ADA Standards for Accessible Design

State and Local Government Facilities Must Follow the Requirements of the 2010 ADA Standards All State and Federal government facilities must follow the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 2010, including both the Title II regulations a…

State and Local Government Facilities Must Follow the Requirements of the 2010 ADA Standards

All State and Federal government facilities must follow the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 2010, including both the Title II regulations at 28 CFR 35.151; and the 2004 ADAAG at 36 CFR part 1191, appendices B and D. In the few places where requirements between the two differ, the requirements of 28 CFR 35.151 prevail.

Subdivisions of the 2010 ADA Standards

308. Reach

308.2.1 Unobstructed Forward Reach

Where a forward reach is unobstructed, the high forward reach shall be 48 inches maximum and the low forward reach shall be 15 inches minimum above the finish floor or ground.

308.2.2 Obstructed High Reach

Where a high forward reach is over an obstruction, the clear floor space shall extend beneath the element for a distance not less than the required reach depth over the obstruction. The high forward reach shall be 48 inches maximum where the reach depth is 20 inches maximum. Where the reach depth exceeds 20 inches, the high forward reach shall be 44 inches maximum and the reach depth shall be 25 inches maximum.

308.3.1 Unobstructed Side Reach

Where a clear floor or ground space allows a parallel approach to an element and the side reach is unobstructed, the high side reach shall be 48 inches maximum and the low side reach shall be 15 inches minimum above the finish floor or ground.

308.3.2 Obstructed High Reach

Where a clear floor or ground space allows a parallel approach to an element and the high side reach is over an obstruction, the height of the obstruction shall be 34 inches maximum and the depth of the obstruction shall be 24 inches maximum. The high side reach shall be 48 inches maximum for a reach depth of 10 inches maximum. Where the reach depth exceeds 10 inches, the high side reach shall be 46 inches maximum for a reach depth of 24 inches maximum.

603.3 Mirrors

Mirrors located above lavatories or counter tops shall be installed with the bottom edge of the reflecting surface 40 inches maximum above the finish floor or ground. Mirrors not located above lavatories or counter tops shall be installed with the bottom edge of the reflecting surface 35 inches maximum above the finish floor or ground.

Advisory 603.3 Mirrors

A single full-length mirror can accommodate a greater number of people, including children. In order for mirrors to be usable by people who are ambulatory and people who use wheelchairs, the top edge of mirrors should be 74 inches minimum from the floor or ground.

603.4 Coat Hooks and Shelves

Coat hooks shall be located within one of the reach ranges specified in 308. Shelves shall be located 40 inches minimum and 48 inches maximum above the finish floor.

604.5 Grab Bars

Grab bars for water closets shall comply with 609. Grab bars shall be provided on the side wall closest to the water closet and on the rear wall.

604.5.1 Side Wall

The side wall grab bar shall be 42 inches long minimum, located 12 inches maximum from the rear wall and extending 54 inches minimum from the rear wall.

604.5.2 Rear Wall

The rear wall grab bar shall be 36 inches long minimum and extend from the center-line of the water closet 12 inches minimum on one side and 24 inches minimum on the other side.

604.7 Dispensers

Toilet paper dispensers shall comply with 309.4 and shall be 7 inches minimum and 9 inches maximum in front of the water closet measured to the center-line of the dispenser. The outlet of the dispenser shall be 15 inches minimum and 48 inches maximum above the finish floor and shall not be located behind grab bars. Dispensers shall not be of a type that controls delivery or that does not allow continuous paper flow.

Advisory 604.7 Dispensers

If toilet paper dispensers are installed above the side wall grab bar, the outlet of the toilet paper dispenser must be 48 inches maximum above the finish floor and the top of the gripping surface of the grab bar must be 33 inches minimum and 36 inches maximum above the finish floor.

609.3 Spacing

The space between the wall and the grab bar shall be 1.5 inches. The space between the grab bar and projecting objects below and at the ends shall be 1.5 inches minimum. The space between the grab bar and projecting objects above shall be 12 inches minimum.