What's Wrong With This Photo? - Drinking Fountain Non-Compliance with the ADA
Drinking Fountains in a Hotel Fitness Center
Recently while on a road trip I stopped at a hotel and eventually found my way into the fitness center for a little workout. I was pleased to see a dual set of drinking fountains, one for sitting individuals and one for standing. See the photo on the right. The two drinking fountains are required by the 2010 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Standards. But something is not right. What’s wrong?
HINT: Drinking fountains must provide a forward approach.
2010 ADA Standard 602.2, [Drinking Fountains] Clear Floor Space, states, “Units shall have a clear floor or ground space complying with 305 positioned for a forward approach and centered on the unit. Knee and toe clearance complying with 306 shall be provided.”
2010 ADA Standard 305.3, [Clear Floor or Ground Space] Size, states, “The clear floor or ground space shall be 30 inches (760 mm) minimum by 48 inches (1220 mm) minimum.” The graphic below is representative of a clear space.
Clear Space 30X48 Inches, Minimum
So at the installation above, the towel cabinet compromises the clear space at the drinking fountain for individuals in a wheelchair. The photo below shows this from a different angle.
Towel Cabinet Interferes with Drinking Fountain Clear Space