Accessible Fire Rings, Grills, Fireplaces, and Wood Stoves at US Forest Service Facilities
Information reproduced from the USDA Accessibility Guidebook for Outdoor Recreation and Trails.
Fire Ring Mounted on Concrete Base
Fire rings, grills, fireplaces, and wood stoves at US Forest Service facilities must be accessible to all people. An outdoor recreation access route (ORAR) must connect fire rings, grills, fireplaces or wood stoves that are provided in recreation sites to the other major constructed features at the recreation site. If the fire rings, grills, fireplaces, or wood stoves are provided in an area accessed by trail (rather than by vehicle), the routes connecting them to any other major constructed features provided in the area must comply with the technical requirements for trails. The photo on the right is representative of a fire ring mounted on a concrete base.
A clear floor or ground space should be provided around all usable sides of a fire ring, grill, fireplace, or wood stove so that someone is not forced to get too close to the heat or fire and risk getting burned. The clear space must extend at least 48 inches (1,220 millimeters) out from the feature and be at least 48 inches (1,220 millimeters) wide. In many cases, a 48 inch (1,220-millimeter) wide ring of clear space must be provided all around, because all sides are usable.
The slope of the clear floor or ground space must not exceed 1:48 (2 percent) in any direction. When the surface is unpaved or not built with boards, slopes 1:33 (3 percent) and less are allowed where necessary for drainage. The surface of the clear floor or ground space must be firm and stable, and the surface material used should be appropriate to the setting and level of development.
The fire-building surface within a fire ring, grill, fireplace, or wood stove should be a minimum of 9 inches (230 millimeters) above the floor or ground surface.
Some outdoor fireplaces and custom-built fire rings have a raised edge or wall around the fire-building area, perhaps built out of bricks or mortared stone. In addition to meeting the requirement for a fire-building surface that is at least 9 inches (230 millimeters) above the ground or floor, make sure the width of the raised edge or wall does not exceed 10 inches (255 millimeters).
Each cooking surface, grill, and pedestal grill should meet the requirements for cooking surface height, clear floor or ground space, slope, and surface. The height requirements are based on the height for countertops and the minimum low forward reach range in ABA. The height of the cooking surface should be 15 inches (380 millimeters) to 34 inches (865 millimeters) above the floor or ground surface. The graphic below is representative of an outdoor fireplace installation.
Accessible Outdoor Fireplace Installation
The graphic below is representative of a custom built fire ring.
Accessible Custom Built Fire Ring