What is an open bed frame?

[Mr. Inspector]

This is under Accessible Dwelling Units and Sleeping Units:
2018 IBC 1002.15.2 Bed Frames. At least one bed shall be provided with an open bed frame.


If I google this question I get photos like this. Is this what the code means?

 

[e hilton]

Maybe as opposed to a platform bed, where there is no toe space?

 

[SCBO1]

I believe it's open under the bed incase they need some kind of left that would have room for the feet or like when your in a hospital bed the portable tray that goes over your bed has feet with casters on it?

Only my speculation.

 

[Mr. Inspector]

I believe it's open under the bed incase they need some kind of left that would have room for the feet or like when your in a hospital bed the portable tray that goes over your bed has feet with casters on it?

Only my speculation.

If this is true I wonder how many legs can be on the sides or if there is a minimum space required under the bed.

 

[Sifu]

The referenced code is not the IBC, rather the ANSI standard. From the commentary to the 2017 ANSI standard. (sections were changed in this edition)

1102.15.2 Bed frames. At least one bed shall be provided with an open bed frame.

The open bed frame is intended to allow the use of a
bed lift such as a Hoyer lift to be used to transfer
either to or from the bed. If the bed is installed on a
solid platform, as is common at many hotels, the platform
does not allow for the supports of the lifts to
move under the bed. Having an open bed frame
allows the legs of the lift to extend under the bed and
provides a greater base of support for the lift so that it
is stable and secure during the transfer. Although the
language of Section 1102.15.2 could be viewed as
meaning that any one bed within the unit could have
the open frame, the language of Section 1102.15
should be used so that the bed with the open frame is
also the bed served by the clear floor space. This is a
reasonable interpretation since it will allow the person
to maneuver adjacent to the bed before using the lift
or allow an assistant to maneuver the lift into the clear
floor space before transferring the person back to the
bed. (See Commentary Figures C1102.15.1 and
C1102.15.2).

 

[steveray]

I believe it's open under the bed incase they need some kind of left that would have room for the feet or like when your in a hospital bed the portable tray that goes over your bed has feet with casters on it?

Only my speculation.

You get the gold star...And Sifu with the assist!

 

[Yikes]

Here in California, we don't normally deal with ANSI 117.1, so I have to ask: under what legal scenario can building code prescribe non-building furniture?

 

[Mr. Inspector]

Here in California, we don't normally deal with ANSI 117.1, so I have to ask: under what legal scenario can building code prescribe non-building furniture?

Our state law says we are to inspect to the IBC which sends us to ANSI

I believe it's open under the bed incase they need some kind of left that would have room for the feet or like when your in a hospital bed the portable tray that goes over your bed has feet with casters on it?

Only my speculation.

This is for an accessible apartment in a R1 building.

 

[Sifu]

Are you referring to the bed frame? Or the Hoyer lift? Either way is it not the same authority for anything? Like an accessible dining table, or a pool lift, assuming those are also non-building furniture. Wouldn't the legal authority come from the adopting ordinance, (in most cases the adopted building code for scoping and the ANSI standard for technical provisions, either expressly adopted of by reference).

 

[ICE]

Here in California, we don't normally deal with ANSI 117.1, so I have to ask: under what legal scenario can building code prescribe non-building furniture?

The same legal scenario that allows the building code to regulate the arc of the water at a water fountain.

 

[Yikes]

So in order to meet building code, an accessible apartment must provide furniture, whether the tenant wants it or not?

Does the word "supplied" imply "installed", or merely "available for installation"?

- If it means "installed", and the tenant removes the bed frame because they don’t like or need it, is the apartment no longer code-compliant?
- If it means "available for installation", how far away from the apartment can it be stored before it is no longer considered available?

Lastly, I note that that recent changes to 117.1 now imply the presence of a mattress as well as a bed frame (though no minimum bed size is specified) in order to demonstrate compliance. Same questions as above - - what if the tenant doesn't like the size or firmness of the mattress:

 

[jar546]

I would like to make the point that is the case when a bed or beds are installed. Nothing requires a bed. This is a requirement for the occupant or owner for compliance. I don't often do finals when furniture is installed already unless it is a partial remodel.

 

[Yankee Chronicler]

Here in California, we don't normally deal with ANSI 117.1, so I have to ask: under what legal scenario can building code prescribe non-building furniture?

I haven't done a study, but my state adopts A117.1 as the accessibility standard, and despite the language in the IBC about building officials enforcing "all applicable" laws, codes and ordinances, historically that State has always told us that we do NOT deal with the ADA. We adopted A117.1 back in 1971 when we first adopted a uniform statewide building code, and we have adopted newer editions with each code revision since then.

I am pretty certain that a lot more states use A117.1 as their accessibility standard than use the ADAS. I think California is really an outlier on this. If something is in A117.1, we're supposed to enforce it.

 

[Yikes]

I would like to make the point that is the case when a bed or beds are installed. Nothing requires a bed. This is a requirement for the occupant or owner for compliance. I don't often do finals when furniture is installed already unless it is a partial remodel.

Except that post #1 stated that at least one bed "shall be provided" at accessible units. Assuming it was quoted correctly, that is a scoping statement, and it applies to units required to be accessible.

Here is PA's scoping requirements for accessible units:
https://up.codes/viewer/pennsylvania/ibc-2018/chapter/11/accessibility#1107.6.1.1

 

[Paul Sweet]

When you enforce ANSI A117.1 you are basically enforcing ADA, because ADA Standards for Accessible Design and ANSI A117.1 are basically the same! The technical standards were the same until 2017 when ANSI A117.1 added vertical grab bars and increased some maneuvering spaces.

ADASAD has separate scoping requirements for Title 2 (government buildings) and Title 3 (public accommodations). IBC contains the scoping requirements in chapter 11 and incorporates them elsewhere throughout the code. There are a few instances where IBC scoping is more stringent than ADASAD. Churches and private clubs are exempt from ADA because they were exempt form the 1964 Civil Rights Act which ADA is based on, but they are subject to IBC accessibility scoping. IBC requires an accessible route to stories with an aggregate area of 3000 SF, rather than 3000 SF per story.

 

[Yikes]

When you enforce ANSI A117.1 you are basically enforcing ADA, because ADA Standards for Accessible Design and ANSI A117.1 are basically the same! The technical standards were the same until 2017 when ANSI A117.1 added vertical grab bars and increased some maneuvering spaces.

Paul, in addition to vertical grab bars and increased maneuvering spaces, 2017 ANSI 117.1 moved the accessible dwelling unit requirements away from ADAS 809.1-4, and instead created a brand new chapter 11 just for dwelling units. In this chapter they added the requirement for an accessible dwelling unit to provide an open bed frame and a mattress.

Here's an example from Colorado, where they adopted the 2018 IBC which in turn references 2017 ANSI 117.1 for technical provisions.
Here's where 117.1-1102.15 adds a bunch of requirements for freestanding furnishings (bed frame and mattress!) into the building code for accessible dwelling units.
It must get interesting to require furnishing to complete a final building code inspection, when most departments won't allow furniture move-in until after C of O.

1102.15 Beds​

In at least one sleeping area, a minimum of five percent, but not less than one bed shall comply with Section 1102.15.

1102.15.1 Clear Floor Space​

A clear floor space shall be provided on both sides of the bed. The clear floor space shall be positioned for parallel approach to the side of the bed.
Exception: Where a single clear floor space positioned for parallel approach is provided between two beds, a clear floor space shall not be required on both sides of the bed.

1102.15.2 Bed Frames​

At least one bed shall be provided with an open bed frame.

1102.15.3 Bed Height​

At least one bed shall measure 17 to 23 inches (430 to 585 mm) high from the floor to the top of the uncompressed mattress.

1102.15.4 Wheelchair Charging Area​

The clear floor space required by Section 1102.15.1 shall also serve as a wheelchair charging area complying with Section 906.

 

[ICE]

What? No truncated domes?

 

[jar546]

Except that post #1 stated that at least one bed "shall be provided" at accessible units. Assuming it was quoted correctly, that is a scoping statement, and it applies to units required to be accessible.

Is this the part where I say that I "Stand corrected?"

 

[Paul Sweet]

Yikes,
Thanks for correcting me. I'm semi-retired and haven't done R-1 or R-2 since the 1980s, so I haven't looked at this part of ANSI.