are currently showing a pavement ISA in both accessible spaces. Per the publication, at that quantity only the van accessible space needs to be identified by an ISA. I would venture to say that none of them need a "pavement ISA" and can suffice with just a little ISA on the charger even. It is not clear to me what the ISA specifically needs to be................clearly no pole signage seems to be required with the typical accessibility signage and fine signage required.
 
The following is copied from https://scag.ca.gov/sites/main/file...iaevcsaccessibilityregulations.pdf?1605821849

Identification for accessibility
Installations of 1-4 EVCS
▪ No identification signs required.
▪ While the accessible EV space is designed for accessibility, its use is available to everyone and not limited to those with access license plates or placards.

Installations of 5-25 EVCS
▪ One van accessible EV space shall be identified with an ISA; the standard accessible EV space shall not be
required to be identified with an ISA.

Installations of 26 or more EVCS
▪ All required van accessible and all required standard accessible shall be identified by an ISA.
Ambulatory EVCS
▪ Not required to be identified with an ISA.
Drive-up EVCS
▪ Not required to be identified with an ISA.

Definition:
Ambulatory accessible EV space
▪ 10’ minimum width x 18’ long, no access aisle
Additional width of space provides increased access for individuals with limited or temporary mobility challenges.


The following id copied from the CBC:
DRIVE-UP ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING STATION. An electric vehicle charging station in which use is limited to 30 minutes maximum and is provided at a location where the electric vehicle approaches in the forward direc- tion, stops in the vehicle space, charges the vehicle, and pro- ceeds forward to depart the vehicle space. The arrangement of a drive-up electric vehicle charger and its associated vehicle space is similar to a gasoline filling station island.

From reading the document I come to the conclusion that if there is one to four EVCS there is no requirement for any ISA and the chargers can be used by anyone. That is an easy conclusion to reach in that the text states exactly that.

From five to twenty-five EVCS one van accessible EVCS shall have an ISA and any additional accessible EVCS are not required to have an ISA. There is no mention of who is allowed to use the EVCS that bears the ISA. The logical conclusion is that the EVCS that bears the ISA is intended for only those vehicles that have access license plates or placards.

From twenty-six EVCS on up there is a requirement to have the ISA at each required accessible EVCS and they are restricted to vehicles that have access license plates or placards.

In typical fashion, the people that formulated the ADA provided just enough information to leave all but the CASp certified individuals wondering what the Hell they're talking about.
 
"identified by an ISA" that could mean just about anything................
Or just about everything. Given the open ended option most designers will go with everything rather than risking the wounds delivered by a scumbag lawyer.
 
Looking for opinions on handicap parking requirements for EV spaces. For conversation purposes refer to the 2015 and 2021 IBC. Generally IBC Chapter 11 has required handicap spaces for each “type” (i.e. covered, uncovered, etc.) of parking. Would you consider an EV space to be a different “type” of parking? If so, IF EV spaces are Provided would a handicap EV space be required, also would the first handicap EV space have to be van accessible? Note, the 2021 IBC Chapter 11 has dimensional requirements but is “silent” as to when a handicap EV space is required. I see this becoming a real issue/problem with the push for more EV’s. Any input, suggestions or thoughts would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

Ken
Our State Access Board interpreted EV spaces as a public commonly used element, covered by the ADA. At least one needed the Van size access aisle. No ADA reserve sign required just marked as an accessible EV.
 
This is going to create a huge boondoggle to say the least. We presently have van accessible spaces but anybody can use them so when we pull up with our van number they are taken by a car that doesn't need it. I'm sure the same thing will happen with EV accessible parking spaces.
are you suggesting that if the only accessible space left available is a van space, and a person with a disability in a sedan pulls up, they shouldn't be allowed to use the van space?
 
are you suggesting that if the only accessible space left available is a van space, and a person with a disability in a sedan pulls up, they shouldn't be allowed to use the van space?
In a situation like that I don't have a problem with them using but because van places are normally closer to the building for obvious reasons people that don't need the van access use them anyway meaning that many times people with vans cannot find a suitable parking space where they can deploy the ramp.
 
We are finding that several manufacturer's claim their EVCS comply with ADA which in fact they may only comply with the reach range requirements. 2021 IBC 1106.8 states that parking meters and pay stations shall be accessible and we reference ICC/ANSI A117.1-2017 edition. Section 707 of ANSI addresses several other requirements such as font sizes, speech output and braille in some cases.

How has everyone handled this?
 
U.S. Access Board
Design Recommendations for Accessible Electric Vehicle Charging Stations
Number of Accessible Chargers The ADA and ABA Guidelines do not specifically address how many chargers must be accessible at an EV charging station. Under the ADA Standards, when a facility or element does not have specific scoping requirements, access to a “reasonable number” is required under the general prohibitions against discrimination in the Department of Justice (DOJ) regulations for Title II and Title III entities. For more information, please contact the DOJ Office of Civil Rights at 1-800-514-0301 or 1-800-514-0383 (TTY). This “reasonable number” must be accessible to and usable by people with disabilities, and where appropriate technical requirements for elements and spaces are provided in the ADA Standards, a reasonable number must meet those technical requirements.
 
The accessibility requirements are still debatable. Many manufacturers will state that they comply with ADA or accessibility requirements, but in many cases the buttons and display screens do not comply. Part of the problem is the building code states that pay stations shall be accessible. Is this a pay station? This is an undefined term in the code and when you go to a dictionary it is a pay phone.

Second point is both ADA and ICC/ANSI A117 section 707 refer to ATM's and fare machines. Another term that is not defined "fare machine". The commentary states this is ticket machines ,vending machines etc. Is an EVCS a fare machine?

We are waiting for guidance from ICC the US Access Board
 
Top