Blog
‘Site Elements’ Category
Electric Vehicle Charging Stations (EVCS) – Scoping for Access
A summary of California’s electric vehicle charging station requirements and technologies, including accessibility guidelines and considerations.
Bathing Showers vs Rinsing Showers
Rinsing showers differ from bathing showers under ADA Standards. DOJ clarifies they don’t need to meet bathing shower requirements, offering alternative compliance.
Regulations, Statutes, & Codes – in Terms of Access
Explore the nuances of ADA and access codes with Janis Kent, Architect. Gain clarity on differences, implementations, and how federal and state regulations interact.
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.
Pop-Up Restaurants and What You Need to Know About Access
Janis Kent, Architect, FAIA, CASp © September, 2020 With the continuation of our on-going plague, many restaurants are taking their seating area out to the public sidewalks, parking areas, and even onto the streets. While the concept of pop-up restaurants has been around for a while, it has evolved as a temporary outdoor add-on to existing […]
Parking for Multi-Family Housing with Public Funding or Public Programs
Parking for multi-family housing can be one of the more perplexing items for scoping. The easy part is, if you have one space per unit, then you need one accessible parking space per mobility feature dwelling unit which should be located as close as feasible to each of the mobility units. But how to determine the requirements in other situations is not laid out as clearly.
The Van Accessible Parking Space – What Does It Need?
The technical requirements for parking are straight-forward, yet according to annual statistics provided by the California Commission on Disability Access (CCDA), items related to parking make up 5 of the top 10 accessibility related lawsuits in the state.
Valet & Passenger Loading Zones – What do I Need to Provide?
Recently, it has come to my attention that there is some confusion on passenger loading zones and what are the requirements. It is also difficult to determine if the requirements are misunderstood based on drawing review, since on-grade markings are shown. It is just that they are incorrectly placed in the pull-up space.
Reflectorized Parking Signs – Exactly What is That?
One of the items that did not seem entirely clear to me was reflective or reflectorized signs for parking, and how do you recognize them, vs glossy or matt signs. At one point I looked for small dots in the signs but many of them seem to be faded with no added benefit that I could discern. And recently I have been seeing the signs with vertical type prism bands. So what is required, what is the difference, and what are we looking for?