Wheelchair Access Requirements and Information

Below is the form that was originally used by the Special Needs Committee to determine meetings that were eligible to be listed as wheelchair accessable in our where and when.

The form is followed by some official wheelchair access specifications.

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    SPECIAL NEEDS COMMITTEE

    GROUP NAME    ___________________________________________________


    LOCATION      ___________________________________________________


    IS YOUR MEETING WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE?

                 CRITERIA                         YES  NO  NA
                 ________                        ___  ___ ___

Does your meeting offer accessible parking?      ___ ___ ___

Are all doors at least 32" wide?                 ___ ___ ___

Is the meeting place on the ground floor?        ___ ___ ___

Can a person in a wheelchair get to  restrooms?  ___ ___ ___
  
Are the restrooms equipped for wheelchair use?   ___ ___ ___

If carpeted,is the carpet pile half inch or less?___ ___ ___

Please indicate below, any questions or concerns that you may 
have concerning wheelchair accessibility at your meeting.

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Below are some of the more pertinent official wheelchair access specifications.

Source:
http://www.access-board.gov/ufas/ufas-html/ufas.htm

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4.8 RAMPS.

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4.8.1* GENERAL. Any part of an accessible route with a slope greater than 1:20 shall be considered a ramp and shall comply with 4.8.

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4.8.2* SLOPE AND RISE. The least possible slope shall be used for any amp. The maximum slope of a ramp in new construction shall be 1:12. The maximum rise for any run shall be 30 in (760 mm) (see Fig. 16). Curb ramps and ramps to be constructed on existing sites or in existing buildings or facilities may have slopes and rises as shown in Table 2 if space limitations prohibit the use of a 1:12 slope or less (see 4.1.6).

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4.8.3 CLEAR WIDTH. The minimum clear width of a ramp shall be 36 in (915 mm).

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4.8.4 LANDINGS. Ramps shall have level landings at the bottom and top of each run. Landings shall have the following features:

(1) The landing shall be at least as wide as the ramp run leading to it.

(2) The landing length shall be a minimum of 60 in (1525 mm) clear.

(3) If ramps change direction at landings, the minimum landing size shall be 60 in by 60 in (1525 mm by 1525 mm).

(4) If a doorway is located at a landing, then the area in front of the doorway shall comply with 4.13.6.

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4.8.5* HANDRAILS. If a ramp run has a rise greater than 6 in (250 mm) or a horizontal projection greater than 72 in (1830 mm), then it shall have handrails on both sides. Handrails are not required on curb ramps. Handrails shall comply with 4.26 and shall have the following features:

(1) Handrails shall be provided along both sides of ramp segments. The inside handrail on switchback or dogleg ramps shall always be continuous.

(2) If handrails are not continuous, they shall extend at least 12 in (305 mm) beyond the top and bottom of the ramp segment and shall be parallel with the floor or ground surface.

(3) The clear space between the handrail and the wall shall be 1-1/2 in (38 mm).

(4) Gripping surfaces shall be continuous.

(5) Top of handrail gripping surfaces shall be mounted between 30 in and 34 in (760 mm and 865 mm) above ramp surfaces.

(6) Ends of handrails shall be either rounded or returned smoothly to floor, wall or post.

(7) Handrails shall not rotate within their fittings.

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4.13.5 CLEAR WIDTH. Doorways shall have a minimum clear opening of 32 in (815 mm) with the door open 90 degrees, measured between the face of the door and the stop (see Fig. 24(a), (b), (c), and (d)). Openings more than 24 in (610 mm) in depth shall comply with 4.2.1 and 4.3.3 (see Fig. 24(e)).
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4.16 WATER CLOSETS.

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4.16.1 GENERAL. Accessible water closets shall comply with 4.16. For water closets in accessible dwelling units, see 4.34.5.2.

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4.16.2 CLEAR FLOOR SPACE. Clear floor space for water closets not in stalls shall comply with Fig. 28. Clear floor space may be arranged to 0allow either a left-handed or right-handed approach.

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4.16.3* HEIGHT. The height of water closets shall be 17 in to 19 in (430 mm to 485 mm), measured to the top of the toilet seat (see Fig. 29(b)). Seats shall not be sprung to return to a lifted position.

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4.16.4* GRAB BARS. Grab bars for water closets not located in stalls shall comply with Fig. 29 and 4.26. (http://www.access-board.gov/ufas/ufas-html/fig29.html)

Excerpt from Fig. 29:
Fig. 29(a) Back Wall. A 36 inch (915 mm) minimum length grab bar is required behind the water closet mounted at a height between 33 and 36 inches (840-915 mm). The grab bar must extend a minimum of 12 inches (305) beyond the center of the water closet toward the side wall and a minimum of 24 inches (610 mm) toward the open side for either a left or right side approach.

Fig 29(b) Side Wall. A 42 inch (1065 mm) minimum length grab bar is required to the side of the water closet spaced 12 inches (305 mm) maximum from the back wall and extending a minimum of 54 inches (1370 mm) from the back wall at a height between 33 and 36 inches (840-915 mm). The toilet paper dispenser shall be mounted at a minimum height of 19 inches (485 mm).

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4.16.5* FLUSH CONTROLS. Flush controls shall be hand operated or automatic and shall comply with 4.27.4. Controls for flush valves shall be mounted on the wide side of toilet areas no more than 44 in (1120 mm) above the floor.

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4.16.6 DISPENSERS. Toilet paper dispensers shall be installed within reach, as shown in Fig. 29(b). Dispensers that control delivery, or that do not permit continuous paper flow, shall not be used.

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4.17 TOILET STALLS.

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4.17.1 LOCATION. Accessible toilet stalls shall be on an accessible route and shall meet the requirements of 4.17.

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4.17.2 WATER CLOSETS. Water closets in accessible stalls shall comply with 4.16.

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4.17.3 SIZE AND ARRANGEMENT. The size and arrangement of toilet stalls shall comply with Fig. 30(a). Toilet stalls with a minimum depth of 56 in (1420 mm) (see Fig. 30(a)) shall have wall-mounted water closets. If the depth of toilet stalls is increased at least 3 in (75 mm), then a floor-mounted water closet may be used. Arrangements shown for stalls may be reversed to allow either a left- or right-hand approach.

EXCEPTION: In instances of alteration work where provision of a standard stall (Fig. 30(a)) is structurally impracticable or where plumbing code requirements prevent combining existing stalls to provide space, an alternate stall (Fig. 30(b)) may be provided in lieu of the standard stall.

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4.17.4 TOE CLEARANCES. In standard stalls, the front partition and at least one side partition shall provide a toe clearance of at least 9 in (230 mm) above the floor. If the depth of the stall is greater than 60 in (1525 mm), then the toe clearance is not required.

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4.17.5* DOORS. Toilet stall doors shall comply with 4.13. If toilet stall approach is from the latch side of the stall door, clearance between the door side of the stall and any obstruction may be reduced to a minimum of 42 in (1065 mm).

4.17.6 GRAB BARS. Grab bars complying with the length and positioning shown in Fig. 30(a), (b), (c), and (d) shall be provided. (http://www.access-board.gov/ufas/ufas-html/fig30a.html)   Grab bars may be mounted with any desired method as long as they have a gripping surface at the locations shown and do not obstruct the required clear floor area. Grab bars shall comply with 4.26.

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4.18 URINALS.

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4.18.1 GENERAL. Accessible urinals shall comply with 4.18.

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4.18.2 HEIGHT. Urinals shall be stall-type or wall-hung with an elongated rim at a maximum of 17 in (430 mm) above the floor.

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4.18.3 CLEAR FLOOR SPACE. A clear floor space 30 in by 48 in (760 mm by 1220 mm) shall be provided in front of urinals to allow forward approach. This clear space shall adjoin or overlap an accessible route and shall comply with 4.2.4. Urinal shields that do not extend beyond the front edge of the urinal rim may be provided with 29 in (735 mm) clearance between them.

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4.18.4 FLUSH CONTROLS. Flush controls shall be hand operated or automatic, and shall comply with 4.27.4, and shall be mounted no more than 44 in (1120 mm) above the floor.

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4.19 LAVATORIES AND MIRRORS.

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4.19.1 GENERAL. The requirements of 4.19 shall apply to lavatory fixtures, vanities, and built-in lavatories.

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4.19.2 HEIGHT AND CLEARANCES. Lavatories shall be mounted with the rim or counter surface no higher than 34 in (865 mm) above the finished floor. Provide a clearance of at least 29 in (735 mm) from the floor to the bottom of the apron. Knee and toe clearance shall comply with Fig. 31.

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4.19.3 CLEAR FLOOR SPACE. A clear floor space 30 in by 48 in (760 mm by 1220 mm) complying with 4.2.4 shall be provided in front of a lavatory to allow forward approach. Such clear floor space shall adjoin or overlap an accessible route and shall extend a maximum of 19 in (485 mm) underneath the lavatory (see Fig. 32).

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4.19.4 EXPOSED PIPES AND SURFACES. Hot water and drain pipes under lavatories shall be insulated or otherwise covered. There shall be no sharp or abrasive surfaces under lavatories.

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4.19.5 FAUCETS. Faucets shall comply with 4.27.4. Lever-operated, push-type, and electronically controlled mechanisms are examples of acceptable designs. Self-closing valves are allowed if the faucet remains open for at least 10 seconds.

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4.19.6* MIRRORS. Mirrors shall be mounted with the bottom edge of the reflecting surface no higher than 40 in (1015 mm) from the floor (see Fig. 31).

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