Self Storage Units - HABITIBLE or NON HABITIBLE SPACE?

[mtlogcabin]

Accessibility requirements aren't just for people who use wheelchairs.

 

[Inspector Gadget]

Accessibility requirements aren't just for people who use wheelchairs.

Amen bother/sister/other as applicable.

Based on the small section of Code that applies, I face more opposition to accessibility Code than any other similar section of Code. I don't get it. accessibility standards make life better for:
- folks with visual impairments
- folks with physical impairments (damaged/missing/disformed hands can't open knob-handle doors)
- children (remember being five years old and trying to open a knob-handle door by yourself?
- folks who have suffered accidents (ever try to climb your office stairs with a boot on a broken angle?)
- children (remember being five years old and trying to reach a tap handle on a big vanity in a public washroom?)
- folks recovering from surgery (ever try to take a dump in the office toilet while recovering from a hip replacement, but the grab bars are in the wrong location?)
- folks who look after someone with a physical challenge (Ever try to hump a wheelchair containing a 220-pound person over a 2" threshold?)
- elderly (a handrail on both sides of the ramp helps those of age who just want the extra fall mitigation)
- parents with toddlers (ever try to open a door to a big store with two bags of groceries in one hand and a toddler on your hip, held with the other?)

I saw a meme going about where some guy in a wheelchair is standing to order from a taco stand. The caption reads "tacos work miracles." The implication is that the person isn't actually disabled, just faking it. Bulltwaddle. I knew a person suffering from a condition that is sporadic, yet occasionally debilitating. There are days when they could move without pain and needed a cane just to get to the car in the driveway, other days where they could walk all over town just fine.

</rant>

 

[Yikes]

I’ve previously designed accessible self-storage. Almost everyone moves their junk via some type of wheels, and thus nearly every mobility path-of-travel feature was also an aid to the overall functionality of the storage facility.
The only part that was difficult on that particular project was creating a path-of-travel that did not go behind other parked cars, and providing a grade separation (it’s a California thing).

 

[Yikes]

Amen bother/sister/other as applicable.

Based on the small section of Code that applies, I face more opposition to accessibility Code than any other similar section of Code. I don't get it. accessibility standards make life better for:
- folks with visual impairments
- folks with physical impairments (damaged/missing/disformed hands can't open knob-handle doors)
- children (remember being five years old and trying to open a knob-handle door by yourself?
- folks who have suffered accidents (ever try to climb your office stairs with a boot on a broken angle?)
- children (remember being five years old and trying to reach a tap handle on a big vanity in a public washroom?)
- folks recovering from surgery (ever try to take a dump in the office toilet while recovering from a hip replacement, but the grab bars are in the wrong location?)
- folks who look after someone with a physical challenge (Ever try to hump a wheelchair containing a 220-pound person over a 2" threshold?)
- elderly (a handrail on both sides of the ramp helps those of age who just want the extra fall mitigation)
- parents with toddlers (ever try to open a door to a big store with two bags of groceries in one hand and a toddler on your hip, held with the other?)

I saw a meme going about where some guy in a wheelchair is standing to order from a taco stand. The caption reads "tacos work miracles." The implication is that the person isn't actually disabled, just faking it. Bulltwaddle. I knew a person suffering from a condition that is sporadic, yet occasionally debilitating. There are days when they could move without pain and needed a cane just to get to the car in the driveway, other days where they could walk all over town just fine.

</rant>

Anecdotally, the biggest pushback I get is NOT from people who I would consider prejudiced. Rather, it it from people who lived in an era or culture when the solution for barriers was not to remove them, but to help someone over them. Set of steps at the entrance? No problem, “let’s grab a couple of people and lift the chair up on the count of three! 1, 2,…”.
This happens more often at churches or other charitable organizations where social capital is high but monetary capital is low. They have a hard time justifying spending $100k on a mobility barrier removal when “we’ve always helped people up the steps for the last 50 years”. It’s especially true if they are comparing that to other charitable goals: “we could fund 10 new clean water wells in Kenya this year, or we can install a ramp that no wheelchair user in our congregation has needed before”.

 

[my250r11]

Does the FM request a Knoxbox for the gate, fire extinguisher(s) or a site plan showing firetruck access around the buildings? or is the building plan reviewers review requirements

Yes to all of these. In our city we work hand in hand with the Fire Mashal. Building will still have the final say so if needed for building code issues, but the marshal's office does plan review concurrent with ours. This helps with compliance and permitting for both depts. It also builds a good relationship between the 2.

 

[mtlogcabin]

MS and Arthritis along with neuropathy are diseases that aren't easily seen but very real and debilitating at times

 

[Yankee Chronicler]

MS and Arthritis along with neuropathy are diseases that aren't easily seen but very real and debilitating at times

Too true! (As I can attest first hand, at least with respect to the latter two.)

 

[Jean Tessmer-HI]

We are currently responding to comments on a 6 bldg. 208 unit self storage facility. The building inspector operating as a consultant for the municipality indicated that a percentage of units must be accessible as per Table 1109.3 Self Storage Facilities in the table it provided a percentage of units to be accessible.

My question is why provide accessibility to NON HABITBLE space? It is NOT HABITIBLE. It is storage. The 2021 International Building Code (IBC) defines habitable space as a space in a building that is used for living, sleeping, eating, or cooking. This definition does not include spaces such as bathrooms, closets, halls, storage, or utility spaces.

I spoke with the State fire marshal’s office and the chief reviewer he agrees that Storage is NON HABITIBLE and therefore Accessibility does not apply.

I am putting this out there for anyone who can shed some light on the matter. Thank you.

If the if the public can go there and rent a storage unit, it is a public facility that is required to follow the ADA. Including parking and accessible routes.

 

[Inspector Gadget]

To get around it....Human nature......

I'll put this into a context that I use frequently:

"So, you're telling me that I can't store my stuff in your building if I had my legs blown off in Iraq in service of my country .... is that correct?"

 

[Yankee Chronicler]

Anecdotally, the biggest pushback I get is NOT from people who I would consider prejudiced. Rather, it it from people who lived in an era or culture when the solution for barriers was not to remove them, but to help someone over them.

Some of the worst pushback we see is from ... doctors.

 

[Tim Mailloux]

[BG] HABITABLE SPACE. A space in a building for living, sleeping, eating or cooking. Bathrooms, toilet rooms, closets, halls, storage or utility spaces and similar areas are not considered habitable spaces.

Based on the OP's logic, toilet rooms are also not required to be accessible as they are not habitable space.

 

[steveray]

[BG] HABITABLE SPACE. A space in a building for living, sleeping, eating or cooking. Bathrooms, toilet rooms, closets, halls, storage or utility spaces and similar areas are not considered habitable spaces.

Based on the OP's logic, toilet rooms are also not required to be accessible as they are not habitable space.

Wicked smart guy said that in post #9....

 

[redeyedfly]

I can see your view....Good point, they do!...so it looks like I will inform client that he needs to provide not only those accessible units but the parking spaces, electricity to light them, either a accessible mandoor with overhead door OR electrically operated OH doors. Thanks for the insight......Much Appreciated!....

I think your client needs to hire a RDP that is competent. Not only are storage facilities specifically required to be accessible per IBC it's also required in the ADA. There are countless resources available to interpret the requirements of the IBC and ADA for accessibility. If you don't understand this, you should not be offering your services. How many projects have you designed? Your past clients are likely sitting on a lot of liability because of your incompetent design.

And what does habitable or not have to do with anything? Where did that come from???

FYI, an OH door does not meet the requirements of an accessible entrance.