Architectural Barriers Act (ABA) Standards (2015)

1 Architectural Barriers Act (ABA) Standards (2015) Note: This edition includes new provisions for outdoor developed areas and emergency transportable housing. Adopted by the: Department of Defense (2008) General Services Administration (2005) Postal Service (2005) About this Edition of the ABA Standards Standards issued under the Architectural Barriers Act (ABA) apply to facilities designed, built, altered, or leased with federal funds. Four agencies establish the ABA Standards according to guidelines issued by the Access Board: Department of Defense (DOD) Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) General Services Administration (GSA) Postal Service (USPS). This edition of the ABA Accessibility Standards has been adopted by GSA, DOD, and USPS. (The USPS Standards do not include the non-mandatory advisory notes). HUD s adoption of these Standards is pending.

2 TABLE OF CONTENTS1 ABA CHAPTER 1: APPLICATION AND ADMINISTRATION 5F101 Purpose 5F102 Dimensions for Adults and Children 5F103 Modifications and Waivers 5F104 Conventions 5F105 Referenced Standards 8F106 Definitions 12 ABA CHAPTER 2: SCOPING REQUIREMENTS 19F201 Application 19F202 Existing Buildings and Facilities 20F203 General Exceptions 24F204 Protruding Objects 26F205 Operable Parts 26F206 Accessible Routes 27F207 Accessible Means of Egress 35F208 Parking Spaces 36F209 Passenger Loading Zones and Bus Stops 38F210 Stairways 39F211 Drinking Fountains 39F212 Kitchens, Kitchenettes, and Sinks 40F213 Toilet Facilities and Bathing Facilities 40F214 Washing Machines and Clothes Dryers 42F215 Fire Alarm Systems 42F216 Signs 43F217 Telephones 46F218 Transportation Facilities 47F219 Assistive Listening Systems 48F220 Automatic Teller Machines and Fare Machines 49F221 Assembly Areas 49F222 Dressing, Fitting.

3 And Locker Rooms 52F223 Medical Care and Long-Term Care Facilities 53F224 Transient Lodging Guest Rooms 54F225 Storage 57F226 Dining Surfaces and Work Surfaces 58F227 Sales and Service 59F228 Depositories, Vending Machines, Change Machines, Mail Boxes, and Fuel Dispensers 60F229 Windows 60F230 Two-Way Communication Systems 60F231 Judicial Facilities 60F232 Detention Facilities and Correctional Facilities 61F233 Residential Facilities 63F234 Amusement Rides 68F235 Recreational Boating Facilities 70 TABLE OF CONTENTS2F236 Exercise Machines and Equipment 71F237 Fishing Piers and Platforms 72F238 Golf Facilities 72F239 Miniature Golf Facilities 72F240 Play Areas 73F241 Saunas and Steam Rooms 76F242 Swimming Pools, Wading Pools, and Spas 76F243 Shooting Facilities with Firing Positions 77F244 Camping Facilities 77F245 Picnic Facilities 80F246 Viewing Areas 82F247 Trails 83F248 Beach Access Routes 84 CHAPTER 3: BUILDING BLOCKS 86301 General 86302 Floor or Ground Surfaces 86303 Changes in Level 87304 Turning Space 88305 Clear Floor or Ground Space 89306 Knee and Toe Clearance 91307 Protruding Objects 93308 Reach Ranges 95309 Operable Parts 98 CHAPTER 4: ACCESSIBLE ROUTES 99401 General 99402 Accessible Routes 99403 Walking Surfaces 99404 Doors, Doorways, and Gates 101405 Ramps 109406 Curb Ramps 113407 Elevators 115408 Limited-Use/Limited-Application Elevators 125409 Private Residence Elevators 127410 Platform Lifts 129 CHAPTER 5.

4 GENERAL SITE AND BUILDING ELEMENTS 131501 General 131502 Parking Spaces 131503 Passenger Loading Zones 134504 Stairways 135505 Handrails 136 TABLE OF CONTENTS3 CHAPTER 6: PLUMBING ELEMENTS AND FACILITIES 141601 General 141602 Drinking Fountains 141603 Toilet and Bathing Rooms 142604 Water Closets and Toilet Compartments 143605 Urinals 152606 Lavatories and Sinks 152607 Bathtubs 153608 Shower Compartments 156609 Grab Bars 163610 Seats 164611 Washing Machines and Clothes Dryers 167612 Saunas and Steam Rooms 167 CHAPTER 7: COMMUNICATION ELEMENTS AND FEATURES 168701 General 168702 Fire Alarm Systems 168703 Signs 168704 Telephones 176705 Detectable Warnings 178706 Assistive Listening Systems 179707 Automatic Teller Machines and Fare Machines 180708 Two-Way Communication Systems 183 CHAPTER 8: SPECIAL ROOMS, SPACES, AND ELEMENTS 184801 General 184802 Wheelchair Spaces, Companion Seats, and Designated Aisle Seats 184803 Dressing, Fitting, and Locker Rooms 188804 Kitchens and Kitchenettes 188805 Medical Care and Long-Term Care Facilities 192806 Transient Lodging Guest Rooms 192807 Holding Cells and Housing Cells 193808 Courtrooms 194809 Residential Dwelling Units 194810 Transportation Facilities 197811 Storage 201 CHAPTER 9: BUILT-IN ELEMENTS 203901 General 203902 Dining Surfaces and Work Surfaces 203903 Benches 203904 Check-Out Aisles and Sales and Service Counters 204 TABLE OF CONTENTS4 CHAPTER 10.

5 RECREATION FACILITIES 2081001 General 2081002 Amusement Rides 2081003 Recreational Boating Facilities 2121004 Exercise Machines and Equipment 2171005 Fishing Piers and Platforms 2181006 Golf Facilities 2191007 Miniature Golf Facilities 2201008 Play Areas 2211009 Swimming Pools, Wading Pools, and Spas 2261010 Shooting Facilities with Firing Positions 2361011 Outdoor Constructed Features 2361012 Parking Spaces Within Camping Units and Picnic Units and Pull-Up Spaces at Dump Stations 2391013 Tent Pads and Tent Platforms 2401014 Camp Shelters 2401015 Viewing Areas 2411016 Outdoor Recreation Access Routes 2421017 Trails 2451018 Beach Access Routes 2471019 Conditions for Exceptions 250 ABA CHAPTER 1: APPLICATION AND ADMINISTRATIONARCHITECTURAL Barriers ACT: SCOPING5 ABA CHAPTER 1: APPLICATION AND ADMINISTRATIONF101 PurposeThis document contains scoping and technical requirements for accessibility to sites, facilities, buildings, and elements by individuals with disabilities.

6 The requirements are to be applied during the design, construction, addition to, alteration, and lease of sites, facilities, buildings, and elements to the extent required by regulations issued by Federal agencies under the Architectural Barriers Act of 1968 (ABA).F102 Dimensions for Adults and ChildrenThe technical requirements are based on adult dimensions and anthropometrics. In addition, this document includes technical requirements based on children s dimensions and anthropometrics for drinking fountains, water closets, toilet compartments, lavatories and sinks, dining surfaces, and work Modifications and WaiversThe Architectural Barriers Act authorizes the Administrator of the General Services Administration, the Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Secretary of the Department of Defense, and the United States Postal Service to modify or waive the accessibility Standards for buildings and facilities covered by the Architectural Barriers Act on a case-by-case basis, upon application made by the head of the department, agency, or instrumentality of the United States concerned.

7 The General Services Administration, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Department of Defense, and the United States Postal Service may grant a modification or waiver only upon a determination that it is clearly necessary. Section 502(b)(1) of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 authorizes the Access Board to ensure that modifications and waivers are based on findings of fact and are not inconsistent with the Architectural Barriers Act. Advisory F103 Modifications and Waivers. The provisions for modifications and waivers differ from the requirement issued under the Americans with Disabilities Act in that equivalent facilitation does not apply. There is a formal procedure for Federal agencies to request a waiver or modification of applicable Standards under the Architectural Barriers Act. F104 Dimensions. Dimensions that are not stated as maximum or minimum are Construction and Manufacturing Tolerances.

8 All dimensions are subject to conventional industry tolerances except where the requirement is stated as a range with specific minimum and maximum end points. Advisory Construction and Manufacturing Tolerances. Conventional industry tolerances recognized by this provision include those for field conditions and those that may be a necessary consequence of a particular manufacturing process. Recognized tolerances are not intended to apply to design Barriers ACT: SCOPINGABA CHAPTER 1: APPLICATION AND ADMINISTRATION6 Calculation of Percentages. Where the required number of elements or facilities to be provided is determined by calculations of ratios or percentages and remainders or fractions result, the next greater whole number of such elements or facilities shall be provided. Where the determination of the required size or dimension of an element or facility involves ratios or percentages, rounding down for values less than one half shall be Figures.

9 Unless specifically stated otherwise, figures are provided for informational purposes only. It is good practice when specifying dimensions to avoid specifying a tolerance where dimensions are absolute. For example, if this document requires 1 inches, avoid specifying 1 inches plus or minus X inches. Where the requirement states a specified range, such as in Section where grab bars must be installed between 33 inches and 36 inches above the floor, the range provides an adequate tolerance and therefore no tolerance outside of the range at either end point is a requirement is a minimum or a maximum dimension that does not have two specific minimum and maximum end points, tolerances may apply. Where an element is to be installed at the minimum or maximum permitted dimension, such as 15 inches minimum or 5 pounds maximum , it would not be good practice to specify 5 pounds (plus X pounds) or 15 inches (minus X inches).

10 Rather, it would be good practice to specify a dimension less than the required maximum (or more than the required minimum) by the amount of the expected field or manufacturing tolerance and not to state any tolerance in conjunction with the specified dimensions in design in the manner described above will better ensure that facilities and elements accomplish the level of accessibility intended by these requirements. It will also more often produce an end result of strict and literal compliance with the stated requirements and eliminate enforcement difficulties and issues that might otherwise arise. Information on specific tolerances may be available from industry or trade organizations, code groups and building officials, and published F104 Graphic Convention for FiguresABA CHAPTER 1: APPLICATION AND ADMINISTRATIONARCHITECTURAL Barriers ACT: SCOPING7 Architectural Barriers ACT: SCOPINGABA CHAPTER 1: APPLICATION AND ADMINISTRATION8 F105 Referenced General.