Accessibility in Georgia: a technical and policy guide to access in Georgia [1991]

Revised 1991

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JUN 19 1995
DOCUMENTS ~'r.1I "RRARIES

Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities

Designed and developed for
The Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities
and The Georgia Division of Rehabilitation Services
Client Assistance Program
by
Barrier Free Environments, Inc. Raleigh, North Carolina
Set in Times New Roman by Publications Unlimited Raleigh, North Carolina
Printed and bound by ADS Printing Company Raleigh, North Carolina
1986
Revised 1991

A Technical &

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Policy Acces

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Designed and developed by Barrier Free Environments, Inc. Raleigh, North Carolina for The Georgia Council
on Developmental Disabilities

Accessibility in Georgia was produced by The Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities
in cooporation with The Georgia Division of Rehabilitation Services
Client Assistance Program
Designed and developed by Barrier Free Environments, Inc. Author: Ronald L. Mace, AlA Managing Editor: Betsy Laslett
Designer: Leslie C. Young
Illustrations on pages 21 (top), 32, 38 (all), 45 (top, bottom left), 47 (all), 52 (top right, bottom right), and 53 (top right) are reprinted by permission of Information Development Corporation, Winston-Salem, North Carolina. All other illustrations copyright 1986 by Barrier Free Environments, Inc.

Foreword
The Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities presents with pride Accessibility in Georgia. The Council is committed to insuring that all persons have access to the many opportunities available in this great state. We are also committed to insuring that the State have access to the many contibutions that cqn be made by people who face physical and/or sensory challenges.
Accessibility in Georgia is meant to broaden the reader's understanding of and options for insuring aesthetic physical access for all persons wishing to be participating citizens. We urge you to use this publication in concert with the Georgia Access Law and the ANSI Standards in an effort to attain a barrier free Georgia.
Carol Waldrop, Chairperson Zebe Schmitt, Executive Director
Acknowledgments
The Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities wishes to express our appreciation to the Division of Rehabilitation Services, Client Assistance Program, for their willingness to become partners in the printing and distribution of this publication, and for their committment to providing better opportunities for Georgians with developmental disabilities.

Contents

Introduction
People and Scope
7 People and Scope 10 Implementation
Site
19 Parking 20 Passenger Loading Zones 20 Curb Ramps 22 Accessible Route 24 Other Features
Entrances and Doors
27 Entrances 27 Approaches to the Entrance 29 Doors
Interior Circulation
35 Interior Accessible Routes 35 Protruding Objects 36 Stairs 37 Ramps 38 Lifts 39 Elevators
Building Products
43 Clear Floor Space and Reach Ranges 44 Controls and Operating Mechanisms 45 Drinking Fountains 46 Telephones 46 Signage 47 Alarms 47 Electronic Devices
Toilet & Bathing Facilities
51 Toilet Rooms 51 Toilet Stalls 53 Urinals 54 Lavatories and Mirrors 55 Grab Bars 55 Clear Floor Space 56 Controls at Toilets and Bathrooms
56 Bathrooms 56 Tubs 58 Transfer Showers 59 Roll-in Showers
Special Spaces
63 Fixed Seating 63 Assembly Areas 65 Listening Systems 66 Other Special Spaces
Housing
71 The Adaptability Concept 72 Adaptable Housing Specifications
Appendix
79 Georgia Handicapped Accessibility Code

introduction

Introduction
In 1984, the Georgia legislature revised state laws requiring access for disabled people to all new and significantly remodeled buildings except the following types of housing: single-family residences, duplexes, small apartment complexes, and condominiums.
The new law stipulates that the specifications for making Georgia buildings accessible will be the American National Standards Institute's ANSI Al17.1 (1980) Specifications for Making Buildings and Facilities Accessible to and Usable by Physically Handicapped People. In order to understand and work with the Georgia requirements for access, one must have a copy of both the law and the 1980 ANSI Standard. The law is reprinted here in the Appendix; copies of the ANSI Standard are sold by the American National Standards Institute. Their address is:
American National Standards Institute 1430 Broadway NewYork,NY 10036 (212) 354-3300
The Georgia Access Law applies to all buildings and generally it requires that all features, elements, or spaces in the buildings meet ANSI specifications for access. However, for some features such as toilet rooms, parking spaces, and drinking fountains, where 100% compliance did not seem necessary, the Georgia legislature amended the law in 1985 to reduce the required number. Those minimum numbers for selected accessible features can be found only in the law itself.
It is important to understand the difference between the ANSI Standard, which is referenced by the access law, and the law itself. The ANSI Standard contains only technical specifications that describe how to build features such as ramps, toilet stalls, and kitchens so disabled and non-disabled people can use them, whereas the access law includes only the scope of the requirements (that is, which buildings and how many of each feature are required to comply) and administrative requirements assigning responsibility for implementation and enforcement.
Neither ANSI nor the Georgia Access Law provides any information about why certain building elements are required for disabled
3

American National Standard
s~ifications for malting buildings ond facilities
acc.uible to ond usabM by physically hondicoppe>d peopI.
Law - includes scope or "how many of what kind"
ANSI-a "Cookbook" or a "how to do it" manual

people, how disabled people use these features, or the reasoning behind the scope of the law. The manual has been developed to provide this important additional information to help building officials, designers, owners, and managers make appropriate and cost-effective decisions.
This manual is a supplement to both the law and the ANSI Standard, but in itself is not a legal document and has no legal authority. Thus, it is not a substitute and should not be considered as such. It includes advice and suggestions for effective implementation of the law, and offers infonnation about why access features are needed, how people use them, and how these features benefit everyone. It presents a mix of information about the abilities and needs of disabled people and about innovative and alternative design solutions to the requirements for access, which is important to both providers and users of all types of buildings and facilities. This information is valuable to the building industry because it can save time and money and result in better looking, less disrupted buildings; it is valuable to the disabled community because it can help create greater and more effective accessibility. It is intended to help all concerned to increase and improve accessibility at lower cost.

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4

people & scope

People and Scope
Most people know little about people with disabilities and may find it difficult to understand the reasons for and implications of Georgia's new access law. To understand this law, it is necessary to understand the abilities of disabled people and the impact of the law on their lives. Every aspect of human activity is touched by this new legislation. The ability to live independently, to receive an education, to fmd a job, to travel, to participate in religious, social, sports, and recreational activities, and to choose where to live is affected by this law. Indeed, one can easily say that for disabled people life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness will be affected by how well it is implemented.
7

People...

There are millions of disabled people in America. Their disabilities range from poor eyesight to blindness, from a slight loss of hearing to total deafness, and from minor mobility impairments to the need for a power wheelchair at all times. The varieties and degrees of disabling conditions are so extensive that some people believe that the majority of people have some form of disabling condition and that the exact number will never be known.
We know for certain, however, that we are not dealing here with a small number of people, and if disabled people are a minority, they are the only minority which anyone can join at any time. In fact, more people are joining each year. Gerben Dejong reported in an article in Scientific American in 1983 that there was a 71.4% increase in the number of disabled people in the years from 1966 to 1979. This rate of increase is expected to remain steady because of improving medical care and emergency rescue technology, advances in rehabilitation, and the growing population of older people. Within this large and growing number of people many will be severely disabled and need continuous care, but by far the majority will live independently with their disabilities and require access and opportunities, but little care.
There is an erroneous image of all disabled people as "patients" in need of care, protection, and support. While this medical image may be

correct for people who are indeed patients (that is, ill or injured and needing medical attention), there is a large contingent of disabled people who are healthy, competent, and capable of living active, self-directed lives. Although we all become patients and dependent at some time, when we are well and capable again we become just "people" again. It is the same for disabled people. The illness, accident, or birth condition that causes one to become a patient often causes a disability that remains long after the "patient" has become just "people."
People with disabilities are people just like others. Their disabilities do not make them different or set them apart from others in any way. They have the same needs and desires as other people. They are not a species, race, or ethnic group. They are all kinds of people. Anyone can be born with a disability, be in an accident, or become ill and develop a disability, and everyone grows old and loses some abilities. In the broadest sense almost everyone at some time in his or her life has a disability of some type; it is the rare and fortunate few who do not.
Disability knows no social, economic, geographic, racial, philosophic, academic, political, or national boundaries. People with disabilities are found in all levels of society, and in all professions, and are participating to the greatest extent possible in all types of activities.
It is sometimes difficult for those who are not close to disabled people in their natural habitats to shake the patient image and to understand why all building types must be accessible. Disabled people, whether they are patients or not, need access to the same facilities and services as other people. Housing, shopping, employment, education, travel, recreation, sports, and health care are just as important, if not more important, to disabled people as they are to others, only usually a great deal harder to get to. Disabled people also participate in all kinds of activities that many people imagine are "unsuitable" for them. Each assumption that an activity would not be performed by a person with a disbility can be matched by examples of disabled people who are doing that very activity every day. Unknown to most of the world and proceeding without fan-

8

People and Scope

fare, people with all types of disabilities are sky divers, doctors, skiers, lab technicians, parents, children, architects, movie stars, teachers, coaches, liars, lawyers, lovers, cheaters, clergymen, clowns, prisoners, politicians, fashion models, corporate executives, sales people, scientists, students, factory workers, fanners, pilots, scuba divers, basketball players, government officials, street people, bikers, hikers, geeks,
nerds, swimmers, cooks, presidents, paupers, veterinarians, sex objects, sexists, saints, sinners, andjust plain folks.

might create some hardship, the legislature reduced the required number of certain features such as parking spaces and water coolers. By specifying minimum numbers that must be provided, the law makes it clear that not 100% of every building must be accessible under the law.
The legislation further emphasizes this fact by including a distinct exemption that says elevators are not required solely to provide access to different floors of buildings. Beyond this exception and limiting the numbers of selected features, the legislation does little to defme the degree of compliance required in the many building types and configurations in existance. In fact, the legislation could probably never anticipate or include the variety of options and alternatives that will arise. Therefore, this law, like other building-related laws which protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public, puts the authority to make interpretations and to establish regulations for implementing the law in the hands of state and local building inspectors and officials.
When these building officials have made interpretations or issued regulations, those decisions, along with the specifics of the law and the design standards, will defme the true scope and degree of accessibility requirements in Georgia

...and Scope
The Georgia Access Law recognizes that disabled people are active human beings capable of participating in all of life's activities and are likely to be in every location where people normally gather. Thus it is the intent of the law to require access to all new and renovated buildings in the state of Georgia.
The Georgia Access Law applies to all buildings except single family houses. The architectural features required and the degree to which each building must comply are covered in a variety of ways. The law generally requires all parts of all buildings to be accessible. However, recognizing that such a broad scope of application
9

Implementation
Effective implementation of the law is not overwhelmingly complex but does require judgment and understanding by code officials, disability advocates, and building owners and users. Understanding the abilities of disabled people, the concepts employed in the Standard and in the law, and the perceptions people have of the issues can help one discover innovative solutions to the few difficult issues that arise. Although this manual cannot interpret the law or set policy, it can identify the human factors involved, describe potential scope problems and possible solutions which have been used successfully elsewhere, and explain certain concepts that may make the task easier and less expensive and therefore less dependent upon a precise scope of application. Following are brief discussions of some related issues of cost, scope, and the concepts behind the ANSI Standard. This is advisory material only, and is presented for clarification and for consideration in interpreting and implementing the Georgia Access Law. The reader should rely only upon the interpretations of building officials having authority for compliance over any project
10

People and Scope

The "If-then" Concept
The ANSI Standard, and therefore the Georgia law, generally operate on an "if-then" concept that does not add features to new buildings solely
for access purposes but does require that if you
are going to provide features such as toilet rooms, then they must be designed to be accessible. For example, the Standard does not require you to have toilet stalls, but if you are gomg to have them then some must be slightly larger than those usually provided. There have been instances where owners have not installed some amenities for everyone in order to avoid making some of them accessible. This attitude deprives everyone and is unnecessary because the accessible features can usually be made to look attractive and cost nothing extra.
Costs and Perceived Costs
There has been a longterm misconception that providing access costs more and the result looks different. This notion may have evolved in the early days of the architectural barriers movement when all the states were experimenting with different technical requirements, few agreed on what to do or how to do it, and most access features had to be custom made. The revised ANSI Standard (and therefore the Georgia law) includes ranges and dimensions that allow a variety of standard features and equipment to be used.
Better understanding through new research has permitted the use of adjustable features, reduced maneuvering spaces, and a variety of solutions, all of which have resulted in more attractive, lower cost accessible buildings. It does not cost more to make buildings accessible. Even wide doors, although they cost more than narrow ones, do not increase building costs because the wall area they eliminate is more expensive than the extra cost of the wider door.

ing, it raises other questions such as whether the law then requires a ramp to a second floor, and if not, if the inaccessible floor is required to have accessible features such as toilet rooms.
The purpose of the exemption is to save owners from unreasonable expenditures. Since a ramp long enough to reach the second floor could cost, in land value and construction, almost as much as an elevator, then the second floor of a small detached building on a flat site may have to remain inaccessible for wheelchair users. However, although people in wheelchairs may not be able to get to the second floor independently, many ambulatory disabled people who use crutches or walkers can climb stairs and need the same accessible features on the second floor as people in wheelchairs. Also, some people use wheelchairs because they lack stamina for walking about all day but they can climb stairs. Second floors should be accessible for someone such as an employee who can get to a walk-up floor but who sits and moves about in a wheelchair all day while working. Therefore, a floor which may only be reached by stairs should still have all the other accessible features that would be required if there were wheelchair access to the space.

Elevators to Second Floors
The Georgia law requires all parts of all buildings to comply with the ANSI Standard but it specifically exempts owners of two-story buildings from having to install an elevator solely to comply with the access law.
While this reasonable allowance will prevent an owner from having to install an expensive elevator in a small and inexpensive two-story build-

11

Split-level Floors
Accessible floors must be all on one level or have the different levels connected by ramps, llfts, or elevators. In some building types where changes in level are popular, such as in nightclubs, bars, and restaurants, ramps and lifts may require too much space to be reasonable. Some states, rather than relegating these businesses to flat, accessible floor areas, have accepted a policy in which a percentage of public use space may be inaccessible (30% to 50% for example), as long as the same facilities and amenities which are provided on the raised areas are also provided on the remaining 70% to 50% accessible levels.
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as a compromise, ruling that facilities for the exclusive use of one person and hislher family are residential in nature and may apply the adaptability concept included in the dwelling unit section. This design would require the shower size, maneuvering space, low curb, and control locations to be installed at construction but allow other features like the seat and grab bars to be added when needed.
Retail Store Toilets
In some states the requirements for accessible toilet rooms have been altered for very small retail stores such as curb markets or specialty stores located in malls. If toilets are required in these facilities by plumbing codes, some officials have accepted a single, accessible, unisex toilet room, and others have accepted a toilet room that is slightly larger than one accessible toilet stall and that has the lavatory placed outside the toilet room.

Executive Showers
Some developers express opposition to making showers accessible in executive private baths. The 3' x 3' accessible shower with seat is now available from several manufacturers in a variety of colors, fmishes, and qualities. They are quite attractive and inexpensive. Also, custom built showers that meet ANSI can be designed so the access features are imperceptable and the showers are usable by everyone, so the reason for the opposition is not clear. A recent poll of a major corporation determined that this company had three top level managers who were mobility impaired and many others who had disabled family members. Some officials may consider,

Size of Dwelling Units
Although the Georgia law and the ANSI Standard require a percentage of dwelling units to be accessible or adaptable, the sizes of the dwelling units are not specified. In some locales where the sizes have not been specified, builders have constructed only one-bedroom units that were accessible. Many disabled people with families or live-in attendants are unable to live in these units. Since disabled people, like nondisabled people, have families and other relationships, it is recommended that adaptable and/or accessible apartments be constructed in a variety of sizes, including two- and three-bedroom dwellings.
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12

People and Scope

Children
The ANSI Standard's dimensions and other specifications are based upon research and testing with disabled adults. Little research has been done on the design of buildings and facilities for disabled children, so in designing for children one must rely upon the specifications for adults, common sense, and intuition.
In some cases it is appropriate to scale down adult specifications to determine dimensions for younger age groups. For example, in an elementary school it may be appropriate to have two handrails on the stairs, a standard one for adults and older children, and a low one for younger children.
However, scaling down may not work for all features because some requirements stay the same. For example, because the seat on a child's wheelchair may be almost as high as the seat on an adult chair, children in wheelchairs may be able to use standard height lavatories and tables. Thus a child in a wheelchair may find that a table scaled for children is too low and when seated at such a table, he or she may tower above his or her peers.
In these situations one could provide two fixtures - one child height and one adult height - or make the item adjustable. In either case, it is important not to stigmatize or isolate a disabled child with "special" and different equipment.
Since many disabilities begin at childbirth or during childhood and since children are major

users of the built environment, providing design features that maximize a disabled child's ability to be independent is important. New products that are universally usable by disabled and nondisabled people are coming on the market. Those products that have the widest reach ranges may be apopropriate for disabled children also. For example, side-by-side refrigerator-freezers provide usable space at any height and full length mirrors are usable by everyone. In many cases it does not take a special product or design feature to accommodate children, just sensitive and informed decisions about the products and designs selected for everyone.
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Heavy Industrial Facilities
Some portions of heavy industrial facilities such as refmeries, chemical plants, and treatment plants having catwalks, vats, gantry cranes, and other similar equipment may not reasonably be made accessible to people using wheelchairs, but may be used by walking, mobility impaired employees who can climb stairs. Office, administrative, storage, and processing portions of these facilities can usually be made accessible to everyone to expand employment opportunities.

13

People and Scope

Adaptable Design
The concept of adaptable design is included in the ANSI Standard dwelling unit sections. Adaptable design allows elements in housing to be adjustable to meet the needs of a broad spectrum of disabled people rather than permanently built to accommodate only people using wheelchairs. Adaptable provisions require that all built-in features such as wide doors, ground-level entrances, and turning spaces be included at construction, but allow others -like grab bars at tubs and toilets, and knee spaces at sinks - to be added or adjusted as needed.
Adaptable design evolved because it was recognized that wheelchair accessible housing generally does not work for walking disabled and non-disabled tenants who do not need or want the knee spaces and grab bars. Adaptable design provisions require that reinforcement blocking be placed in walls so grab bars can simply be screwed in place when a person needing them moves in. They also allow cabinets to be put in place under sinks and work surfaces but not

anchored permanently. With finishes under and around them and the countertops mounted on adjustable brackets, these adaptable cabinets can be removed to provide knee space and replaced later, and the countertop can be adjusted in height as needed. Adaptable apartments look like other apartments, sacrifice no cabinet or other spaces, and, with their slightly increased door, bathroom, and kitchen spaces, are more comfortable, convenient, and marketable than other apartments because they can be tailored more closely to a family's needs. Non-disabled people living in adaptable apartments like the extra bathroom space and frequently put a chair, bookcase, etagere, or other furniture in the bathroom, giving it a luxurious look not usually possible in apartments.
Universal Design
The ANSI Standard referenced in the Georgia law was published in 1980. Since then, it has been adopted by most states and the federal government This widespread use has created unprecedented uniformity nationwide in the technical requirements for access features. Because of the uniformity, manufacturers have become interested and are now manufacturing products that meet the Standard. These mass- produced products can be easily and economically selected and installed instead of having to be custom made for each project. The manufactured product is profitable for the manufacturer, saves the architect and builder much time and money, reduces their liability for errors, and allows them to produce better, more accurate and functional

14

access for disabled people. Some companies have also learned that there is no reason why everyone cannot use the same water cooler, door, ramp, toilet stall, etc., and have begun making all products and spaces usable by all people to the greatest extent possible.
These new products and buildings are called universally usable. They are attractive, low in cost, and usable or adjustable to be usable by almost everyone. The adaptable design concept for housing included in the ANSI Standard and described above is really a universal design approach since it produces housing usable by or adjustable to be usable by everyone without its looking special or different or costing extra.
Universally designed products and spaces remove the stigma of special things and spaces at extra cost for disabled people and make greater accessibility possible at lower cost. If they look nice, don't cost more, and can be used by everyone, why not make all water coolers, toilet stalls, telephones, doors, elevators, and other

People and Scope
features universal and end the worry over compliance and having the correct and legal number of special features?
Universal design seems to be the direction for the future in access for everyone and much of it can be done now.
Access for everyone can be accomplished without creating a disadvantage for anyone. The ANSI Standard referenced in the Georgia Access Law has much flexibility in its implementation. The adaptable design provisions make accessible housing more viable, and products now on or coming on the market are improving the ease and lowering the cost of providing accessibility.
In following chapters of this manual, we have elaborated on the technical standards and explained many of the reasons for the standards, as well as suggested some alternatives and priorities. While these are only suggestions, we hope they will help all concerned in their efforts to comply and that they will help to create a truly universally accessible Georgia.

15

II s i t e
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Site design is concerned with access to the building from the site entry point as well as with individual features on the site. Site design includes parking spaces and passenger loading zones, and the route people travel to move from one place to another. A disabled person coming onto the site or approaching the building should be able to move about with safety and ease. The building should be connected to public sidewalks, transit stops, parking areas, and other buildings by a path that is wide, smooth, as level as possible, and without hazards or obstructions.
This path is called an accessible route in the ANSI Standard and it is at least 36" wide. For people who use wheelchairs or walking aids or who walk with difficulty, it provides a usable pathway, and for those with visual impairments it helps provide guidance and safety.

Parking ANSI 4.6

Many disabled people drive their own cars or

Two parking spaces can share a common access

vans. To be able to use parking spaces people

aisle that provides space for car doors and van

in wheelchairs or with mobility aids need enough lifts to open. An accessible parking space should

space to move between cars. Parking spaces

be close to the building and is connected to the

must be wide enough to allow a car door to open

building entrance by a smooth, level path without

fully and the disabled person to get out with a

curbs or obstructions.

wheelchair or their mobility aid.

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Parking Spaces and Access-Aisles

19

Passenger Loading Zones ANSI 4.6
Disabled people, including those with mobility or visual impairments, who are being dropped off or picked up by car at a building need a wide, level, well-marked access area protected from traffic.. This access aisle must be adjacent to the space the car pulls into and wide enough for

people to maneuver in and out of the car. The passenger loading access aisle must be connected to the building by curb ramp or level path. In some parallel parking installations, an access aisle may also be helpful.

access aisle and curb ramp to sidewalk are part of accessible route

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Curb Ramps ANSI 4.7

Curbs between streets and sidewalks are too high

for people in wheelchairs to get over by them-

selves, Curb ramps provide a gently sloped

transition from one level to another. There are

two kinds of curb ramps - flared and returned

. . curbs, Curb ramps with flared sides are safer

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Returned curb ramps should be used where planting, poles, fIre hydrants, or other elements will keep people from walking into the sides.
returned curb ramp needs protection so people will not trip on it

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Returned Curb Ramp

Curb ramps are badly needed by mobility impaired people but they are a hazard to blind people who use the curb as a "cue" to know when they are entering the street. The ANSI Standard requires a texture on curb ramp surfaces to make them detectable (see ANSI 4.7.7).

Site
These textures have not been very successful.
One helpful solution is to locate the curb ramps out of the usual line of pedestrian flow and "shorelines" blind people might follow.

if curb ramp aligns with a "shoreline," a blind person may inadvertently enter the street
textures do not always work
Textures on Curb Ramps

wheelchair user must'" take a short detour

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Suggested Offset Location for Curb Ramps
21

Accessible Route ANSI 4.3
Paths and walks on the site should be accessible routes; that is, they should be wide, as level as possible, and smooth, and not have curbs or steps. They should be free from obstacles and hazards. Where changes in level occur, curb ramps or exterior ramps or even mechanical lifts may be used to make the path accessible.
Width. An accessible route must be wide enough (36") for at least one wheelchair and should be wide enough for a walking person also (48"). If the route is only the minimum width, then passing places for two wheelchairs (60") should be provided.

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Accessible Route Width

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Slope. The accessible route should not rise more than one foot for every twelve feet of length. It is difficult or impossible for many people in wheelchairs to push themselves up steep slopes, and many other people find them exhausting to climb.

a wide passing place

(60") for two people in wheelchairs

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Passing Space for Two Wheelchairs

22

Steps and Stairs. Small steps and bumps can
block the small wheels of wheelchairs and trip people who walk with difficulty. Small ch~ges in level should be beveled. Where changes m
level on the site require stairs, ramps must be provided also.

Site

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~~ 'handrail extensions for support and guidance

ramp next to stair provides access for mobility impaired people

Ramps at Stairs

Stairs on site can be used by many disabled people and should have wide treads and rounded nosings which will not trip them. Handrails should extend horizontally beyond the top and bottom of the stair to provide support and balance for traversing the top and bottom risers.

edge protection on ramp prevents people or wheels from slipping off edge

site stair with smooth risers and handrail extensions top and bottom
Handrails and Stair Risers
23

Surface Texture. Soft or uneven surfaces such as loose stone or sand are difficult for people in wheelchairs and people who walk with difficulty. Grates with large openings can catch wheels or crutch tips. Narrow openings which run across the direction of travel work well.
blind person can pass safely below overhanging signs mounted 6' -8" above the path

Hazards. An accessible route should be free from hazards such as low hanging or protruding objects which cannot be detected by a long cane. Overhanging objects should allow plenty of head room. (See Protruding Objects, page 35, and ANSI 4.5 for more detail.)

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site furniture should not intrude on the accessible route and block the clear path

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Other Features

All facilities and amenites such as mailboxes,

public telephones, or water fountains provided

on the site should be usable by everyone. See

ANSI 4.2 for space allowances and reach ranges.

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24

Accessible Water Fountain

_entrances

.entrances &doors

Entrances ANSI 4.14
All entrances that serve as primary points of pedestrian flow must be accessible. This means that most entrances must comply and only some secondary or auxiliary outside doors need not be accessible.
Disabled people need a building entrance which provides a smooth transition from the site to the building interior. An accessible building entrance combines the ANSI requirements for an accessible route and accessible doors. An entrance to a building includes the approaches to it from both the outside and inside, as well as the entrance

door itself. These approaches should meet the requirements of an accessible route and be wide, smooth, and as level as possible without curbs or steps, and be free from protruding objects and other hazards.
In addition, entrance doors need to be wide, have adequate space for maneuvering, and be easy to open and close. Revolving doors and turnstiles cannot be used by many people at all, and if used at entrances or along an accessible route, there must also be an adjacent accessible door (see ANSI 4.13.2).

accessible route from public walk to accessible entrance

accessible parking spaces connected to building walk by a curb ramp --""""\
----.---"

Entrance Approach

' - - - - stairs, if provided, must have extended handrails at top and bottom and proper risers (see ANSI 4.9)

Approaches to the Entrance
The building entrance should be connected by an accessible route to site entry points including parking areas, transit stops, sidewalks, and other buildings. The accessible route continues through the door and into the main hall, lobby, or reception area.
Costs will be lower if a new building's floor levels can be set at or close to grade level,

because neither stairs, ramps, nor lifts will be needed to provide access to the entrance. Exterior ramps should be avoided if possible, especially where ice and snow are common.
Some changes in level can be made outside by grading and terracing with earth and gentle sloping plazas or walks.

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On steeply sloping sites, level entrance approaches may be provided by bridging from a floor level to an uphill point on the site.

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Bridge for Entrance Access on Sloping Site

Entrances to existing buildings often have steps or stairs connecting the exterior ground level to the interior floor level. These entrances are unusable by many people unless they are modified by raising the ground level outside to the floor

level, adding a ramp, or adding a mechanical wheelchair lift. Ramps at existing building entrances may be unavoidable. For safety they must meet ANSI 4.8 and it may be best to install snow-melting equipment as well in cold climates.

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28

Doors ANSI 4.13
Many people have difficulty opening doors. The ANSI specifications make doors easier for everyone.
automatic closers------;:~i2~ with heavy pressure make doors difficult to open
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to pass through easily in a wheelchair

Entrances and Doors
r-I-I--+-- smooth round knob is difficult to grip
inadequate space to the side on the pull side

floor not level ---------------' near the door

raised threshold
creates a step or \.....-----'<-- bump

Six Common Problems with Doors

Width. Disabled people with mobility impairments need doors that are wide enough to pass through without bumping into the jambs. Although doorways may be part of an accessible route, the route can be a little narrower as it passes through the door.
The ANSI 32" clear width for doors is measured from the face of the stop on the latch side jamb to the face of the door when standing open 90 degrees. Handles, panic hardware, and other hardware mounted over 30" above the floor can project into the clear opening.
32"min.
stop

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Measuring Clear Width

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Clear Door Width

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Space to the Side. Doors should have enough space on the pull side for people with wheelchairs or crutches to get out of the way of the door while they open it. (See ANSI 4.13.6 for maneuvering clearance at doors.)

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Hardware. People who have trouble using their hands or arms need door handles that are easily operated and do not require twisting or turning. Lever handles for latched doors and loop handles for non-latching doors work well for people who cannot close their hands.
round knobs are
unusable for many
people
lever handles and loop handles are easy to use
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24" space to the side of the door
Maneuvering Space at Doors

Pressure of Closers. Many people cannot open doors that require more than 5 or 8 pounds of force. ANSI pressure units for doors reflect these numbers. In practice, some doors cannot be kept closed at these low pressures. Alternatives include power assisted closers, no closers, time delay closers, and power operators.

30

Entrances and Doors
r - - - - - " r - - - no closer, a very light pressure closer, or a power assist system make the door easy to open

level approach to
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flat or very low threshold

wide panel at bottom of door protects the glass from damage and provides a pushing surface for wheelchair - - - - - - - / bumpers

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ample space to side
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Vestibules. Doors that are too close together can trap a person in a wheelchair. A vestibule may not have enough room for the first door to close before the person tries to open the second

door. Vestibule doors should have plenty of space between them or both swing in the same direction or both swing oUt (see ANSI 4.13.7).
clear space for one wheelchair
48" min.

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after maneuvering to get around the first door, the person cannot open the second door

Vestibule Problem

31

Vestibule Solution

ANSI requires a minimum 7' -0" vestibule if it is a fIre exit. The small, 48" ANSI vestibule cannot be used as a fIre exit because both doors swing in opposite directions. A small, 48", cost-saving, acceptable fire exit vestibule may be a 48" vestibule with a double-acting door on the inside and a single-acting door on the outside. This allows a person to pull open the fIrst door and push

open the second door regardless of the direction of the approach; it also allows a person exiting the building in an emergency to push open both doors or allows someone in the vestibule to push open either the door in front or behind them. This solution seems fIre safe, accessible, and low cost.

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32

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.interior circulation

Interior circulation includes moving from place to place on a given level, and moving between levels in a building. All floor levels should be considered including basements, garages, lobbies, mezzanines, balconies, and porches. All people who use wheelchairs and many people who use crutches, canes, or walkers cannot go up steps at all. For different floor levels to be accessible to these people, the floors should be connected by an elevator, ramp, or mechanical lift. Although stairs may be used by some disabled or elderly people and should be safe and convenient, they cannot be part of an accessible route.
Interior Accessible Routes ANSI 4.3
Halls and corridors which connect accessible spaces as well as paths through accessible spaces must meet the minimum requirements of accessible routes. Like all accessible routes, they must be wide (at least 36"), smooth, and not have steps., stairs, or abrupt changes in level. (See Accessible Route, page 22, and ANSI 4.3 for more detail.)
All the spaces in a building that are intended to be used by disabled people must be located on accessible halls and corridors. Building products, such as telephones and water coolers, must be located next to but not in the accessible route.
Floor Surfaces. Interior floor surfaces must be smooth, firm, stable, and nonslip.

Thick, soft carpet is difficult to roll on, and loose edges of any kind may trip people or bunch up under wheelchair wheels. Heavy door mats can be recessed to eliminate the bump at the edge, and all carpet, if used, should be firm and dense. ANSI does not specify any type of carpet for accessibility, but in general the best installation is glue-applied, densely woven commercial carpet with no pad and all exposed edges fastened with metal edging strips.
Doors. Doors that are part of accessible routes and lead to accessible spaces should be wide enough for a wheelchair, have plenty of space in front of them and to the side, and be easy to operate (see Doors, page 29, and ANSI 4.13 for more detail).
Protruding Objects ANSI 4.5
Many visually impaired people use a long cane for guidance. The cane follows shorelines such as the edge of a sidewalk or a curb or, indoors, the baseboard of a wall. The cane, when swept ahead of the user, also detects obstacles in the blind person's path. Objects which protrude from walls or hang from overhead are not detectable and can be hazardous. Detectable items are obstacles that the visually impaired person can maneuver around. Nondetectable items are hazards because the blind person will run into them.

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There must always be a 36" wide accessible route around any obstacles, and large wall-mounted items such as fire extinguishers and telephone enclosures must be recesssed, set in alcoves, or designed so they have structures extending close to the floor and within the long cane detectable
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area (see ANSI 4.4).
In existing facilities, it is sometimes easy to mount an ashtray, waste receptacle, or other permanent element under an existing protruding object to change it from a hazard to an obstacle.
a planter, ashtray, or other element can change a hazard into an avoidable obstacle

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Stairs ANSI 4.9
The ANSI specifications for stair treads and risers (4.9.2), nosings (4.9.3), and handrails (4.9.4) make stairs safer for everyone and more usable by mobility impaired people who can climb stairs.
Stairs meeting ANSI 4.9 are part of circulation paths for getting around in buildings but cannot be part of an accessible route because they cannot be used by wheelchair users and some walking mobility impaired people. All floors not served by elevators must be served by stairs that have treads, risers, nosings, and handrails meeting the ANSI requirements.
Nosings and Risers. People who wear leg braces or artificial limbs are, as they climb the stair, in danger of catching their toes under the square protruding nosing commonly used on many stairs. The smooth riser face required by ANSI is safer and eliminates the risk of tripping (see ANSI 4.9.3).
36

planter should be bolted in place
An Inexpensive Solution
Stair Details

Handrails. The extended horizontal handrails at the top and bottom of stairs are for safety. They provide gripping areas which everyone can use to pull themselves up the top risers and to lean on while descending the bottom riser. Without them, many people cannot safely negotiate the top and bottom riser. (See ANSI 4.9.4.)
Ramps ANSI 4.8
Ramps are generally not a good idea in buildings because they are difficult for many people to use safely and they use up much space. In new construction, ramps can usually be avoided through careful planning. In renovations and in site work, they are often unavoidable. Ramps must always be carefully designed for safety, and since some people who walk with difficulty cannot use ramps and prefer stairs, both should be available. Where ramps are used in interior circulation to connect different levels, they need to slope gently, have handrails, and have level platfonns at top and bottom and along the way for resting and turning.
Any part of an accessible route that slopes more than 1 in 20 is a ramp according to ANSI specifications.
Slope. The maximum slope for a ramp is 1 in 12 but many people who use wheelchairs have great difficulty going up a ramp of this slope.

Interior Circulation
Whenever possible, ramp slopes of less than 1 in 12 are preferred. The ANSI Standard allows very short ramps of only a few inches to be even steeper (1 in 8 or 1 in 10). These short rise ramps may be helpful in renovation projects where the space for a ramp over a single step is limited.
Width. Since ramps are usually part of an accessible route, the ANSI Standard allows them to be as narrow as 36". This narrow width is helpful in renovations where space is limited but it results in a very narrow ramp requiring precise guiding for a wheelchair user to avoid bumping into a railing or picket. The 36" width also allows only one way traffic. Wider ramps are recommended whenever possible.
Edge Protection. If ramps drop off at the sides, the edges should be protected by walls, curbs, or railings to prevent the small front wheels on wheelchairs and crutch or cane tips from going over the edge (see ANSI 4.8.7). Solid walls on each side of a ramp with wallmounted handrails or very high curbs are the safest edge protection, since a wheelchair gone off course will be guided down the ramp and not collide with the railing.
Handrails. Handrails on ramps should extend horizontally beyond the top and bottom of the ramp so people using them can support themselves as they go on and off the ramp.

37

Lifts ANSI 4.11
Platfonn lifts are electrically powered mechanical lifts designed to carry a person in a wheelchair. Equipped with handrails or folding seats, they can also be used by walking mobility impaired people. There are vertical and inclined lifts. Vertical lifts move vertically and can be placed over or built in beside an existing stair. Inclined lifts travel on an inclined track mounted on the wall or posts beside the stair. Inclined lifts are useful for long flights of stairs which are too high for a vertical lift.
Lifts are available for floor to floor distances but some agencies limit the height of wheelchair lifts to short rises.
ANSI accepts lifts as an acceptable part of an accessible route and does not specify any details about the mechanism or its installation (see ANSI 4.11).

electrically interlocked doors at top and bottom floor levels insure that lift is inoperable when the door is open

enclosed lift mechanism

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inclined lift mechanism

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Inclined Lift with Safety Enclosure

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Vertical Lift with Safety Enclosure

Some safety officials require that the lifts be enclosed with walls and interlocking doors so people cannot get close to or under the moving parts. It is best to check local requirements for lifts before installing one.

Exposed Vertical Lift
Lifts are especially useful in renovations at existing changes in level where there is not enough space for a ramp.

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Elevators ANSI 4.10
Elevators are the only way many disabled people can move between the floors in a building. The elevators, when provided, should have adequate maneuvering space in the cab, and conveniently located and well-marked controls (see ANSI 4.10).
Doors. Elevator doors should remain open long enough for people who move slowly to enter the elevator without being struck by the closing doors. They must be equipped with a reopening device that does not contact the person.
Labels and Signals. Blind people need tactile markings next to the control buttons. Tactile markings should be raised letters, numerals, or symbols. Braille may be used in addition, but few blind people can read it. Elevators should indicate audibly the direction of travel and floors passed or arrived at. Hearing impaired people need this information in visual form.
Controls. Elevators should have low control buttons, illuminated floor and direction signals, and the floor number on the door jamb in a raised, (tactile) material.
braille is optional
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Interior Circulation
elevator cabs must be large enough to accommodate a person in a wheelchair

Elevator Cab Size

wheelchair is positioned so person can reach controls

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call buttons mounted low enough to reach from Awheelchair ----,

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should be free from obstructions

slow-closing doors - - - - - - ' with touchless reopening devices

Elevator Lobby Details

39

A.

building products
Building products such as telephones, plumbing fIxtures, drinking fountains, and alarms, are more or less permanently installed in the building. To be accessible, a building product should be located on an accessible route and have a clear floor space that allows a person to get close enough to use the item. However, the item should be located in the clear floor space in such a way that it is not a hazard to blind people. Any controls should be within easy reach of seated and standing people, and should be easy to use even for someone with little or no use of their hands.

Clear Floor Space and Reach Ranges ANSI 4.2
When people in wheelchairs want to use something like a vending machine or a drinking fountain, they need enough space to maneuver the wheelchair close to the object. They can pull up either alongside it (parallel approach) or in front of it (front approach). The orientation of the clear floor space affects how high the person can reach.
with a parallel approach many wheelchair users can reach as high as 54", but 48" is preferred

Accessible Route
Sometimes the clear floor space can extend under an object such as a table; this works only if there is enough room for the front of the wheelchair and the person's legs to fIt beneath the edge of the table.
With a parallel approach many wheelchair users can reach as high as 54". With a front approach they can only reach 48".
with a forward approach, wheelchair user can reach 48" high

Parallel Approach

43

Forward Approach

The 48" height is a good maximum height for many items like light switches, telephones, fIre alarms, and thennostats because it can be used by short people, children, wheelchair users (with both clear floor spaces) and by standing adults. Devices that require labels and careful manipulation like telephones and key pad buttons should be angled slightly upward so standing people can see them more easily without stooping down.

items lower than 48" can be angled for viewing by standing people
items no more than 48" above the floor can be reached by almost everyone
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Controls and Operating Mechanisms ANSI 4.27
Many people who have hand dysfunctions like arthritis cannot grasp and hold things well, and controls which require grasping or twisting may be diffIcult or impossible for them to operate. Fine movements such as fItting a key in a lock may also be impossible.
Control mechanisms that can be operated by simple pushing or touching and which do not require much pressure are best. One simple test for selecting and determining appropriate controls is to try them with a closed fIst. If they can be activated in this way with no more than 5 pounds of pressure, they will meet the standards and be usable.
Electronic Controls. New control methods such as the no-hands or light touch technologies using infrared, microwave, or capacitance circuits are accceptable alternatives.

lever handles work well
controls that can be opened with a closed fist are best
Acceptable Control Mechanisms
44

round smooth door knobs are not usable
add-on levers can convert existing round knobs

Drinking Fountains 4.15
People in wheelchairs need drinking fountains mounted low enough so that they can reach the spout. The ANSI Standard for drinking fountains specifies that the spout be 36" maximum

Building Products
above the floor. This is a compromise dimension that is actually too high for some wheelchair users and children and too low for standing people.

too low

too high

too hard for some to use

Acceptable But Difficult Water Cooler

Dual height fountains with one spout for normal standing height and one below the 36" height are best. 32" to 34" is a good range for the low spout. All spouts should be mounted at the front.

standing water coolers without knee space under them. Because of the twisting and reaching required, some disabled people cannot use these parallel approach coolers. Wall or post-mounted units with knee spaces are preferred.

People in wheelchairs also need to be able to pull up under the fountain or alongside it. The ANSI Standard allows the use of cabinet-type, free-
standard height spout

Lever or push panel controls are best because they are easy to operate.
wall-hung cooler easy to use when lower than 36"

Dual Height Coolers

Wall-hung Cooler
45

bottom of cabinet is detectable by blind person's long cane

Telephones ANSI 4.31
Telephones should be on an accessible route and should have clear floor space which allows a parallel or front approach. The coin slot, push buttons, and receiver should all be within easy

reach (see above). Hearing impaired people need a receiver with a volume control. Wall-mounted telephones should not project into an accessible route and be a hazard.

volume control

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Signage ANSI 4.30
Signs that identify rooms or give general circulation directions or emergency information should be easy to read. The background and the letters should be contrasting colors, and the letters should be large and clear.
Raised lettering is helpful to visually impaired people and seems to work well on room labels, elevator door jambs and control panels, and similar frequently used elements. Tactile room labels are best located in a standard spot on the wall next to each door near the latch jamb. 48" to 54" above the floor is recommended as a good mounting height.
Braille can also be provided, but raised arabic lettering is required since it is readable by more people.
Pictographs work well for people with poor vision or those who cannot read.
46

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Alarms ANSI 4.28
Visually impaired people need emergency warnings that they can hear, and hearing impaired people need alarms that they can see or feel.
ANSI requires that emergency alarms be audible and visual so they can be perceived by both hearing and visually impaired people. Audible and visual signals must operate simultaneously. One method of meeting this requirement is to install lighted exit signs that both flash and beep when the alarm system is activated. An integral, low-level beep can provide an audible cue for blind and visually impaired people as well as sighted people in smoke who need to find the exit.
Some signs can also speak. Signs with low-level sound systems or speaking voices must be used in conjunction with other signals that meet ANSI minimum sound levels for audible signals.
Placement of such exit signs is not specified, and some building areas remote from exits may not have exit signs within view. Therefore, some people are installing additional exit signs or alarms in isolated spaces such as toilet rooms to increase the likelihood that people in those spaces will be alerted in case of emergency.
Electronic Devices
As a result of advances in electronic technology, a range of optional equipment is available which may be helpful in specific circumstances. For example, smoke detectors with built-in radio transmitters send out a signal that activates a remote receiver/alarm anywhere in a building. These new portable alarms can flash lamps or tum on fans or other devices, and they can be placed wherever there is a need for notification without the cost and difficulty of hard-wired systems. A deaf person might have one connected to a light or fan on an office desk to alert herlhim to a fire alarm.
Intercoms, personal voice communications systems, automatic emergency dialing systems, remote outside strobe lights for assistance calling, and environmental controls are other devices worthy of consideration as inexpensive, alternative, life safety systems.

Building Products
Flashing Exit Sign with Integral and/or External Audible Signals
smoke detector with transmitter
Remote Warning Signals

47

toilet& ba -tacilities

toilet &bathing facilities
Toilet Rooms

Access to toilet rooms is a critical issue that detennines to a large extent how much a disabled person can participate in programs and activities. Without appropriate toilet facilities, many people have a limited amount of time that they can risk being away from home. Otherwise fully accessible buildings and facilities are of little use unless the toilets are also accessible. The ANSI Standard for toilet rooms allows great flexibility in the size and layout of the rooms. The Standard specifies only the types of fIxtures, the types of controls, and the amount of clear floor space at the fIxtures. These specillcations, combined with clearances for doors and turning spaces for wheelchairs, detennine a minimum toilet room size.
Toilet Stalls ANSI 4.17
The ANSI Standard allows three types of accessible toilet stalls and each is used by people with different disabilities.
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The narrow stall is 36" wide and varies in length, depending on whether it has a floor-mounted or wall-hung toilet fIxture. This stall is the oldest design and was used in the first ANSI Standard
in 1960. It was originally intended for people
who walk with difficulty, many of whom use crutches and braces and who need the grab bars to help them sit down and stand up again. With training and good upper body strength, wheelchair users can use this stall. Unfortunately, not all wheelchair users get this training or have enough strength and this stall, although space effIcient, does not work well for all people.

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36" Wide Stall

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The 60" wide stall is a vast improvement over the narrow one. The extra floor space allows people in wheelchairs to maneuver to the best position for them to transfer onto the toilet. It also allows space for an attendant to assist the disabled person if needed. Grab bars behind and beside the toilet allow the user to make either a left- or right-hand transfer. The 60" stall is an excellent design which accommodates the most people.

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The narrow (36") stall is best for walking disabled people who have difficulty sitting down and getting back up again. The wide stall (60") is best for wheelchair users and their attendants and work for walking people as well. The intermediate stall (40") is a less effective compromise for both types of users.

grab bars behind and beside the water closet
60" Wide Stall

36" Best for Walking Disabled People

The third ANSI stall is a 48" wide design that is a compromise between the other two. This stall allows a bit more flexibility than the 36" stall in

how disabled people use it, but since it cannot be used the same way as either of the others, it is

limited in its usefulness. It is often used in renovation projects where sufficient space for the

60" stall is not available.

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60" Best for Wheelchair Users

52

Ideally, one narrow stall and one wide stall should be included in an accessible toilet room. Because of its extra length, it is usually best to place the narrow stall against an end wall. This stall can extend the full width of the room if it has a side entry door that is 36" wide so it meets the ANSI accessible route requirements. (See Interior Accessible Routes, page 35, and ANSI 4.3.)
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Toilet & Bathing Facilities

Urinals ANSI 4.18

The ANSI Standard specifies a low-mounted elongated urinal for use by disabled people. The urinal must project far enough from the wall to allow a person in a wheelchair to get close enough to the rim before the footrests of the wheelchair hit the wall under the fixture. Urinals that project less than 14" are generally not usable by someone using a wheelchair. The ANSI Standard also accepts the type of urinal that has the receptacle in the floor.

elongated urinals must project at least 14" to be usable

0 14" minimum
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one wide and one narrow ANSI stall in a toilet room is best for all users
Optimum Toilet Room with Two Accessible Stalls

if wall-mounted urinals are used, an elongated one is required

Elongated Urinal

urinals with floor receptacles are acceptable
Floor Level Urinal
53

Lavatories and Mirrors ANSI 4.19

The lavatory specifications in ANSI can easily be met using standard plumbing fixtures and components. There are special "handicapped" lavatories on the market but they are not needed to meet these requirements. Some manufacturers have produced an accessible fixture that includes the mirror, lavatory, dispensers, waste receptacles, light fixtures, and supply piping, drain, and faucet in one unit, with all features meeting the ANSI Standard. This accessible unit looks like other fixtures and needs only to be mounted on the wall at the correct height

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matches the design of non-ANSI units for consistant appearance in toilet room

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combines ANSI I lavatory and accessory requirements in one unit

Special Fixtures Not Needed
Lavatories in countertops can also be standard fixtures and the counters or cabinets can be of ordinary construction so long as they provide the

Single Unit Lavatory
knee spaces, clear floor spaces, and pipe protection required.
It is best if countertops are no more than 32" to 33" above the floor and it is also helpful if the lavatory bowl is placed as close to the front edge of the counter as possible to make it easier for a seated person to lean over it.

- - - - - - as close to the front as possible

<

clear knee space

(see ANSI 4.19)

JS 0

nP'tt a:c:: >7 33" maximum recommended to the top

Lavatories in Counters

54

The Standard requires low-mounted mirrors. In the past, slanted mirrors have been used in an attempt to keep the mirror high enough for a standing person, and still allow a seated or short person to see themselves. These slanted mirrors cost more than standard mirrors, look bad in a toilet room, give the short user an oddly angled view of him or herself and the room, and give standing people a good view of their belt buckles. A reasonable alternative to low mirrors over lavatories is to install one full-length mirror in the room for everyone to use in addition to regular mirrors over the lavatories.
full length mirrors work well for everyone

Toilet & Bathing Facilities
particular individual and even then they should fold up or swing away to allow others to use the fIxture.
Clear Floor Space in Toilet Rooms and Bathrooms
The ANSI Standard specifIes dimensions for toilet and bathing fIxtures and related floor spaces but does not specify a minimum size or number of fIxtures for an accessible toilet or bathroom. Each fIxture is considered to be accessible as long as it has the required floor space and is connected to an accessible route. Thus the size of the smallest possible accessible toilet room depends upon the number and type of fIxtures selected to go into the room, their required clear floor spaces as well as the clear floor spaces for access to doors, controls, equipment, and dispensers, plus at least one T-shaped or 60" diameter clear turning space as specified in ANSI 4.2.3. Fortunately, the clear floor spaces can overlap each other and the possible configurations are unlimited.

clear floor space for water closet (see ANSI 4.16.2)

clear floor space for lavatories (see ANSI 4.19.3)

Full Length Mirrors

Grab Bars ANSI 4.26
Grab bars used to be made only of chrome or stainless steel. They were literally hospital equipment and gave a toilet room a certain clinical appearance. Today, grab bars are available in a variety of materials and colors, and since disabled and non-disabled users of grab bars are not patients, these new products can improve the appearance and acceptance of accessible toilets and bathrooms.
Grab bars in toilets and bathrooms should be mounted only as shown in ANSI (see ANSI 4.16.4,4.17.6,4.20.4, and 4.21.4). They should never be floor mounted because they can interfere with needed maneuvering space. They should also never be mounted on the fIxtures themselves except as a convenience for a

clear floor space for tubs (see ANSI 4.20.2)
turning space (see ANSI 4.2.3)
Clear Floor Spaces Can Overlap

55

Controls at Toilets and Bathrooms ANSI 4.27
The AN'SI Standard requires controls to be operable with one hand without tight grasping, pinching, gripping, or turning the wrist
Flushing and dispensing mechanisms and faucets, door handles, valves, and locks must meet these specifications. Foot-operated controls are not acceptable. Lever handles, push plates, push buttons, and a variety of electronic controls such as infrared, photoelectric, and microwave switches are acceptable.
A good test of this requirement is to try to operate the device with a closed fist. If the device can be made to function, it probably meets or exceeds the Standard.

must operate with no more than 5 pounds of force
Fist Test

Bathrooms
Bathing is one of the most difficult as well as hazardous activities for disabled people because of the traditional design of bathrooms and bathing fixtures and the inherent presence of wet, slippery surfaces. ANSI specifies three different

types of bathing facilities that make bathing safer, easier, and, for some people, possible. The three acceptable ANSI bathing fixtures include a tub with a seat, a transfer shower stall with a seat, and a roll-in shower.

tub with seat

transfer shower
IbJi d

roll-in shower

Three Acceptable Bath Fixtures

Tubs ANSI 4.20
The ANSI specified tub can be a conventional 60" long bath tub of the type made by all manufacturers to which the other ANSI required features such as grab bars and seats can be added. However, several manufacturers now make molded fiberglass and acrylic tubs that meet all ANSI requirements. They come complete with grab bars and other features and are available in a variety of colors.

Standard Bathtub with Grab Bars

56

ANSI requires that accessible tubs have a seat so mobility impaired people can sit down while transferring in or out of the tub or, if they need to, while bathing. The seat can be an integral part of the tub, can be a separate seat that attaches to the tub, or can be built-in as a 15" surface behind the tub.
There are a few seats available that attach to the tub, but no matter which type is used, the seat must be securely fIxed in place and it must not move during use.
Grab Bars. Grab bars at tubs are used by people to maintain balance while showering or entering and leaving the tub. The lower of the two bars required by ANSI is used for support and leverage when lowering oneself down into or lifting out of the tub. Grab bars are available now in colors and in a variety of materials to match other fInishes and styles. These more aesthetic bars can be used but the space between the bar and the wall should not exceed 1-112" to prevent people from getting an arm caught behind the bar. Also, the strength of the bar and its wall connection must not be compromised.
Controls. The offset control area places the controls within easy reach from outside the tub so one need not lean over so far to tum on and test the water before getting into the tub. This placement is an advantage for everyone and does not increase costs at all.
Hand-held Shower Heads. Hand-held shower heads are required at tubs so seated people can rinse themselves and/or wash their

Toilet & Bathing Facilities

hand-held ---~ shower
offset controls for easy reach outside the t u b - - -... n
-

grab bars for standing or seated people

clear floor space (see ANSI 4.20.2)

;' ,/
seat, with or without

backrest, attaches to tub

/

ANSI Bathtub

hair. These flexible hose units can double as a fIxed head for standing people by installing a wall mounted bracket for the hand- held unit. It is best to have a fIxed shower head in addition to the hand-held head and install a two-way diverter valve so the user can route water to either one. In this way, the hand-held unit will always be within reach of short and seated people rather than being left hanging high and out of reach in the wall bracket.

Tub Enclosures. Tub enclosures, if used, must not have tracks on the tub rim. Many people must sit on the tub rim while getting in or out of the tub. Tub rims that are high and wide are helpful for this purpose but the enclosure tracks are too sharp and painful.

hand-held shower - - + -
offset controls for easy reach outside the tub -~~
-- \ clear floor spa~ ~...-

I I I I
\\r---+-----', longer grab bars
I I I
,I
I
.f:-i1t------,-' standard tub
tr.~:'=7 ~
~':--~:~'" : built-in seat of tile or
~~~;?'" : othermareri~ / / (see ANSI 4.20.3)
/

/ / / /
Built-in Tub Seat Option

57

Transfer Showers ANSI 4.21
The transfer shower acceptable in ANSI is 36" x 36" and has an L-shaped seat, a low curb, and a detailed control wall and grab bar opposite the seat. This shower works very well for a wide variety of people. Each feature and dimension has been carefully developed and is critical to its success; they should not be altered in any way.
The size in particular is very specific and should not be changed. Molded acrylic and fiberglass versions of the shower are now available from several manufacturers but the shower can also be custom-built in tile and the seat and other features installed separately. The specifications in the ANSI Standard are quite clear but two features, the curb and seat, need some explanation.
Curbs. The ANSI specification allows a curb up to 4" high but does not explain that the shower is usable by more people and is safer if it has no curb or a very low curb. Water can be contained in the shower with only a 1/2" bullnose tile recess. This elminates the curb and the need for people to step over it. It also allows people in

r r 36"

\0
~

I

folding or

fixed seat

I

I

clear floor space

I

(see ANSI 4.21.2)

I

e

eI

36" X 36" Transfer Shower

wheelchairs to roll in close to the shower seat before transferring onto it.

Uses of the Transfer Shower

Seat. The seat in transfer showers can be either fixed or folding. Folding L-shaped seats are available from several manufacturers and they can be folded against the wall to allow the shower to be used more easily by standing people as well. Seats that have waterproof cushions are preferred because some disabled people have little tissue on their buttocks and cannot sit on hard surfaces. Hard surfaces also become slippery when wet and soapy, and

people with little or no balance can slide or fall off.
Fixed seats in molded shower stalls are not as slippery as some other hard materials because of the resiliance and coefficient of friction of the plastic materials. They are generally usable and safe as manufactured, but some people may prefer to use a separate cushion for increased comfort.

58

Roll-in Showers ANSI 4.21
Some people prefer to use or must use a roll-in shower because of the severity of their disability. The roll-in shower allows someone using a special non-corrosive wheelchair to roll- in and bathe in their chair. The roll-in shower also allows enough space for an attendant to help someone bathe if necessary. A roll-in shower can be almost any size so long as it is large enough to enter with a wheelchair.

Toilet & Bathing Facilities

size of a bathtub

I
no curb _.....;I,.-J

I I

I clear floor space

I

IL(see ANSI 4.21.2)

..JI

ANSI Minimum Roll-in Shower

Waterproof Floor Recommended
The minimum size of the roll-in shower included in the ANSI Standard was based upon the idea that in renovation one might remove an existing 60" bathtub and tile the space to create a roll-in shower. Thus the space is 30" x 60". The 30" depth is very small and water will likely be spilled onto the bathroom floor. For this reason, we suggest that the entire bathroom floor be waterproofed and made a part of the shower. In

new construction or where space permits, we suggest that the roll-in shower be made larger than 30" deep.
Several manufacturers make fiberglass or acrylic roll-in showers in a variety of colors, shapes, and sizes. Be aware that manufactured roll-in showers are large and may not pass through standard doorways in remodeling jobs. You must plan ahead for the installation.

Larger Roll-in Showers Preferred

Manufactured Roll-in Shower

59

. --~ . ._ ' - - - <

One disadvantage of roll-in showers is the need for a special chair to use them. Most people do not own a shower chair and even if they have one at home, they are not likely to travel with both a regular and a shower chair.
When possible, it would be best to install some of each type of fIxture to provide a range of choices. In order of frequency of use, the tub would probably be fIrst because it is probably what people have at home. Next would be the roll-in shower because people who modify their bathrooms for accessibility are likely to install a roll-in shower. Last would be the transfer shower because many people have not seen or used them.

In order of ease of use, the roll-in shower would be the easiest, the transfer shower second, and the tub the most difficult to use.
In order of personal preference, the order is probably tub, transfer shower, and roll-in shower.
When planning for unknown users, the tub and transfer shower are safer bets to be the most appropriate. But it should be noted that all of these ANSI fIxtures can be used equally well by non-disabled people and if made colorful and attractive, most people do not identify them as for disabled people.

tub

transfer shower

acrylic or fiberglass molded units are available
Manufactured ANSI Compatible Bath Fixtures
60

special SPaces

special spaces

The ANSI Standard contains specifications for assembly areas (ANSI 4.33) and fixed seating, tables, or work surfaces, (ANSI 4.32). These are the only specifications in ANSI specifically for special use spaces, but they apply to any classroom, theater, exhibit hall, lecture hall, restaurant, stadium, arena, auditorium, or other space having fixed or built-in seating or tables.
Fixed Seating ANSI 4.32
Specifications for fixed seating are included because many people who use wheelchairs and some who use walkers cannot use the tables and

chairs in such places as fast food restaurants that have fixed, swivelling plastic seats at every eating location. The same is often true in classrooms that have floor-mounted seats and tables.
In these types of facilities, some fixed seats may need to be omitted or replaced with movable chairs and adequate knee space provided to accommodate people in wheelchairs. Adequate maneuvering space between rows and in aisles is needed to provide an accessible route to the accessible seating spaces.

fixed table

36" min.

fixed table and chairs
":':':'::::::::::::::::::::;:;:::;:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::;

Fixed Tables and Chairs

Assembly Areas ANSI 4.33
In assembly areas such as theaters, auditoriums, and stadiums, the ANSI Standard requires seating spaces for people using wheelchairs and, if sound amplification equipment is being installed, ANSI also requires that some seats have listening systems to assist hearing impaired people.

The wheelchair seating spaces are needed so that people using wheelchairs can attend events along with everyone else. In many instances people have been denied these opportunities because the floor layout provided no space for wheelchairs and the only place someone could sit was in an aisle which, according to fire and insurance regulations, usually cannot be occupied.

63

ANSI wheelchair seating spaces are required to be dispersed throughout a seating area to provide a choice of seating locations and to prevent a wheelchair "ghetto" effect In planning assembly
spaces, it is best to remember that people using wheelchairs have social relationships and they may come with any combination of disabled or non- disabled companions: they come with dates, they come with groups of friends, they come with families, and they come alone.

A reasonable selection of seating choices is not difficult to provide. Wheelchair seating spaces should be interspersed with the regular seats in the orchestra, mezzanine, boxes, and balconies. Good locations for these seating spaces are in spaces specifically planned for them which' are out of the required traffic lanes along cross aisles, side aisles, or front aisles.

i

additional spaces for

single wheelchairs may

be provided once the

minimum number for

doubles have been met

30" x 48" space for single wheelchair

~ ~,_~ j 1 1 t I I ! 1 1, tl1111111111

, I I I i j j 11I 1j

midpoint position for
I two wheelchairs -
omit six chairs or install movable chairs

I 11 i I I 1 I I I tl
milt j I j i j j
I: ' [J: : l1~~W

~:p::::rn:::::r::nlMlWj
ttl t Ii111111
r t t iii t j j i t j
I tI I rt I j rt j J
mljlllll11 tit tit 1 i I j I i

back or front row position for two wheelchairs omit three chairs

rj t j j j j 1 i t 1j

tn 1 j j j j t j I j

48" - 60"

[Ofjli1110

I t f i j j j 1I i j j

I I I I I I j 1I tj 1

[ j i j I iii j t ] 1 I j 1 j I I I ] I I t 1

48" x 66"

n~TI~]i i I I I Itt j 1~11~J1 iiI j I ~

I )~R~J

bd bd

(;

I 48" _60"

Theater Style Plan: Suggested Wheelchair Seating Locations and Dimensions

Each ANSI wheelchair space must accommodate non-disabled companion. Some theaters and

two people in wheelchairs because it is common

halls have provided a few movable chairs that can

for two disabled people to go to events together.

be placed in the accessible spaces for non-

The wheelchair spaces should adjoin regular

wheelchair users at times when the circumstances

seats to accommodate those wheelchair users

indicate.

who can and prefer to transfer out of their chairs

into a regular seat during a perfonnance and also to allow a person in a wheelchair to sit next to a

aisle It\

space for two
'. wheelchairs Etl1 omit three chairs

f
"
.................. ': 1

single wheelchair space - omit one chair

8 ('t. {\ .. /

'~ . (EJ :><'

~<., > "'::".":.:.,.,,.,.",. aisle space

fortwo-

,tJ omit six chairs

Front Row Space

Back Row Space 64

Aisle Space for Two

The floor area at the wheelchair spaces must be level because it is difficult and most uncomfortable to maintain one's balance while sitting upright on a sloping floor. This requirement will demand careful, early planning of assembly spaces.
The wheelchair spaces are required to be on an accessible route that serves as a means of egress in an emergency. Many disabled people who use wheelchairs, crutches, or other devices are quite capable of exiting rapidly along with other people when the need arises. Careful emergency planning for evacuation should consider disabled people and plan for assistance when needed, but should not over-emphasize the issue or assume that all disabled people cannot take any responsibilty for their evacuation.
The ANSI Standard specifically requires an accessible route from the assembly seating area to the performance areas and other spaces used by performers. Many disabled people are performers themselves. Famous disabled performers like Itzhak Perlman, the violinist, as well as less well known but professional actors, musicians, and athletes are potential users of these spaces as are the thousands of people who graduate from schools and colleges, participate in local theater programs, present awards, give speeches, serve on panels,or beocme politicians. Access to these spaces increases opportunities for disabled people to participate and be employed in activities for which society assembles. Access to these facilities confirms that disabled people are not and need not be just spectators. It encourages those who are active to remain so and it encourages and makes it possible for others to become active.
Listening Systems
People with hearing losses make up a large percentage of the disabled population. The ANSI Standard responds to the needs of hearing impaired people for access to programs by requiring listening systems at some seating locations in assembly spaces. The listening systems themselves are not specified by ANSI; the only requirement is that some type of listening system be provided to help hearing impaired people hear the amplified program. Following is a brief description of some of the

Special Spaces
Accessible Performing Areas
types of listening systems being used and comments on the advantages and disadvantages of each. The Audio Loop. An audio loop system requires the user to have a hearing aid equipped with a "T" or telephone switch that allows it to pick up magnetic fields. An audio loop system consists of a type of amplifier and an antenna which is a wire that is imbedded in the floor or walls or simply taped to the surface. The antenna (wire loop) surrounds a designated seating area and sets up a magnetic field. The appropriate hearing aids worn by people sitting within the loop pick up the magnetic field set up by the loop and the person hears the sound being transmitted by the amplifer. One of the disadvantages of audio loops is that not all hearing aids are equipped to pick up the magnetic field; also, the quality of the magnetic field may be difficult to determine. The audio loop limits seating choices since only seats within the loop can be utilized and they must be labelled or otherwise appropriately designated. One advantage to this system is not having to check equipment in and out to users. Hard-wired Head Phones. Indivdual head phones can be used if seats are equipped with jacks and volume controls. In this case the quality of the sound is determined by the quality of the amplification system used in the facility. A disadvantage to this system is that either people must bring their own headphones or the facility must loan or rent them to those who need them.

65

Another disadvantage is that only those seats which have been wired can be used so the seats must be identified and labeled, and management must deal with the issue of whether of not to reserve the seats only for hearing impaired people.
Infrared Systems. Infrared systems employ special infrared transmitters and special headset receivers that are checked out to hearing impaired participants. The transmitters send out sound via infrared light that is received by the headsets worn by the hearing impaired person. Sound quality and control are excellent. The transmitters can be built into the stage areas or set up on stands and moved about as needed. There must be an unobstructed line of sight between the transmitter and receiver worn around the person's neck since any blockage interrupts the sound. These systems do not work in daylight where infrared light from the sun interferes. Also, they require an effective checkout system but they can be used in any seat in the facility.
FM Systems. FM systems work similarly to the infrared but operate on FM radio frequencies, do not require an unobstructed line of sight, and are unaffected by sunlight. FM systems also require the users to wear a receiver and headset and therefore require a checkout, loan, or rental system. Because of their flexibility and reliability, FM or similar radio systems are preferred by many organizations for hearing impaired people.
A wide variety of options and variables must be considered in planning effective and manageable listening systems for hearing impaired people. Manufacturers, organizations of disabled people, and service providing agencies are good sources for additional infonnation and advice.

Other Special Spaces
The ANSI Standard includes assembly spaces and spaces having fIxed furniture as two types of special spaces deserving specifIcations. There are dozens if not hundreds of other special use spaces such as swimming pools, cafeterias, and library stacks that could also be specifIcally mentioned in the Standard or the Georgia law. The fact that they are not mentioned does not mean that they do not need to be accessible. They all need to be accessible and can be made accessible with the ANSI Standard.
The ANSI Standard and the Georgia Access Law contain the specifications for the essential features of any accessible environment toilets, alarms, water coolers, controls, and doors, for example. They also define concepts such as the accessible route (ANSI 4.3) and adaptable housing (ANSI 4.34), and define human performance criteria such as the reach ranges, clear floor spaces, and turning spaces (ANSI 4.2). These basic "building blocks" for accessibility are expected to be applied to all types of spaces and buildings regardless of use, size, or other factors. We have found so far no space, building or facility to which the standards could not be applied. For example, a cafeteria serving line can be made accessible by applying the specifications for accessible route, turning spaces, clear knee space, and reach ranges.

66

books or mechandise must not protrude into minimum aisle space; if they do, the aisles must be wider to maintain 36"
clear accessible route

people in wheelchairs will not be able to tum around in 36" aisles; cross aisles or turn around spaces will be needed at each end

36" min.

Special Spaces
36" min. (ANSI 4.3)

Library Stacks
Even complex facilities such as swimming pools with bath houses and storage areas which are not described in ANSI or the law can be made accessible by using the standards. The ramps and stairs specifications are perfectly suitable for solving the problem of entering the water. The accessible route concept applies throughout the facility as do requirements for parking, entrances, and doors. The design of toilets, showers, and dressings rooms can be taken from the requirements for toilets and bathing facilities as well as from performance

Cafeteria Serving Line
specifications for seat heights for transfers to dressing benches, mounting heights for light switches and clothing hooks, clear floor spaces for turning, and hardware configurations for lockers.
The Standard is flexible and allows for creative design which, combined with increased understanding about disabled people and good judgment, can be applied to any space or facility to result in low-cost, attractive, and truly universal solutions to all accessibility problems.
ANSI complying stair and railings

Swimming Pool
67

, '*} I .

(..

\#1.:

..
i.

j

~ ,r,

.

.housing

Finding adequate accessible housing is one of the most difficult issues facing disabled people. Finding available housing that is appprop~at~ in size, type, location, features, ~tyl~, .and pnce IS difficult for anyone. When dIsabilIty and accessibility are added to the formula, the available housing is practically none.
The Georgia Access Law requires that rental apartment complexes and temporary lodging facilities having 20 units or more have 5% of the units accessible or adaptable.

The ANSI Specifications in Section 4.34

Dwelling Units specify the features and spaces

necessary to make dwelling uni!s usable ~or

disabled people. For most requIred housmg

features and spaces (toilets, doors, parking

spaces), the Standard refers b~ck to the.

.

specifications in previous sectIOns. ThIS sectIon

therefore is largely a reference se~tion becaus~ an

accessible door (or other feature) IS the same In a

home as in other buildings. The ANSI Standard

for dwelling units, however, does provide

unique new specifications for making kitchens

accessible and for making both kitchens and

bathrooms adaptable.

The Adaptability Concept
The adaptablility concept is perhaps one of the most significant developments in the long que~t for accessible housing because it creates dwellIng units that look no different from any other, that anyone can live in comfortably, and that can be adjusted simply and quickly when needed to meet the needs of a wide range of disabled people.
Adaptable housing is not the same as accessible housing. Accessible housing has certain features that were originally included in the nati0r:tal standards to provide access for people usmg wheelchairs. Ground level entrances or ramps, wide doors additional maneuvering space in the kitchen and bathroom, knee spaces under sinks, lower countertop heights, grab bars at tubs and toilets, and lever hardware and faucets were some of the usual specifications. These were written into laws and building codes throughout the country and 5% or 10% of new rental units were required to comply. Over the years, the accessible units having all the features were

largely unoccupied by disabled people ~ho us~d wheelchairs. As the numbers of accessIble umts increased, the percentage not occupied by disabled people increased. Owners reported having some difficulty renting the units to nondisabled people because of the grab bars and knee spaces which, when not need~, looked unsightly and wasted valuable cabmet storage space. Some developers resorted to reducing rents on accessible units as enticements to nondisabled people to take the vacant units.
At the same time it was becoming clear that the concept of "fixed" accessible units did not meet the needs of many disabled people for a variety of reasons. Most disabled people are not wheelchair users and do not need some of the built-in accessible features. Some who are in wheelchairs cannot or do not want to cook and others do not need grab bars. Accessible units are apt to be expensive to rent. All accessible units are new or recently built because the requirements are relatively new. Newly constructed rental housing usually has higher rents then older facilities and many disabled people cannot afford to live in them. Also, ~~ size of accessible units is generally not speCIfIed and in many states builders have made only oneor two-bedroom units accessible and they are not large enough for a disabled person who has a family and/or a live-in attendant. Anot~er reas~:m is the availability and location of acceSSIble umts. The small number usually required (5%) does not necessarily place accessible.units in ideal or, optimum locations close to Jobs, transportatIOn, schools, and other amenities.
Thus, fixed accessible housing for disabled people was becoming a burden to developers, , was not reaching disabled people who needed It most, and was often inappropriate when it did. Recognition of these factors led to the development of adaptable housing specifications that allow the accessible units to look exactly the same as any other apartments, to be adjustable, to more accurately "fit" their tenants' needs, and to be usable by disabled or non-disabled people without sacrificing storage space or appearance.

71

inaccessible entrance with steps

Adaptable Housing Specifications
Site Features. The adaptable specifications in ANSI for dwelling units require that site features and amenities comply with the accessibility specifications. The common use facilities for housing complexes such as pools, bath houses, club houses, laundries, rental offices, parking spaces, walks and curb ramps, mail kiosks, garbage containers, and other features must be accessible. These facilities are necessary for everyone to live in the housing and disabled people can and will use them too when they are accessible. Such facilities have often been overlooked in previous efforts to create usable housing for disabled people. It is important to remember that disabled people do not always have someone else to do mundane tasks and they, like everyone else, need to take out their garbage.
Entrances. Entrances to the adaptable unit must be accessible. This means there must be an accessible route to and through the entrances. Entrances at grade level are excellent but ramps, bridges, or other features are also acceptable. Through landscaping and terracing and elevated stoops, bridges, or decks, it is possible to make elevated entrances accessible without adding an expensive, unsightly ramp that visually labels the unit as "handicapped."

landscaped accessible



new bridge and railing

route using earth berms,

at floor level

bridges, and walks can

provide access without

gently sloping earth

the "look" of

berm in yard area with

accessibility; this

~an~

I

.---------- -----~

scheme works even
--------better on sloping sites

~

~
____ lA~~~

new retaining wall

,- ' - - - - - - - - eX.ls.tmg steps and stoop

existing grade for

can remain and be

drainage

concealed by plan~

\ - - new paved sidewalk leading to bridge

Landscaping for Access to Entrances

72

Housing
reinforcing blocking so grab bars can be added by simply screwing them to the wall when needed by a tenant. Knee spaces under kitchen and bathroom cabinets and low counter heights can be provided quickly when needed. One method for doing this is to install a base cabinet unit but not bolt it in place so it can be slipped out to provide a knee space. The counter over the removable cabinet can be mounted on shelf support hardware so it can be adjusted to anyone's most comfortable height. With flexible supply pipes and slip joints on drain pipes, sink units can also be made adjustable in height. Wall and floor surfaces under the adjustable segments and adjacent cabinet ends should be finished at construction time so they look good and require no additional work when the cabinet is removed.

Interior Spaces. The adaptable housing specifications require that most interior accessible features be included at construction time but allow certain features to be adjustabk. For example, wide doors, floor space in bathrooms and kitchens, offset controls on the tubs and showers, alarm connections, accessible routes, switches and controls placement, and other features msut be provided at the time of construction. Grab bars, on the other hand, need not be provided so long as the walls where grab bars are specified have the necessary

Note: adjustable large display shelf brackets may also work well
segment of countertop adjustable from 32" to 28" above the floor
finished ends on adjacent cabinets

Adjustable Counter and Sink
73

'."/L
-252 ---/------~
- " / - """" --../ /
floor and wall finished material should be installed under and behind the removable cabinet

Appliances and Equipment. Appliances that meet the specifications for adaptable houses are available as standard products from appliance manufacturers. They include but are not limited to the following:
kitchen sinks that have at least one shallow bowl no more than 6-112" deep;

refrigerator/freezers that have at least 50% of
freezer space within the reach ranges of seated people, ANSI 4.2;
dishwashers with racks that pull out on full extension sticks or rollers; and
washers and dryers that are front-loading.

ranges and cooktops that meet ANSI control specification (4.27) and do not require reaching across burners;

non-self-cleaning wall-

oven with side-

swinging door; bottom

hinged doors can also

be used

l

i

clear knee space with

adjustable height work

surface beside non-self-

cleaning oven

(

"".

/

,
I/
rr

handles on wall cabinets near bottom, on base cabinets near top
hood with controls within reach ranges
standard drop-in range; controls at side or across front (see ANSI 4.34.6.6)


]11]
i~ "'I / base cabinet removed

adjustable sink counter segment lowered to 28" or 32" above floor

side-by-side refrigerator/freezer is best; some over-and- under types are acceptable also
Note: ANSI does not specify any particular kitchen arrangement but allows much flexibility; this is but one of thousands of possible configurations for an ANSI kitchen

appearance and pipe protection cover installed; (pipes can be wrapped or otherwise protected)
required clear floor spaces for appliances; access route and turning spaces may overlap
pull-out shelf under side-hinged oven door may be omitted if oven door is bottom hinged

An ANSI Adaptable Kitchen

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Housing

Other products and equipment usable in adaptable housing include standard toilet fIxtures with seats at least 15" high; standard bathtubs of almost any type or tubs and showers with integral and colored grab bars and controls; standard hardware for adjustable counters, adjustable closet rods and shelves, and full extension drawers; alarms and smoke detectors with listening systems and warning lights that plug into 110V receptacles; and lever hardware and

handles that can convert knobs to levers. Many of these products and devices are attractive consumer products. None of them needs to be or should be medical or clinical in appearance and cost. Most are available in a range of colors and materials that can be matched with any decOl~ or style of living. They are, in other words, universal products intended to be used by
everyone.

lavatory countertop, drawers, and removable appearance and protection screen in one unit adjustable in height from 28" to 36" above the floor - - - - - ,

,..----- mirror with bottom 40" above floor
~-- offset controls and handheld shower head with diverter

II

~~~- grab bar in color to match tub and wall

-----------

solid wood blocking or plywood in walls around tub so grab bars can be added as needed (see ANSI 4.34.5.4)
- - - - - - - seat at tub (see ANSI 4.34.5.4)

solid wood blocking in and around tiles so grab bars can be added as needed (see ANSI 4.34.5.2)

An ANSI Adaptable Bathroom

The adaptable design provisions of the Georgia Access Law provide an unprecedented degree of flexibility in producing truly usable housing. Creative application of these specifIcations and

concepts can result in housing visually unrecognizable as accessible but capable of meeting a broad range of needs.

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--------- appendix

~appendix
GEORGIA HANDICAP ACCESSIBILITY CODE
OCGA Title 30, Chapter 3
(As Amended by S.B. 608, 1988
Access to and Use of Public Buildings by Physically Handicapped Persons.
30-3-1. Purpose and intent of chapter.
The provisions of this chapter are enacted to further the policy of the State of Georgia to encourage and enable handicapped or elderly persons to participate fully in the social and economic life of Georgia and to encourage and promote their education and rehabilitation. It is the intent of this chapter to eliminate, insofar as possible, unnecessary physical barriers encountered by handicapped or elderly persons whose ability to participate in the social and economic life ofthis state is needlessly restricted when such persons cannot readily use government buildings, public buildings, and facilities used by the public.
30-3-2. Definitions.
As used in this chapter, the term: (1) "Adaptable" is further explained as follows:
(A) Adaptable refers to features provided for but not actually installed. Such adaptability makes it possible for the feature required by ANSI A117.1 Standard to be added for the occupant without major structural alteration;
(B) Items not installed at the time of construction under the adaptable provisions of ANSI A117.1 Standard, and items installed which might need to be removed to provide access, must be installed or removed by the owner at the owner's expanse when the dwelling is rented to a handicapped person, within 30 days after his or her application for occupancy is approved by the owner.
(2) "American National Standards Institute specifications (ANSI standards)" means sections 3 and 4 of the American National Standards Institute specifications A117.1-1986 for making buildings and facilities accessible to and usable by physically handicapped individuals.
(3) "Facilities" shall include, but is not limited to, walkways, sidewalks, curbings, parking lots, parks, stadiums, coliseums, and any other manmade or developed area used by the public.
(4) "Government buildings" means all buildings, structures, streets, sidewalks, walkways, and access thereto, which are used by the public or in which handicapped or elderly persons may be employed, that are constructed, leased, or renovated in whole or in part by use of state, county, or municipal funds or the funds of any political subdivisions of the state, and, to the extent not required otherwise by federal law or regulations and not beyond the power of the state to regulate, all buildings and structures used by the public which are constructed or renovated in whole or in part by use of federal funds.
(5) "Public buildings" means all buildings, structures, streets, sidewalks, walkways, and access thereto, which are used by the public or in which handicapped or elderly persons may be employed,
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that are constructed or renovate.d by the use of private funds, including rental apartment complexes of20 units or more and temporary lodging facilities of20 units or more, provided that this chapter shall require fully accessible or adaptable units in only 5 percent of the total rental apartments, or a minimum of one, whichever is greater, and this chapter shall apply to only 5 percent of the total temporary lodging units, or a minimum of one, whichever is greater, provided that this chapter shall not apply to a private single-family residence or to duplexes or any complex containing fewer than 20 units, or to residential condominiums.

(6) ''Reasonable number" as used in Code Section 30-3-4 shall be defined for each ofthe following standards to mean:

(A) "Accessible parking spaces (ANSI 4.6.1) in a reasonable number" shall be determined as follows:

Total number of Parking Spaces

Number of Designated Handicapped Parking Spaces

1-400

A minimum number of1 space or 2 percent of the total provided, whichever is greater

401 and greater

8 spaces plus 1 percent of the total provided above 401

(B) "Accessible entrances (ANSI 4.14) in a reasonable number" means that all primary entrances usually considered as major points of pedestrian flow must be accessible to and usable by handicapped persons.

(C) "Accessible toilet rooms, bathrooms, bathing facilities, and shower rooms (ANSI 4.22) in a reasonable number" means that for every floor which is to be made accessible to and usable by handicapped persons at least one toilet room, bathroom, bathing facility and shower room at a reasonable location shall conform to ANSI 4.22.

(D) "Accessible seating, tables, and work surfaces (ANSI 4.30) in a reasonable number" means the following:

Total Number

Number ofAccessible Spaces Required

Up to 50

2 spaces for wheelchair users adjacent to each other

51- 400

4 spaces including 2 adjacent to each other

401 and above

An even number of spaces not less than 1 percent of the total number located throughout all price ranges or locations, or both

80

(7) "Renovation" means
(A) If any specific component of an elevator is replaced or moved from its exiting location to a different location, then the specific component shall be required to meet the ANSI A117.1 Standard, as specified in this Code section, as it applies to that specific component, including an accessible route as defined in the ANSI A117.1 Standard;
(B) Any component of a building, structure or facility, which is replaced, except for the purpose of repair, or moved, shall be required to meet the ANSI A117.1 Standard as specified in Code Section 30-3-2, including an accessible route as defined in the ANSI A117.1 Standard;
(C) The resurfacing, restriping, or repainting of any parking facility, whether or not such resurfacing, restriping, or repainting is required to have a permit from the appropriate political subdivision.
30-3-3. Applicable standards and specifications; granting of exemptions.
All government buildings, public buildings, and facilities receiving permits for construction or renovation after July 1, 1984, but before July 1, 1987, shall comply with the American National Standards Institute specifications A117.1-1980 or A117.1-1986 for making buildings and facilities accessible to and usable by physically handicapped people except as otherwise provided in paragraph (6) of Code Section 30-3-2; and all government buildings, public buildings, and facilities receiving permits for construction or renovation after July 1, 1987, shall comply with the American National Standards Institute specifications A117.1-1986 for making buildings and facilities accessible to and usable by physically handicapped people except as otherwise provided in paragraph (6) or subparagraph (C) of paragraph (7) of Code Section 30-3-2; provided, however, that nothing in this Code section is intended to require the addition of an elevator where none exists or is planned, solely for the purpose of providing an accessible route between floor levels; provided further that the Safety Fire Commissioner or, where applicable, the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia or the local governing authority having jurisdiction over the buildings in question upon receipt of a sworn written statement from the person who owns or controls the use of any government building, public building, or facility subject to the requirements of this chapter and after taking all circumstances into consideration may determine that full compliance with any particular standard or specification set forth in this chapter is impractical, whereupon there shall be substantial compliance with the standards or specifications to the maximum extent practical and, within 45 days of such determination, a written record shall be made by the Safety Fire Commissioner or, where applicable, the board of regents or the local governing authority having jurisdiction over the buildings in question, setting forth the reasons why it is impractical for the person subject to this chapter to comply fully with the particular standard or specification and also setting forth the extent to which the government building, public building, or facility shall conform with the standard or specification. The Safety Fire Commissioner or, where applicable, the board of regents or the local governing authority having jurisdiction over the buildings in question shall be responsible for making a final determination as to whether or not an exemption shall be granted.
30-3-4. Specific amenities required to be provided.
All government buildings, public buildings, and facilities receiving permits for construction or renovation after July 1, 1987, shall comply with the American National Standards Institute specifications A117.1-1986 for making buildings and facilities accessible to and usable by physically handicapped individuals, except as otherwise provided in paragraph (6) and subparagraph (C) of paragraph (7) of Code Section 30-3-2 and except that nothing in this Code section is intended to
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require the addition of an elevator where none exists or is planned, solely for the purpose of providing an accessible route between floor levels and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, shall provide the following amenities for handicapped persons, as appropriate:
(1) Accessible parking spaces in a reasonable number of which not less than 30 percent of or a minimum of one, whichever is greater, shall have an aisle width in compliance with American National Standards Institute specifications A117.1-1986 (A4.6.2);
(2) Accessible entrances in a reasonable number;
(3) Accessible toilet rooms, bathrooms, bathing facilities, and shower rooms in a reasonable number; and
(4) Accessible seating, tables, and work surfaces in a reasonable number.
30-3-4.1. Parking lot spaces.
(a) In addition to any other requirement under this chapter, all parking lots for more than 40 vehicles receiving permits for construction after July 1, 1987, shall include at least one parking space for handicapped persons accessible to a passenger van having an overall height not exceeding 108 inches, with additional side-loading mechanism clearance in compliance with American National Standards Institute specifications A117.1-1986 (A4.6.2); and each such parking space shall be at a grade not exceeding 2 percent and shall not require the use of an unattended fare gate mechanism which blocks access to or exit from such space unless gate-opening mechanisms are provided at a height accessible to a van driver.
(b) Compliance with this Code section may be waived under the same conditions as provided in Code Section 30-3-3.
30-3-5. Administration and enforcement of chapter.
(a) (1) Except for buildings under the jurisdiction ofthe Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia, all buildings subject to the jurisdiction of the Safety Fire Commissioner pursuant to Code Section 25-2-12 and subsection (c) of Code Section 25-2-13 shall be subject to the jurisdiction of the Safety Fire Commissioner for purposes of enforcement of this chapter.
(2) With respect to any such building, the Safety Fire Commissioner shall have the following powers and duties:
(A) No such building shall be built in this state by any private person or corporation or public entity unless it conforms to the requirements of Code Sections 30-3-3 and 30-3-4 and its plans and specifications have been approved by the Commissioner as provided in this subparagraph. All plans and specifications shall identify the architect or engineer who prepared them in a manner acceptable to the Commissioner. The Commissioner shall approve the plans and specifications only if they conform to the requirements of this chapter. The Commissioner shall not require any additional fee for each submission of plans or specifications other than the standard fee required by Code Section 25-2-14. No local governing authority shall issue any building permit for any building subject to this subsection without proof of the approval required by this subparagraph;
(B) In any case where the Commissioner denies approval under subparagraph (2)(A) of this subsection or an exemption under subparagraph (2)(C) ofthis subsection, the rights and remedies
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of the person submitting the same shall be those provided by Chapter 13 of Title 50, the "Georgia

Administrative Procedure Act";

-

(C) Upon a showing that full compliance with any particular requirement or requirements is impractical or not necessary to accomplish the purposes of this chapter, the Commissioner may exempt a building from full compliance with the requirement or requirements and approve plans and specifications which do not conform, or which only partially conform, to the requirement or requirements.

(b) The board of regents shall be responsible for the administration and enforcement ofthis chapter with respect to all buildings and facilities under its jurisdiction. No construction plans for any such building or facility shall be approved by the board of regents for any construction within the University System of Georgia unless the building or facility conforms to Code Sections 30-3-3 and 30-3-4 and unless the architect or engineer responsible for preparation of said plans and specifications affixes that person's seal on such plans. The affixing of the seal of an architect or engineer to said plans shall constitute a certification that to the best of that person's knowledge, information, and belief they have been prepared in conformity with Code Sections 30-3-3 and 30-34. A certificate of compliance may be displayed on said plans in lieu of the architect's or engineer's seal. The builder, developer, contractor, or building owner following said plans shall require an architect's or engineer's seal or a certificate of compliance to be displayed on the plans before starting construction.

(c) Local governing authorities shall be responsible for the administration and enforcement of this chapter with regard to all government and public buildings and facilities which are not under the jurisdiction of the Safety Fire Commissioner or board of regents, pursuant to subsections (a) and (b) of this Code section and which are under the jurisdiction of such local governing authorities. No building permit for any such building or facility shall be approved by any local governing authority for any private person, corporation, partnership, association, or public entity unless the plans and specifications conform to the requirements of Code Sections 30-3-3 and 30-3-4 and unless the architect or engineer responsible for preparation of said plans and specifications affixes that person's seal on such plans. The affixing of the seal of an architect or engineer to said plans shall constitute a certification that to the best of that person's knowledge, information, and belief they have been prepared in conformity with Code Sections 30-3-3 and 30-3-4. A certificate of compliance may be displayed on said plans in lieu of the architect's or engineer's seal. The builder, developer, contractor, or building owner following said plans shall require such a seal or a certificate of compliance on the plans before starting construction. All construction plans must display such a certificate of compliance, or a seal provided by the architect or engineer, for all construction in local governing jurisdictions which do not require building permits. In all areas where local governing authority building permits are not required, the builder, developer, contractor, or building owner following said plans shall require such an architect's or engineer's seal or a certificate of compliance to be displayed on the plans before starting construction.

(d) In the performance of their responsibilities under this chapter, all state rehabilitation agencies and appropriate elective or appointive officials shall be required to cooperate with and assist the Safety Fire Commissioner, the board of regents, and the appropriate local building code officials or local fire department, or both, having jurisdiction over the buildings in questions.

(e) The Safety Fire Commissioner, the board of regents, and the local building code officials or the local fire department, or both, having jurisdiction over the buildings in question shall from time to time inform, in writing, professional organizations and others of this law and its application. (f) (1) The Safety Fire Commissioner, the board of regents, and the local governing authority hav-

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ing jurisdiction over the buildings in question shall have all necessary powers to require compliance with their rules, regulations, and procedures, and modifications thereof and substitutions therefor, including powers to institute and prosecute proceedings in the superior court to compel compliance, and shall not be required to pay any entry or filing fee in connection with the institution of such proceedings.
(2) No person, firm, or corporation shall be subject to a complaint for not complying with the provisions of subparagraph (C) of paragraph (7) of Code Section 30-3-2 unless 90 days have passed since such person, firm, or corporation has been notified by certified mail of the alleged violation of the provisions of subparagraph (C) of paragraph (7) of Code Section 30-3-2. Such notification shall include a warning of an impending complaint if the alleged violation is not corrected before the expiration of the 90 day warning period. The 90 day warning period shall not apply to any structure or facility other than parking lots nor to any part of this chapter other than subparagraph (C) of paragraph (7) of Code Section 30-3-2.
(g) The Safety Fire Commissioner, the board of regents, and the local governing authority having jurisdiction over the buildings in question, after consultation with state rehabilitation agencies and other sources as they might determine, are authorized to promulgate such rules, regulations, and procedures as might reasonably be required to implement and enforce their responsibilities under this chapter.
(h) The Safety Fire Commissioner, the board of regents, and the local governing authority having jurisdiction over the buildings in question, after consultation with state rehabilitation agencies, are also authorized to waive any of the standards and specifications presently set forth in this chapter and to substitute in lieu therefor standards or specifications consistent in effect to such standards or specifications heretofore adopted by the American Standards Association, Inc.
30-3-6. Penalty.
Any person, firm, or corporation who violates this chapter, or who causes another person, firm, or corporation to violate this chapter, or who fails or refuses to comply with any regulation promulgated under this chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
Part 2
Handicapped Parking
Cross references.-Access to public facilities by the handicapped, Ch. 3, T. 30. Special license plates for disabled veterans, 40-2-68 through 40-2-71. Special license plates for disabled persons, 40-2-74.
40-6-220. Short Title
This part shall be known and may be cited as the "Handicapped Parking Law." (Code 1933, 68A-1020, enacted by Ga. L. 1980, p. 1334, 3; Ga. L. 1990, p. 2048, 5.) The 1990 amendment, effective January 1, 1991, substituted "shall be known and may be" for "may be known and."
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40-6-221. Definitions.
As used in this part, the term:
(1) "Counterfeit" means any copy of any kind of handicapped parking permit which is not authorized by and does not carry the official seal of the Department of Public Safety.
(2) "Handicapped parking place" means any area on public or private property which has been designated as reserved for use of handicapped persons as follows:
(A) By a blue metal reflective sign which is at least 12 inches in width and 18 inches in length and is erected at such height or in such manner that it will not be obscured by a vehicle parked in the space and bearing the following words: "Permit Parking Only," "'Ibw-Away Zone," or the international symbol for accessibility. The warnings required in this subparagraph shall be centered on the sign, printed in white, and shall occupy not less than 75 percent of the surface area of the sign. The sign required by this subparagraph shall be the official authorized sign for handicapped parking place designations in this state: or
(B) Where the parking place is on private property, is constructed solely from concrete, was used by the public or finished prior to July 1, 1987, and which is designated by having imprinted and maintained in reflective paint upon each such place the words "Tow-Away Zone" or "Handicapped Parking Only" or the universal symbol of accessibility, that designation shall be deemed to meet the requirements of subparagraph (A) of this paragraph until such time as that concrete lot is renovated, repaired, or remodeled, at which time a sign shall be erected which shall comply with the requirements of subparagraph (A) of this paragraph.
(3) "Handicapped person" means a person who by reason of illness, injury, age, congenital malfunction, or other incapacity or disability has a significant loss or impairment of mobility.
(4) "Institution" means an institution for which a permit or conditional permit may be issued under Article 1 of Chapter 7 of Title 31.
(5) "Permanently handicapped person" means a handicapped person whose disability or incapacity can be expected to last for more than 180 days.
(6) "Ramp" shall mean, in addition to any other specified meanings:
(A) Any ramp or curb ramp as defined in ANSI A117.1-1986 by Chapter 3 of Title 30; and
(B) Any vehicle mounted lift used by handicapped persons for the purpose of access to and from the vehicle upon which it is mounted.
(7) "Temporarily handicapped person" means a handicapped person whose disability or incapacity can be expected to last for not more than 180 days. (Code 1933, 68A-1021, enacted by Ga. L. 1980, p. 1334, 3; Ga. L. 1981, p. 677, 1; Ga. L. 1984, p. 1263, 1; Ga. L. 1987, p. 1439, 1; Ga. L. 1988, p. 1460, 1; Ga. L. 1990, p. 2048, 5.)
The 1990 amendment, effective January 1, 1991, in subparagraph (A) of paragraph (2) substituted "or the international symbol for accessibility" for "and 'Maximum Fine $500.00' "in the first sentence, in the second sentence inserted "centered on the sign," and substituted "white, and shall occupy not less than 75 percent of the surface area of the sign" for "white letters not less than one inch in
85

height on three separate lines and centered on the sign", deleted the former third sentence which read: "The sign shall also bear the international symbol for accessibility centered between the second and third warnings.", and added "or" at the end, deleted former subparagraph (B) of paragraph (2) pertaining to parking places designated before January 1, 1988, redesignated former subparagraph (C) of paragraph (2) as subparagraph (B) and therein substituted "or" for "and" following" "Ibw-Away Zone'" and deleted "the words 'Thw-Away Zone' and ".
Code Commission notes.-Pursuant to 28-9-5, in 1988 former paragraphs (0.1) through (5) were redesignated as present paragraphs (1) through (7), in order to delete the decimal number paragraph designations originally given to maintain the alphabetical organization of the defined terms.
40-6-222. Permits
(a) The Department of Public Safety shall issue handicapped parking permits at every place where it issues drivers' licenses. The department shall also receive applications for and issue handicapped parking permits by mail and may by regulation require such proof of disability or incapacity as may be necessary to issue such permits by mail. Permits shall be in such form as the department prescribes but shall be of sufficient size and sufficiently distinctively marked to be easily visible when placed on or affixed to the dashboard or hung from the rearview mirror of the parked vehicle. Permits shall be issued to individuals, and the name of the individual shall appear on the permit. The individual to whom a permit is issued may use the permit for any vehicle he is operating or in which he is a passenger. Permits shall also be issued to institutions when the primary purpose of a vehicle operated by the institution is to transport handicapped individuals. The name of the institution and license number of the particular vehicle shall appear on the permit. The institution may use such permit only for a vehicle which is operated by the institution and which is used primarily to transport handicapped individuals.
(b) The department shall issue a temporary permit to any temporarily handicapped person upon presentation of a licensed medical doctor's affidavit stating that such person is a temporarily handicapped person and stating a date until which such person is likely to remain handicapped. The temporary permit shall be predominantly red in color and shall show prominently on its face an expiration date the same as the date specified by the physician for the likely termination of the handicap, which date shall not be more than 180 days after the date the permit is issued.
(c) The department shall issue a permanent permit to any person who is obviously permanently disabled and to any other permanently disabled person upon presentation of a licensed medical doctor's affidavit stating that such person is a permanently handicapped person. The department shall also issue a permanent permit to an institution which operates vehicles used primarily for the transportation of handicapped individuals, upon presentation of a certification from the institution regarding use of its vehicles. The institution shall receive permits only for the number of vehicles so used and shall affix the permits to the dashboards of such vehicles. The permanent permit shall be predominantly blue in color and shall show prominently on its face an expiration date four years form the date it is issued.
(d) Any individual to whom a specially designated disabled veteran's license plate has been issued pursuant to Code Sections 40-2-69 through 40-2-72 and any individual to whom a specially designated disabled person's license plate has been issued pursuant to Code Section 40-2-74 shall be authorized to park the passenger motor vehicle on which the specially designated license plate is attached in a handicapped parking place without the necessity of obtaining a handicapped parking permit pursuant to this part.
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(e) The department shall issue a special permanent permit to any person who:
(1) Because of physical handicap drives a motor vehicle' which has been equipped with hand controls for the operation of the vehicle's brakes and accelerator; or
(2) Is physically handicapped due to the loss of, or loss of use of, both upper extremities.
This special permanent permit shall be gold in color and shall show prominently on its face an expiration date four years from the date it is issued. Such a special permit may be used in the same manner as, and shall be subject to the provisions of this part relating to, other permanent handicapped parking permits and may also be used as provided in Code Section 10-1-164.1 In addition to any other required printing, the following shall be printed upon this special gold permit:
"Section 10-1-164.1 ofthe Official Code of Georgia Annotated requires that any owner or operator of a gasoline station that sells full-service gasoline at one price and self-service at a lower price shall provide the service of dispensing gasoline at the self-service price for the holder ofthis special permit when such holder requests such service and is the operator ofthe vehicle and is not accompanied by another person 16 years of age or older who is not mobility impaired or blind." (Code 1933, 68A-1022, enacted by Ga. L. 1980, p. 1334, 3; Ga. L. 1981, p. 624, 1; Ga. L. 1981, p. 677, 2; Ga. L. 1985, p. 149, 40; Ga. L. 1987, p. 1464, 2; Ga. L. 1988, p. 1460, 2; Ga. L. 1990, p. 2048, 5.)
The 1990 amendment, effective January 1, 1991, in subsection (d) substituted "40-2-69 through 40-2-72 for "40-2-68 through 40-2-71" and "40-2-74" for "40-2-72."
40-6-223. Fees
The Department of Public Safety shall not charge or collect any fee for issuing handicapped parking permits under this part. (Code 1933, 68A-1023, enacted by Ga. L 1980, p. 1334, 3; Ga. L. 1981, p. 677, 3; Ga. L. 1990, p. 2048, 5.)
Editor's notes.-Ga. L. 1990, p. 2048, 5, effective January 1, 1991, reenacted this Code section without change.
40-6-224. Out-of-state handicapped license plates or permits.
State and local authorities shall honor visitors' out-of-state handicapped license plates and similar special parking permits on the same basis as handicapped license plates and special parking permits issued within this state. (Code 1933, 68A-1024, enacted by Ga. L. 1980, p. 1334, 3; Ga. L. 1981, p. 677, 4; Ga. L. 1980, p. 2048, 5.)
Editors notes.-Ga. L. 1990, p. 2048, 5, effective January 1, 1991, reenacted this Code section without change.
40-6-224.1 Handicapped parking places for the nonambulatory.
Repealed by Ga. L. 1990, p. 2048 5, effective January 1, 1991.
Editor's notes.-Former Code Section 40-6-224.1 was based on Ga. L. 1989, p. 572, 1. For present provisions pertaining to handicapped parking for the nonambulatory, see Code Section 40-6-225.
87

40-6-225. Handicapped parking places for the nonambulatory.
Any business entity may elect to designate handicapped parking places for the nonambulatory. Such handicapped parking places for the nonambulatory shall be in addition to any handicapped parking places required by Chapter 3 or Title 30. Such handicapped parking places for the nonambulatory shall be clearly marked by a sign bearing the words "Handicapped Parking-nonambulatory persons only." Such handicapped parking places for the nonambulatory shall only be utilized for the purpose of allowing a nonambulatory permanently handicapped person to enter or get out of a vehicle while in such parking place. A vehicle in a handicapped parking place for the nonambulatory shall be required to have a valid unexpired handicapped parking permit or a specially designated license plate for disabled persons authorized under subsection (d) of Code Section 40-6222. For the purposes of this Code section, the term "nonambulatory permanently handicapped person" means a person who is permanently handicapped as a result of the loss or loss of use of one or both legs and who is dependent upon crutches, a walker, or wheelchair for locomotion. (Code 1981, 40-6-224.1, enacted by Ga. L. 1989, p. 572, 1; Code 1981, 40-6-225, as redesignated by Ga. L. 1990, p. 2048, 5.)
The 1990 amendment, effective January 1, 1991, renumbered former Code Section 40-6-224.1 as present Code Section 40-6-225 and deleted the subsection (a) designation at the beginning of the Code section.
40-6-226. Offenses and penalties.
(a) It shall be unlawful for any person to stop, stand, or park any vehicle in a handicapped parking place unless there is displayed on the dashboard or hung from the rearview mirror of the parked vehicle a valid unexpired handicapped parking permit or unless there is attached to the vehicle a specially designated license plate for disabled veterans or other disabled persons authorized under subsection (d) of Code Section 40-6-222.
(b) (1) It shall be unlawful for any person to stop, stand, or park any vehicle in a handicapped parking place except for the purpose of allowing a handicapped person to enter or get out of such vehicle while in such parking place. However, nothing in this paragraph shall prevent an ambulance or emergency vehicle from stopping in a handicapped parking place.
(2) It shall be unlawful for any person to stop, stand, or park any vehicle in a handicapped parking place for the nonambulatory as provided by a business pursuant to the provisions of Code Section 40-6-225 except for the purpose of allowing a nonambulatory permanently handicapped person to enter or get out of such vehicle while in such parking place. However, nothing in this paragraph shall prevent an ambulance or emergency vehicle from stopping in a handicapped parking place for the nonambulatory.
(3) It shall be unlawful for any person to stop, stand, or park any vehicle in any area directly connecting with a handicapped parking place which area is clearly designed and designated for access to such handicapped parking place.
(c) It shall be unlawful for any person to obtain by fraud or counterfeit a handicapped parking permit.
(d) It shall be unlawful for any person or institution, other than the one to whom a handicapped parking permit or specially designated license plate for the disabled person is issued, to make use of a handicapped parking permit or specially designated license plate for a disabled person. It
88

shall be unlawful for any person-to use a handicapped parking permit for any institutional vehicle other than the vehicle for which the permit has been issued.
(e) No person shall park a vehicle so as to block any entrance or exit ramp used by handicapped persons on public or private property.
(0 (1) Any person violating subsection (c) of this Code section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. (2) Any person violating subsection (a), (b), (c), (d), or (e) of this Code section shall be subject to
a fine of not more than $100.00 for a first offense, not less than $100.00 and not more than $200.00 for a second offense, and not less than $200.00 and not more than $500.00 for a third or subsequent offense.
(g) In addition to the penalties provided for in subsection (f) of this Code section, any vehicle which is illegally parked in a handicapped parking place which is marked by a sign bearing the words "Tow-Away Zone" as described in paragraph (2) of Code Section 40-6-221 on public or private property may be towed away or caused to be towed away by a proper law enforcement agency or the official security agency of said property at the expense of the owner of the vehicle or, if the vehicle is leased or rented, at the expense of the person responsible for payment on the lease or rental agreement.
(h) A property owner who is required to provide handicapped parking places shall designate each such place with a sign meeting applicable requirements specified therefor by paragraph (2) of Code Section 40-6-221 and upon failure so to designate each such handicapped parking place shall be subject to a fine of $150.00 for each place which is not so designated; provided, however, that the fine will be waived if the the required designation is made within 14 days from the date of citation. If that property owner fails or refuses to designate properly the handicapped parking places on his property within such 14 days he shall, on the fifteenth day after receiving the citation, be subject to the $150.00 fine for each place and an additional $5.00 fine for each place for each day that the owner fails to comply with provisions of this subsection until the places are properly designated. All fines assessed under this subsection shall be paid into the treasury of the city or county issuing the citation against the owner. (Code 1933, 68A-1024, enacted by Ga. L. 1980, p. 1334, 3; Ga. L. 1981, p. 677, 4; Code 1981, 40-2-225; Ga. L. 1984, p. 1263, 2; Ga. L 1985, p. 558, 1; Ga. L. 1987, p. 1439, 2, 3; Ga. L. 1989, p. 572, 2; Ga. L. 1990, p. 8, 40; Code 1981, 40-6226, as redesignated by Ga. L. 1990, p. 2048, 5.)
The 1989 amendment, effective July 1, 1989, designated the former provisions of subsection (b) as paragraph (1) of that subsection, making a related reference change in the second sentence; and added paragraph (2).
The 1990 amendments.-The first 1990 amendment, effective February 16, 1990 inserted "and" preceding "not less than $200.00" in paragraph (2) of subsection (f). The second 1990 amendment, effective January 1, 1991, renumber former Code Section 40-6-225 as present Code Section 40-6-226, inserted "veterans or other disabled" in subsection (a), in subsection (b), substituted "406-225" for "40-6-224.1" in paragraph (2), added paragraph (3), substituted "exit" for "egress" in subsection (e), and inserted "and" following "second offense," in paragraph (2) of subsection (f).
Code Commission notes.-Pursuant to 28-9-5, in 1988, "paragraph (2) of Code Section 40-6-221" was substituted for "paragraph (1) of Code Section 40-6-221" in subsections (g) and (h) to reflect redesignations in Code Section 40-6-221.
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Judicial Decisions Jurisdiction of parking in handicapped space in state courts.-Because parking a vehi-
cle in a handicapped parking space is a misdemeanor, criminal jurisdiction over this offense lies in the state courts of counties. Burden v. State, 176 Ga. App. 17,335 S.E.2d 304 (1985).
Harm not element of offenses.-This section does not require the harming of a particular individual in order for an offense to occur. Burden v. State, 176 Ga. App. 17, 335 S.E.2d 304 (1985). Opinions of the Attorney General
Fingerprintable offense.-The offense set forth in this section, which prohibits the improper use of a handicapped parking space, permit, or license plate, does not fall within any of the categories set forth by the General Assembly requiring fingerprinting, and the Attorney General has not so designated it. 1984 Op. Att'y Gen. No. 84-44. 40-6-227. Application to both public and private property.
The provisions of this part are applicable to both public and private property; and all law enforcement officers of this state and its political subdivisions are expressly authorized to enforce the provisions of this part on private property as well as on public property. (Code 1981, 40-6226, enacted by Ga. L. 1984, p. 1263, 3; Code 1981, 40-6-227, as redesignated by Ga. L. 1990, p. 2048, 5.)
The 1990 amendment, effective January 1, 1991, renumbered former Code Section 40-6-226 as present Code Section 40-6-227.
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