Is a walk-in frig a work station ?

[ADAguy]

Today's brain teaser:

Existing junior high school with a kitchen wishes to add a walk-in refrig/freezer installed in an outside yard with a door into the kitchen.

1. What makes a walk-in a structure vs a piece of equipment?

2. Is the frig viewed as a component of a work station, or is it a work station?

3. Is a kitchen by definition a work station or a room containing work stations?

4. If so and the work station (walk-in) is accessed by a door from the kitchen, is the door exempt from clear floor space and/or operable controls (door hardware) requirements?

ADA exempts equipment rooms accessed from the exterior but not if adjacent to common area corridors.

 

[Jim B]

I would tend to think that it would be exempt if there are only school employees that use it, as per the following:

IBC 2012: 1103.2.15 Walk-in coolers and freezers. Walk-in coolers and freezers intended for employee use only are not required to be accessible.

 

[mtlogcabin]

Don't know or care what CA or the ADA has to say about walkin coolers

The 2012 IBC states

1103.2.15 Walk-in coolers and freezers.

Walk-in coolers and freezers intended for employee use only are not required to be accessible.

 

[steveray]

Does it meet the construction type for the building?...Agre under IBC it does not need to be accessible...

 

[Chad Pasquini]

I thought that we have been down this road before?

 

[ICE]

The energy code won't allow conditioned accessible pathways inside a refrigerator/freezer. Then what about a turnaround? Are you going to have a ramp?

 

[ADAguy]

ICE "cold" questions.

1. If you can enter it you would have to be able to exit it if in a chair, however this may also be seen as a Title I issue as a supervisor could view an employee from the corridor without entering the box.

2. Floor levels if adjacent to interior corridor could be the same, therefore no ramp required. If exterior above grade a ramp would only be required as an accommodation, otherwise the box as previously noted would/could be exempt.