Chapter 14 Commercial Interior Design Applications 527 Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. D E S I G N E R M A T H S K I L L S ADA Standards for Wheelchair Accessibility The Americans with Disability Act (ADA) Standards for Accessible Design of 1990 was established to ensure equal access to public facilities for people with disabilities. Structures built after the early 1990s are considered new construction and must meet all ADA standards. Buildings existing prior to 1990 are addressed as “alterations” or “exceptions” and are considered remodels, renovations, reconstruction, or historic preservation projects. Because of the construction and features of these buildings (for instance, a historic site) it may be impossible to comply with the standards and maintain the integrity of the building. ADA guidelines indicate these properties must comply with the “maximum extent feasible” or provide approved alternative methods of access. A commercial property must provide access once an individual arrives on the property. The parking lot, unloading zone, or public transportation stop becomes the site arrival point. The accessible route (path of travel) includes curb ramps, sidewalks, ramps, entrances, elevators, hallways, and restrooms leading to the primary function areas where the major activities for which the facility is intended occur (for example, legal or fi nancial services, sporting or concert events, theater productions, lecture halls, theme parks, courtrooms, ballrooms, hotels). ADA Standards for Accessible Design indicate the following: 1. At least one accessible route shall be provided within the site from accessible parking spaces and accessible passenger loading zones, public streets and sidewalks, and public transportation stops to the accessible building or facility entrance they serve. Exceptions or alteration to the standards for qualified historic buildings or facilities state that no more than one accessible route from a site arrival point to an accessible entrance is required. 2. The accessible route is to be readily accessible and usable by individuals with disabilities. If accommodations cannot be made for an individual with certain disabilities (for example, those requiring wheelchairs) the facility is expected to provide access to individuals with other types of disabilities (for example, those requiring crutches, or suffering from vision or hearing disabilities). 3. Any new additions to an existing older structure or additions made to affect the access must comply with the ADA accessibility standards. 4. If alterations are made to a primary function area (for example, a particular screening room in a movie theater), an accessible route must be provided to facilities servicing that area (restrooms, drinking fountains), as well as entrances, accessible routes, and site arrival points. The cost of the new accessible route and all that it includes cannot exceed 20 percent of the total cost of alterations to the primary function area. 5. If alterations are limited only to elements in a room or space (for example, the addition of restroom grab bars), then the accessibility standards apply only to the elements altered. If a room or space is completely altered, the entire room or space is fully subject to the accessibility standards. 6. The areas—such as supply storage rooms, employee lounges and locker rooms, janitorial closets, entrances, and corridors—are not areas containing a primary function. When it is cost prohibitive to comply with accessibility standards, information or services must be offered in an alternative accessible manner or location. Example: When the location of a classroom, public meeting or courtroom is accessible only by stairs, someone in a wheelchair would not be able to participate. Other options would be to move the activity to a different location or provide audio access or teleconferencing. Additional specific standards information is available from ADA Standards for Accessible Design or the United States Access Board.