What's Wrong With This Photo? 10/8/18

Look at the photo on the below? This building is a public entitiy with a single public toilet room. What you are looking at is the door to the toilet room on the left with a dispenser immediately to the right of the door and two water fountains to the right. What’s wrong? [HINT: How will people in a wheel chair, or using a walker, open that toilet room door?]

ANSWER: The dispenser is blocking the maneuvering space to open the door. 2010 ADA Standard 404.2.4, Maneuvering Clearances, states, “Minimum maneuvering clearances at doors and gates shall comply with 404.2.4. Maneuvering clearances shall extend the full width of the doorway and the required latch side or hinge side clearance.” 2010 Standard Table 404.2.4.1, Maneuvering Clearances at Manual Swinging Doors and Gates, states, “The Minimum Maneuvering Clearances for a Pull Side Door are 60 inches perpendicular to the door and 18 inches parallel to the door on the latch side.” See the diagram below for a representation of this installation.

Therefore, the dispenser should not be installed in this location. If you have any questions please respond below or call me at 615-752-0060.

If you observe a building that is not ADA compliant and you would like to know how to proceed, please see the link at What To Do When A Building Is Not ADA Compliant or Accessible.

ADA Inspections Nationwide, LLC, offers ADA/ABA/FHA accessibility compliance inspections for buildings and facilities, as applicable to the different laws, and expert witness services with respect to ADA/ABA/FHA laws for building owners, tenants and managers. Also, ADAIN offers consulting for home modifications as a CAPS consultant for people wishing to age in place in their homes. For a complete list of services please see ADAIN Services.

Thank you.