ADA Building Standards
- Contractors, architects and property owners who construct or alter private and public buildings should familiarize themselves with the ADA Accessibility Guidelines or ADAAG. The ADAAG make up the minimum standards the site, as well as the building, must meet for ADA compliance. The spirit of the law focuses on requiring compliance where "technically feasible." For example, if a business owner undertakes remodeling a bathroom that entails putting in a new floor and lavatory, these items have to meet or surpass the ADAAG technical requirements. Alternatively, if the individual "guts" the renovated bathroom or adds a new one, the entire room has to comply with the regulations.
- The site surrounding the facility requires a minimum of one "accessible route" along the path used by as many people as possible connecting to and from public roads, sidewalks, public transportation, parking spaces and other drop-off locations outside of the building. The access points have to lead to an ADA compliant door. Elevators, lifts or ramps may be necessary unless ground-floor access exists for the structure
- A minimum of one entrance door into the building must provide accessibility for disabled individuals at the ground floor. Generally, 50 percent of the doors must comply with a certain requirement, including operability, width and threshold. Generally, an 80-inch height requirement exists for doors and headroom in all spaces. Offices, apartments or any tenancy has to lay out the units along accessible routes. Even work areas are required to be "fully accessible." ADAAG defines an accessible route as a "continuous minimum clear width of 36 inches." Every 200 feet of space requires at least one interval of 60 inches by 60 inches of space for wheelchair passing.
Public restrooms must allow for wheelchair access and mobility. Surfaces of an accessible route must have hard, non-slip and safe surfaces for people in wheelchairs and individuals with problems walking. The placement of objects, such as shelves, drawers or storage units have to accommodate people in wheelchairs. Mechanisms and devices, including outlets, switches and dispensers need installation at user-friendly levels. - Wheelchair-bound customers must have room to approach and exit drinking fountains, public phones or store merchandise effortlessly. Public assembly facilities must establish seating areas that oblige clientele in wheelchairs. For instance, 1 percent of aisle seating cannot have armrests; events of 50 or more people require audio-enhancement equipment or adequate electrical outlets for portable listening equipment. Lodging businesses must allot a percentage of rooms for disabled people in the same categories as for non-disabled people, such as rate, size, type, square footage or number of beds.
- Private individuals or government entities may file discrimination claims. The Department of Justice has the primary responsibility to implement ADA compliance. The initial enforcement effort centers on settling issues before entering into lawsuits. The remedies include civil penalties up to $55,000 for the first violation and $110,000 for subsequent infractions. The penalties may change over time.
