Signs

• At every primary public entrance and at every major junction along or leading to an accessible route of travel, there shall be a sign displaying the International Symbol of Accessibility for the handicapped.

• These signs shall indicate the direction to accessible building entrances and facilities.

 

Curb Ramps

• The slope of curb ramps shall not exceed 1 unit vertical to 12 units horizontal (8.33% slope).

• Transitions from ramps to walks, gutters or streets shall be flush and free of abrupt changes, except that curb ramps shall have a detectable warning that extends the full width and depth of the curb ramp inside the grooved border, when the ramp slope is less than 1 unit vertical to 15 units horizontal (6.7% slope). Further, detectable warnings shall consist of raised truncated domes with a diameter of nominal 0.9-inch (22.9 mm) at the base, tapering to 0.45-inch (11.4mm) at the top, a height of nominal 0.2 (5.1mm) and a center-to-center spacing of nominal 2.35 inches (59.7mm). The detectable warning shall contrast visually with adjoining surfaces, either light on dark or dark-on-light. The material used to provide contrast shall be an integral part of the walking surface. The domes may be constructed in a variety of methods, including cast in place or stamped, or may be part of a prefabricated surface treatment.

• Curb ramps shall be located or protected to prevent their obstruction by parked cars.

• The slope of fanned or flared sides of curb ramps shall not exceed 1 unit vertical to 8 units horizontal (12.5% slope).

• If a curb ramp is located where pedestrians must walk across the ramp, then it shall have flared sides, the maximum slope of the flare being 1 unit vertical to 10 units horizontal (10% slope).

• Curb ramps shall be located or protected to prevent their obstruction by parked cars.

• Built-up curb ramps shall be located so that they do not project into vehicular traffic lanes.

 

Accessible Parking

• Accessible parking spaces shall be located on the shortest possible accessible route to an accessible building entrance.

• In facilities with multiple accessible building entrances with adjacent parking, accessible parking spaces shall be dispersed and located near the accessible entrances.

 

Parking Space Size

• Parking spaces for disabled persons shall be 14 feet (4267mm) wide and outlined to provide a 9-foot (2743mm) parking area and a 5-foot (1524-mm) loading and unloading access aisle on the passenger side of the vehicle.

• When more than one space is provided in lieu of providing a 14-foot wide (4267mm) space for each parking space, two spaces can be provided with a 23-foot-wide (7010mm) area lined to provide a 9-foot (2743mm) parking area on each side of a 5-foot (1524mm) loading and unloading access aisle in the center.

• The minimum length of each parking space shall be 18 feet (5486mm).

 

Van Space(s)

• One in every eight accessible spaces, but not less than one, shall be served by an access aisle 96 inches (2438mm) wide minimum and shall be designated van accessible.

 

Slope of Parking Spaces

• Surface slopes of accessible parking spaces shall be the minimum possible and shall not exceed ¼-inch (6.4mm) per foot (2.083% gradient) in any direction.

 

Signs

• Every parking space required under ADA shall be identified by a sign, centered between 36 inches and 60 inches (914mm and 1524mm) above the parking surface, as the head of the parking space.

• This sign shall include the International Symbol of Accessibility and state “RESERVED” or equivalent language.

 

Arrangement of Parking Spaces

• In each parking area, a bumper or curb shall be provided and located to prevent encroachment of cars over the required width of walkways.

• The space shall be so located that persons with disabilities are not compelled to wheel or walk behind parked cars other than their own.

• Pedestrian ways, which are accessible to people with disabilities, shall be provided from each such parking space to related facilities, including curb cuts or ramps as needed.

• Ramps shall not encroach into any parking space.

 

Facility Accessibility: Water Closets

 

• Water closets in bathrooms required to be accessible shall conform to the provisions of the California Plumbing Code—CPC—1502.0.

• The water closet shall be located in a space minimum of 36 inches (914mm) in clear width, with 48 inches (1219mm) minimum clear space provided in front of the water closet.

• This space may include maneuverable space under a lavatory, if provided, arranged so as not to impede access.
• Lavatories adjacent to a wall shall be mounted with a minimum distance of 18 inches (457mm) to the center line of the fixture.

• All accessible lavatories shall be mounted with the rim or counter surface no higher than 34 inches (864mm) above the finish floor and with a clearance of at least 29 inches (737mm) from the floor to the bottom of the apron with knee clearance under the front lip extending a minimum of 30 inches (762mm) in width, with 8 inches (203mm) minimum depth at the top.

• The clearance shall be the same width and shall be a minimum of 9 inches (229mm) high from the floor and a minimum of 17 inches (432mm) deep from the front of the lavatory.

• Hot water and drainpipes accessible under lavatories shall be insulated or otherwise covered.

• There shall be no sharp or abrasive surfaces under the lavatories.

• Faucet controls and operating mechanisms shall be operable with one hand and shall not require tight grasping, pinching or twisting of the wrist.

• The force required to activate controls shall be no greater than 5 pounds (22.2 N).

• Lever-operated, push-type and electronically controlled mechanisms are examples of acceptable designs.

• Self-closing valves are allowed if the faucet remains open for at least 10 seconds.

• The minimum height of water closet seats shall be 15 inches (381mm) above the floor.

• The height of accessible water closets shall be a minimum of 17 inches (432mm) and a maximum of 19 inches (483mm) measured to the top of a maximum 2-inch (51mm) high toilet seat, except that 3-inch (76mm) seats shall be permitted only in alterations where the existing fixture is less than 15 inches (381mm) high.

• Controls shall be operable with one hand, and shall not require tight grasping, pinching or twisting.

• Controls for the flush valves shall be mounted on the wide side of toilet areas, no more than 44 inches (1118mm) above the floor.

• The force required to activate controls shall be no greater than 5 pounds.

 

Facility Accessibility: Bathing and Toilet Facilities 

 

• Bathroom entrance doorways shall have an 18-inch (457mm) clear space to the side of the strike edge of the door, on the swing side of the door.

• Sufficient maneuvering space shall be provided for a person using a wheelchair or other mobility aid to enter and close the door, use the fixtures, reopen the door and exit.

• Doors may swing into the clear space at any fixture if the maneuvering space is provided.

• Maneuvering spaces may include any knee space or toe space available below bathroom fixtures.

• Where the door swings into the bathroom, there shall be a clear space (approximately 30 inches by 48 inches/762mm by 1219mm) within the room to position a wheelchair or other mobility aid clear of the path of the door as it is closed and to permit use of fixtures.

 

Doors

 

• Regardless of the occupant load served, exit doors shall be capable of opening from the inside without the use of a key or any special knowledge or effort.

• Every required exit doorway shall be of a size as to permit the installation of a door not less than 36 inches (914mm) in width and not less than 80 inches (2032mm) in height.

• When installed in exit doorways, exit doors shall be capable of opening at least 90 degrees and shall be so mounted that the clear width of the exit way is not less than 32 inches (813mm).

• For hinged doors, the opening width shall be measured with the door positioned at an angle of 90 degrees from its closed position.

• Where a pair of doors is utilized, at least one of the doors shall provide a clear, unobstructed opening width of 32 inches (813mm), with the leaf positioned at an angle of 90 degrees from its closed position.

• When an automatic door operator is utilized to operate a pair of doors, at least one of the doors shall provide a clear, unobstructed opening width of 32 inches (813mm), with the door positioned at an angle of 90 degrees from its closed position.

 

Effort to Operate Doors

 

• The maximum effort to operate doors shall not exceed 8-1/2 pounds (38 N) for exterior doors and 5 pounds (22 N) for interior doors, such pull or push effort being applied at right angles to hinged doors and at the center plane of sliding or folding doors.

• Compensating devices or automatic door operators may be utilized to meet the above standards.

• Where fire doors are required, the maximum effort to operate the door may be increased to the minimum allowable by the appropriate administrative authority, not to exceed 15 pounds (66.72 N).

• Hand-activated door opening hardware shall be centered between 30 inches (762mm) and 44 inches (1118mm) above the floor.

• Latching and locking doors that are hand-activated and which are in a path of travel shall be operable with a single effort by lever-type hardware, panic bars, push-pull activating bars, or other hardware designed to provide passage without requiring the ability to grasp the opening hardware.

• Locked exit doors shall operate as above in egress direction.

• The bottom 10 inches (254mm) of all doors, except automatic and sliding doors, shall have a smooth, uninterrupted surface to allow the door to be opened by a wheelchair footrest without creating a trap or hazardous condition.

• When narrow frame doors are used, a 10-inch-high (254mm) smooth panel shall be installed on the push side of the door, which will allow the door to be opened by a wheelchair footrest without creating a trap or hazardous condition.

 

The best advice we can give restaurant and bar owners is to be very careful. If you are are about to open a new restaurant, it really pays to check what your contractor knows. Ask him or her about these requirements and how up-to-date they are on how the build-out should be. If they build it wrong, it is you who is liable as the business owner, not them. The onus is on us to make sure we do the build-out correctly from the beginning. So make it a point to personally measure the access points and door pressure, and find out how many handicap spots are required in your city if you are building the entire lot. You may also need to create empty space in the parking lot in and around the handicap spaces in addition to the city’s minimum handicap allotment. Measure your doors by purchasing a door pressure gauge from Amazon. They aren’t cheap, but they are cheaper than a potential lawsuit from these bloodsucking, money-hungry lawyers and their blackmailing clients.