Blog
Handrails with Crash Rails and Bumper Guards
What are crash rails and bumper guards and what is the difference? What are the exceptions under the ADA Standards 505.6 for gripping surfaces on handrails?
Braille – An Overview for ‘High-Vision’ People & Others
Braille was originally developed by Charles Barbier, who was interested in alternate writing forms. Some thought it was a code he created that could be used by the army at night.
Senior Housing in California
As the Silver Tsunami increases with the aging of the baby boomer generation we will see more and more senior housing. In California with the Unruh Civil Rights Act, Section 51.2 thru 51.4 there are specific stipulations of what to provide for senior housing. Section 51.3.5 has specific requirements for senior living in intergenerational housing as well.
Parking Priority in Alterations and Barrier Removal
The question comes up quite often of what minimally is required to be done for alterations on parking. And for that matter, what about barrier removal when no alterations are happening. Are the requirements the same across the board for addressing non-compliant accessible parking spaces? And this does get confused since it requires looking closely at the wording of the implementing regulations.
Parking Structures and Access
A question has come up about accessible parking and dispersement within parking structures. Standard accessible and van accessible spaces can be looked at a bit differently within a structure. Under the ADA Standards, the height clearance for van accessible spaces is to be 98″ minimum clear for the full vehicular route to and from the space, which includes both the space and its access aisle. The California Building Code (CBC) requires this height clearance for both standard and van accessible spaces, except in existing parking structures.
Manufactured Tubs & Showers with Integral Surrounding Walls – What Do You Need to Know About Their Grab Bars?
An item that has come up a number of times is tubs and showers that come with integral manufactured surrounding walls that do not necessarily meet the ADA requirements for grab bars even though the manufacturer states they do. It is important that grab bar blocking and its attachments be engineered to meet the vertical and horizontal force of 250 lbs. This is an important element that should not be left to rule of thumb and should be carefully engineered and tested to meet the exact regulation and code requirements.
Service, Support, & Assistive Animals – and California
There has long been discussion about the differences between Service Animals per the ADA Standards and Support Animals per FHA or even Service Animals under the Air Carrier Access Act. But in California, we like to be different.
Countertop Requirements for Accessible Kitchens Under ADA
Counters come in many varieties from transaction to service to work surfaces just to name a few. We will look closer at kitchen countertops located in dwelling units, employee lounges, and common-use spaces.
Restaurant, Bar, & Cafeteria Design Considerations
Some of the main issues for restaurant, bar, and cafeteria design have to do with circulation paths, accessible routes, and counters.
Protruding Objects – on a lighter note
I received an email today from someone at an Administrative Authority enquiring as to my opinion on protruding objects. Apparently they are reviewing a new construction project where the wall sconces are installed at less than 80″ above the finished floor, which is fine, but they project into the hallway more than 4″ which is not fine.