Architecture & Design

When constructing new building facilities or altering existing facilities, architects and designers must follow the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design. These design standards include general design requirements for building and site elements such as parking, accessible routes, ramps, and elevators. If you do not find what you are looking for, call or email us.

Below are sample ADA questions from architects.

Question:

The single user toilet room complies with the 1991 ADA Standards for Accessible Design, and the sink overlaps the space required at a toilet. Does the single user toilet room have to be renovated so that it complies with the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design?

Answer:

If an element such as a single user toilet room built before March 15, 2012 complies with the 1991 ADA Standards for Accessible Design, it has “safe harbor” status and does not have to be renovated if the only reason for the renovation is to comply with the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design. If an element is renovated in the future, it must comply with the 2010 ADA Standards.

accessible women toilet room signage

Architecture & Design Frequently Asked Questions

Can the door of a toilet room swing into the required maneuvering space? (2010 Standards 603.2.3)

Yes, the door can swing into the maneuvering space, but not into the space required at a fixture.
Are all my doors required to have maneuvering clearances? (2010 Standards 404.3.2 Exception)

Not necessarily. The maneuvering clearances specified applies to doors that are not automatic or power-assisted. Where automatic doors and gates remain open in the power-off condition, maneuvering clearances shall not be required.
What are the compliance dates mandated by the new 2010 ADA Standards?

If that date is on or after March 15, 2012, then new construction and alterations must comply with the 2010 Standards. If that date is on or after September 15, 2010, and before March 15, 2012, then new construction and alterations must comply with either the 1991 or the 2010 Standards.

For businesses that are covered under title III, the compliance date for the 2010 ADA Standards for new construction and alterations is determined by:

the date the last application for a building permit or permit extension is certified to be complete by a State, county, or local government;

the date the last application for a building permit or permit extension is received by a State, county, or local government, where the government does not certify the completion of applications; or

the start date of physical construction or alteration, if no permit is required.
The ADA 2010 Standards ramp requirements specify "level" landings. Does "level" mean zero slope? (2010 Standard 405.7)?

No. In general, "level" means having a slope no greater than 1:48 (2%) in any direction.
In hotels, are the required rooms with roll-in showers to be provided in addition to those rooms that are required to be otherwise accessible?(2010 Standards 224.2)

Yes. Table 224.3 specifies the number of accessible sleeping rooms with a roll-in shower that must be provided. For example, a new 150-room hotel must have a total of seven accessible rooms, two of those rooms must have roll-in showers.
In transient lodging, do all the doors to all the rooms have to be accessible? (2010 Standards 224.1.2)

Yes. Entrances, doors, and doorways providing user passage into and within guestrooms must be accessible. This is required for all guestrooms including those guestrooms not required to have mobility features. Showers and sauna doors in guest rooms not required to provide mobility features do not have to be accessible.
Must accessible parking spaces be provided in each parking lot in a facility or can they be grouped? (2010 Standards 208.3.1 Exception 2)

Although parking is calculated on a per-lot basis, it can be located in a different location if equivalent or greater accessibility, in terms of distance to an accessible entrance, fees, and convenience is ensured. For example, while site constraints may prohibit the location of a large parking lot adjacent to an accessible entrance, the required number of accessible spaces might be installed at the entrance to provide more convenient access.
What are the requirements for an accessible means of egress? (2010 Standards 207)

Means of egress shall comply with section 1003.2.13 of the International Building Code (2000 edition and 2001 Supplement) or section 1007 of the International Building Code (2003 edition) (incorporated by reference, see "Referenced Standards" in Chapter 1).

EXCEPTIONS:

Where means of egress are permitted by local building or life safety codes to share a common path of egress travel, accessible means of egress shall be permitted to share a common path of egress travel.

Areas of refuge shall not be required in detention and correctional facilities.
What are the requirements for multiple single user portable toilets? (2010 ADA Standards 213.2 Exception 3)

Five percent of the portable toilets in a cluster are required to be accessible, each accessible toilet must satisfy to the requirements for toilet rooms.
How will the public accommodations provisions be enforced?

Individuals have the right to file complaints against a business (Title III entities) with the Department of Justice. Complaints may be sent by e-mail or mail. Email: ada.complaint@usdoj.gov

U.S. Department of Justice
Civil Rights Division
Disability Rights Section - NYAV
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20530

The most important part of filing a Title III complaint whether you write a letter or use the complaint form is ensuring that you provide the Department of Justice with the following information:

Your full name, address, email, the telephone numbers where we can reach you during the day and evening, and the name of the party discriminated against (if known);

The name and address of the business, organization, institution, or person that you believe has discriminated;

A brief description of the acts of discrimination, the dates they occurred, and the names of individuals involved;

Other information that you believe necessary to support your complaint, including copies of relevant documents (not originals); and

To ensure that all necessary information is provided, an individual may use this ADA Title II complaint form (http://www.ada.gov/t2cmpfrm.htm), which can be used for any Title II or III ADA complaint. Additional advice and instructions for filing a Title III complaint can be found at: https://www.ada.gov/t3compfm.htm.

Private individuals may also bring lawsuits in which they can obtain court orders to stop discrimination. Individuals may also file complaints with the Attorney General, who is authorized to bring lawsuits in cases of general public importance or where a "pattern or practice" of discrimination is alleged. In these cases, the Attorney General may seek monetary damages and civil penalties. Civil penalties may not exceed $55,000 for a first violation or $110,000 for any subsequent violation.