Fitness facilities must be compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Standards. This applies to any and all public facilities with exercise/fitness equipment for use by the public. Fitness facilities have elements and features that are common to many facilities. Elements and features that are unique to fitness facilities include areas of sports activities, swimming pools, and exercise machines and equipment.
Read MoreThe Fair Housing Act does not require any renovations to existing apartment buildings. If an alteration, renovation or addition to an apartment building resulted in a building permit being issued by a state, county, or local government after June 15, 1990, then that alteration, renovation or addition likely resulted in new construction, which would fall under the FHA.
Read MoreMost self-service shelving does not have to comply with the ADA Standards for reach ranges, except for self-service shelving in food lines. However, the requirement for reasonable accommodations can override this issue and should be taken into account in a facility.
Read MoreA facility entrance is composed of several parts, including doors. The requirements for accessible entrances includes accessible doors. Sixty percent of all exterior public entrances at a facility required to comply with Title II or Title III of the ADA Standards must be accessible.
Read MoreEducation facilities [schools] must comply with the ADA Standards. These facilities are complicated and complex. Many sections of the ADA Standards apply to schools, whether they are public or private entities. Other regulations may apply such as Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the Architectural Barriers Act, and regulations at the Department of Education. Where regulations overlap, the regulation with the most stringent requirements should be followed.
Read MoreDining Surfaces in public places should comply with the ADA laws whether they are inside or outside the entity facility. Dining tables that are not fastened to the floor or a wall are not considered fixed, therefore, technically speaking, if the dining tables at the exterior of the restaurant are not fixed in position, they are not required to be compliant with the ADA laws. However, the DOJ expects entities to apply the principles of the ADA laws for reasonable accommodations as long as doing so does not incur undue burden.
Read MoreThis article discusses the technical requirements for residential dwelling units found in 2010 ADA Standard 809. Standard 809 is the primary Standard for technical requirements for residential dwelling units; however, several other Standards have requirements for residential dwelling units as well. These requirements can be complicated.
Read MoreThis article discusses the scoping requirements for residential dwelling units found in 2010 ADA Standard 233, other scoping Standards, 28 CFR 35.151(e) and (f), and 28 CFR 36.406(d) and (e). This topic can be complicated and confusing. Start first with funding. If federal funds are involved you are probably looking at HUD rules for the facility. If public funds are involved you are probably looking at a combination of FHA and ADA rules for the facility.
Read MoreFHA covered units are found only in multi-family housing facilities consisting of 4 or more dwelling units. ADA residential dwelling units are not defined by the number of dwelling units but must be located in Title II or Title III facilities. It is possible that certain properties, or portions thereof, will be covered by both the FHA and Title II and/or Title III of the ADA. When the FHA and ADA overlap the more stringent requirements of each law must be met, in terms of both scoping and technical requirements.
Read MoreBleachers and social stairs are forms of assembly areas. As such, these installations should comply with the ADA Standards for assembly areas. Social stairs are not stairs as defined by any code and should be considered as sitting areas similar to bleachers.
Read MoreAccessible stadium style movie theaters located at Title III facilities are required to comply with the ADA. A facility housing a movie theater must comply with the ADA Standards throughout the entire facility. This includes from the site arrival points all the way into and within the movie theater space(s), and almost everything in between such as routes and toilet rooms.
Read MoreAccessible assembly areas located at Title II and Title III facilities are required to comply with the ADA. Technical requirements exist for wheelchair spaces, line of sight, dispersion, companion seats, and designated aisle seats. Information regarding the scoping requirements for assembly areas is available at Assembly Area Scoping Requirements.
Read MoreAccessible assembly areas located at Title II and Title III facilities are required to comply with the ADA. Requirements include accessible routes and spaces for disabled individuals including wheelchair spaces and companion seating. Accessible wheelchair spaces should be dispersed throughout the seating area(s) where there are 4 or more seats available, including all locations such as box and mezzanine seating.
Read MoreAccessible ATMs located at Title II and Title III facilities are required to comply with the ADA. An accessible ATM is required at each separate location within the facility. Each accessible ATM installation should take into account a clear space, operable parts, output, input, user control, and privacy.
Read MoreADA compliant assistive listening systems are generally required in assembly areas where systems for sound amplification are used, such as a microphone. These systems typically include a base station and receivers. The number of receivers required is based on the seating capacity of the assembly area. Some receivers must also be compatible for use with hearing aids.
Read MoreDetectable warnings are required by DOT regulations for curb ramps in certain public locations. These installations are not required by ADA regulations from the DOJ. But, if installed in facilities that must comply with the ADA, the detectable warning should also comply with installation guidelines for size, dome shapes, and color contrast.
Read MorePublic telephone installations in Title II and Title III facilities are required to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Public telephones shall be provided in accordance with the ADA Standards for each type of public telephone provided. All public telephones shall have volume controls. Wheelchair accessible telephones and TTY devices have specific requirements for locations and features.
Read MoreMany signs in Title II and Title III facilities are required to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Signs mandated by the ADA must comply with requirements for tactile or visual signs, or both. Pictograms are required for some signs. The requirements for ADA compliant signs are complex and detailed.
Read MoreIn transient lodging facilities, fire alarms should be located in required spaces such as the lobby, public corridors, restaurants, other food vending areas, ballrooms, meeting rooms, public and employee restrooms, all retail spaces, guest laundry, exercise room, business center, guest sleeping rooms designated for people who have impaired hearing, etc.
Read MoreThe questions in this article are designed to evaluate the operational readiness for ADA compliance of a transient lodging facility. These questions only represent a small portion of a complete assessment of a transient lodging facility for ADA compliance.
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