Accessibility is an important feature in all commercial buildings. Providing appropriate parking spaces, accessible toilets, wide walkways and other accommodations for disabled people can help ensure equal opportunity for everyone. To make this task easier, accessibility is standardized through law. Knowing the details of the law can help ensure that your building remains open and accessible for everyone in need.
What is ICC/ADA Compliance?
ADA stands for Americans with Disabilities Act. The ADA is a federal law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in certain public places. Details of the ADA is recorded in a document called the Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines. This document is designed to help businesses stay compliant with the ADA.
ICC stands for International Code Counsel. The ICC publishes a nationally recognized standard that complies with a variety of federal laws relating to accessibility of buildings. ICC strives to meet or exceed all ADA regulation guidelines. In other words, if your building is in compliance with ICC regulations, it should then be in compliance with the ADA as well as several other laws (such as the FHA and the ABA)
How can your commercial building stay compliant with the ICC and ADA?
Accessibility is key for ICC and ADA compliant properties. Spacing is very important in ADA compliant properties. Bathrooms, for example, must provide space for wheelchair bound users to reach all the facilities, including toilets, sinks, showers, hand dryers and more. The ADA goes into great detail about dimensions and distances between fixtures, and which accessories must be included in bathrooms. Some details that you can expect to see in the ADA text include:
- The minimum size of a water closet stall
- Details of grab bar installation, including length, height and reinforcement requirements
- Required distance between the toilet and the floor, toilet and the wall, and the toilet and other fixtures
- Minimum width and depth of a shower
- Maximum height of the shower curb
- Position of the toilet paper dispensers relative to the toilet and the floor
All the design standards have been posted online. As you can see, the ADA requirements are very thorough, and ADA website is extensive. As an additional resource, the ICC publishes its standards and commentaries, and provides them for sale in an online store.
Work With an Experienced Contractor
The ADA and ICC standards are lengthy and complex--too complex for most commercial building owners to read and follow on their own. This can make it stressful for commercial building owners who wish to ensure that their property is in compliance with ADA requirements.
The best way to ensure that your building is in compliance and meets general accessibility standards is to work with a skilled contractor who knows the codes and has experience implementing the codes into real working building design. Litchfield Builders has over 25 years experience ensuring commercial buildings are fully up to code. For a free consultation, contact us today!
