Under Cabinet Lighting

[north star]

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I have a some new Floor Mounted & Wall Mounted Cabinets
planned for installation in a new construction, bldg. addition
[ military project ].

The Floor Cabinetry complies with the Reach Ranges &
Heights ranges.......The plans indicate some Wall Mounted
Cabinets with "Under Cabinet Lighting Fixtures", with small
rocker style switches.

Are "Under Cabinet Lighting Fixtures" required to comply with
Section 205.1 - Operable Parts, in the `10 A.D.A.S.A.D & the `09
A117.1 ?.......If so, does the lighting fixture specifically need to
state "complies with ADA requirements", or something similar ?
The ones listed in the plans do not have any such language.

Thanks for your input !

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[RLGA]

Nothing has to state that it is ADA compliant. I've seen some products that state this and are questionable that they do. Light fixtures can be mounted at any height, so even if the switch mechanism complies with the operation requirement, they can still be noncompliant because they're mounted beyond the reach requirements.

If the rocker-style switches are the only means of turning the lights on and off, then I would say they definitely need to be within the reach requirements. If they are connected to a wall switch that are within the reach requirements, then they might be compliant (someone could turn off the fixture using the fixture's rocker switch, thus negating the use of the wall switch), so I would take the conservative route and install the fixtures within the reach requirements.

If the switches will be beyond the reach requirements, then I would use a fixture with no switch instead, and use a wall switch as the means of operating the lights.

 

[north star]

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Thank you Ron for your input !......As far as I can tell
by looking at the plans, the Under Cabinet lights will
be in the Reach & Height Ranges.

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