This article series describes the layout and specifications for accessible bathrooms, kitchens, toilets, stairs, and access ramps.

Accessible Design Recommendations

This home page provides links to articles on adaptable or accessible design for various building areas and features and includes citations of and links to key codes and standards.

[Click to enlarge any image]

Page top sketch of kitchen wheelchair access spaces courtesy of Best Construction Practices author Steve Bliss, discussed at KITCHEN DESIGN, ACCESSIBLE

Accessible / Adaptive Design Articles

• ACCESSIBLE DESIGN
• ADA STAIR & RAIL SPECIFICATIONS
• BATHROOM DESIGN, ACCESSIBLE
• BUILDING CODE DOWNLOADS
• CUSTOM TOILETS
• DISABLED or ELDERLY-USE TOILETS
• ELEVATOR & STAIRWAY LIFT CODES
• ELDERLY & VETERANS HOME SAFETY
• KITCHEN DESIGN, ACCESSIBLE
• RAMPS, ACCESS - home
• RAMP CODES & STANDARDS
• RAMP LANDING CODES
• RAMP RAILING CODES
• RAMP SLOPE or PITCH
• RAMP SLIP TRIP FALL HAZARDS
• RAMP SLIP TRIP FALL REDUCTION
• STAIR DESIGN for SENIORS
• STAIRWAY CHAIR LIFTS

Books, Citations, Products & Research for ADA Stairs - ADAAG Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines

• 2010 ADA STANDARDS for ACCESSIBLE DESIGN [PDF] - complete text, 279pp., retrieved 2018/10/26, original source: https://www.ada.gov/regs2010/2010ADAStandards/2010ADAStandards.pdf
• "2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design", U.S. Americans with Disabilities Act, 1990, U.S. Department of Justice, & revised Title II & Title III 2010, Website: www.ada.gov, Tel: 1-800-514-0301, TTY: 1-800-514-0383
  • GUIDANCE on the 2010 ADA STANDARDS for ACCESSIBLE DESIGN [PDF] (2010) U.S. ADA government website - retrieved anew 2023/05/10, original source: ada.gov/law-and-regs/design-standards/standards-guidance/
  • 2010 STANDARDS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT FACILITIES TITLE II (2010) U.S. ADA government website - retrieved anew 2023/05/10, original source: .ada.gov/law-and-regs/design-standards/2010-stds/
  • 2010 STANDARDS FOR PUBLIC ACCOMMODATIONS AND COMMERCIAL FACILITIES TITLE III U.S. ADA government website - retrieved anew 2023/05/10, original source: ada.gov/law-and-regs/design-standards/2010-stds/
• AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT OF 1990, As Amended, Full Text, provided by ada.gov - retrieved 5 July 2015 - and anew 2023/05/10 original source: https://www.ada.gov/law-and-regs/ada/
  

  Editor’s Note:

  Here is the text of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), including changes made by the ADA Amendments Act of 2008. Congress passed the ADA as a “Public Law,” and it originally was in a different format than presented here.
  
  To make the law more widely available, the ADA was later reformatted and published in volume 42 (called “title 42”) of the United States Code. One small part of the ADA is found in title 47 of the United States Code.
  
  The text [in this PDF & at the US government website link given above] mirrors the law as it is found in the U.S. Code. Because the numbering system is different in the U.S. Code, the headings provide in brackets the title numbers of the ADA as originally enacted.

• 

STAIR HEADROOM includes a discussion of 307 Protruding Objects a section of the U.S. ADA standards on protruding object hazards such as the under-stair area illustrated at left.

 

 

 

• ADA Compliant Elevator Signs with Tactile Text - [Signs for sale at Amazon.com]
• ADA Compliant Stairs Signs with Tactile Text and Grade 2 Braille - [Signs for sale at Amazon.com]
• ADA Compliant Stainless Steel Grab Bar - Sold at Amazon.com
• ELDERLY & VETERANS HOME SAFETY [web article] - home safety & security checklist & home safety for older occupants.
• Jester, Thomas C. & Sharon C. Park, AIA MAKING HISTORIC PROPERTIES ACCESSIBLE [PDF] (1993) Preservation Briefs No. 32, U.S. NPS, retrieved 2022/10/10, original source: https://www.nps.gov/tps/how-to-preserve/briefs/32-accessibility.htm
  
  Excerpt:
  This Preservation Brief introduces the complex issue of providing accessibility at historic properties, and underscores the need to balance accessibility and historic preservation.
  
  It provides guidance on making historic properties accessible while preserving their historic character; the Brief also provides examples to show that independent physical accessibility at historic properties can be achieved with careful planning, consultation, and sensitive design.
  
  While the Brief focuses primarily on making buildings and their sites accessible, it also includes a section on historic landscapes.
  
  The Brief will assist historic property owners, design professionals, and administrators in evaluating their historic properties so that the highest level of accessibility can be provided while minimizing changes to historic materials and features.
  
  Because many projects encompassing accessibility work are complex, it is advisable to consult with experts in the fields of historic preservation and accessibility before proceeding with permanent physical changes to historic properties.
• Reynolds, Donald & Rsmeans Eng., "Residential & Light Commercial Construction Standards: The All-In-One, Authoritative Reference Compiled from Major Building Codes ...",
• Rhoads, Marcela A., "Applying the ADA: Designing for The 2010 Americans with Disabilities Act Standards for Accessible Design in Multiple Building Types",
• Rhoads, Marcela A., "The ADA Companion Guide: Understanding the Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG) and the Architectural Barriers Act (ABA)",
• U.S. Department of Justice, "Americans with Disabilities Act Title III Regulations",
  Abstract:
  This final rule revises the Department of Justice (Department) regulation that implements title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), relating to nondiscrimination on the basis of disability by public accommodations and in commercial facilities.
  
  The Department is issuing this final rule in order to adopt enforceable accessibility standards under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) that are consistent with the minimum guidelines and requirements issued by the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board, and to update or amend certain provisions of the title III regulation so that they comport with the Department’s legal and practical experiences in enforcing the ADA since 1991.
• U.S. Department of Justice, "The Americans with Disabilities Act: Question and Answers",
• U.S. Department of Homeland Security, "Guidelines for Design of Structures for Vertical Evacuation from Tsunamis (FEMA P646 / June 2008)" [Book at Amazon.com - check for free copies from the U.S. GPO]

References / Resources: ADA-Compliant Accessible Kitchens & Baths

• Access Ramp building codes:
  • UBC 1003.3.4.3
  • BOCA 1016.3
  • ADA 4.8.2
  • IBC 1010.2
• Access Ramp Standards:
• ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act), Public Law 101-336. 7/26/90 is very often cited by other sources for good design of stairs and ramps etc. even where disabled individuals are not the design target.
• ADA 804 KITCHENS AND KITCHENETTES [PDF], - retrieved 2018/09/22, original source: http://www.ada-compliance.com/ada-compliance/804-kitchens-and-kitchenettes
• APPENDIX A to Part 1191 - Americans with Disabilities Act ADA ACCESSIBILITY GUIDELINES FOR BUILDINGS AND FACILITIES, [PDF] Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Accessibility Guidelines for Buildings and Facilities, U.S. Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board (Access Board), 1331 F Street, N.W., Suite 1000, Washington, D.C. 20004-1111 USA, Tel: (202) 272-0080 (202) 272-0082 TTY (202) 272-0081 FAX
  
  This is the fulltext document. We compressed the file, with no data loss, so that it can be loaded more-quickly into your computer or smartphone.
• ANSI A117.4 Accessible and Usable buildings and Facilities (earlier version was incorporated into the ADA)
• ASTM F 1637, Standard Practice for Safe Walking Surfaces, (Similar to the above standards)
• Australia, AS 1428.2-1992 (R2015) Design for access and mobility Enhanced and additional requirements - Buildings and facilities Standards Australia available at https://infostore.saiglobal.com/store/PreviewDoc.aspx?saleItemID=242209
  Excerpts:
  Australian Standard Design for access and mobility Part 2: Enhanced and additional requirements—Buildings and facilities
  
  Sets out requirements for the design of buildings and facilities for access for people with disabilities. Where appropriate, these requirements are additional to the minimum requirements of AS 1428.1.
  
  Also covers requirements for buildings and facilities which are not covered in Part 1.
  
  The purpose of this Standard is twofold. First, it covers items which are not covered in AS 1428.1, Design for access and mobility, Part 1: General requirements for access—Buildings , and second it gives enhanced requirements for access, for reference by authorities and other users who wish to provide a greater level of accessibility than the minimum requirements of Part 1.
  
  Whereas the requirements in Part 1 are based on research on the capabilities of 80 percent of people with disabilities in Australia who use wheelchairs, together with some recognized needs of other disability groups, the enhanced requirements in this Standard have been determined, where possible, from the researched capabilities of at least 90 percent of test subjects comprising both people who use wheelchairs and ambulant people.
  
  Where the minimum space, dimensions and gradients of Part 1 have been shown to be suitable for 90 percent of users, the requirements of AS 1428.1 have been called up in this Standard.
  
  The major sources for determining the requirements in this Standard are studies by J. Bails, Public Buildings Department of South Australia, 1983, and E. Steinfeld, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, USA, 1979.
  
  For reach limits, reference was also made to A study of the space requirements of wheelchair users from the official journal of the International Society of Paraplegia: Paraplegia, volume 4, Number 1, May 1966.
  
  In recommending spaces between rest areas and time allowance at traffic lights, reference was made to the ability of people to move stated distances and the movement time of people in the 1990 research report An ergonomic study of pedestrian areas for disabled people, Institute of Transport Studies, University of Leeds, UK.
  
  The series, when complete, will comprise the following:
  AS
  1428 Design for access and mobility
  
  1428.1 General requirements for access—Buildings
  
  1428.2 Enhanced and additional requirements—Buildings and facilities (this Standard)
  
  1428.3 Requirements for children and adolescents with physical disabilities
  
  1428.4 Tactile ground surface indicators for the orientation of people with vision impairment
  
• Australia, Queensland DOH, COMPARISON OF FRONT, MID AND REAR WHEEL DRIVE POWER CHAIRS, [PDF] Queensland Australia DOH, 3 rd Floor, Buranda Village Cnr Cornwall St & Ipswich Rd Buranda, QLD, 4102 AUSTRALIA, retrieved 2019/09/22, original source: https://www.health.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0028/428482/pdwc-comparison.pdf
• Bails, J. H. "Project report on the field testing of the Australian standard 1428-1977 part 1—Recommended amendments and index to part 2 detailed reports." Adelaide South Australia, Public Buildings Department (1983).
• Bails, J. H. "Project report on the field testing of the Australian standard 1428-1977 part 2—Details of field testing of AS1428." Adelaide South Australia, Public Buildings Department (1983).
• BUILDING CODE DOWNLOADS
• Enders, Alexandra, O.T.R. (Editor), TECHNOLOGY FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING SOURCEBOOK [PDF] Association for the Advancement of Rehabilitadon Technology, Publishers Suite 700, 1101 Connecticut Avenue, N W Washington, D C 20036 retrieved 2018/09/25, original source: https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED313820.pdf
• Equal Access, KITCHENS [accessible design suggestions] [PDF] Disability Access & Egress Consultants, Equal Access Unit 6, 15 Howleys Road Notting Hill, Vic, 3186 Australia Tel: +61 3 9001 5805, Tel: 1300 994 890(03) 9001 5805 retrieved 2018/09/22, original source: http://www.disabilityaccessconsultants.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Kitchen.pdf
  
  Special thanks to Bruce Bromley,Equal Access Consultants, Victoria, AU, for assisting in the discussion of accessible designs for kitchens and bathrooms, 2018/09/24.
  
  Website excerpt:
  Equal Access is one of Australia’s leading DDA Universal Design and Disability Access and Egress Consultancies. Our key personnel are accredited with the Association of Consultants in Access Australia Inc (ACAA) and provide a specialist consulting service throughout Australia and internationally to enhance the built environment and to provide “Equal Access” for members of the community with a disability.
  
  The Disability Discrimination Act, Building Code of Australia & Australian Standards are highly complex and subject to constant change. Litigation over property access and compliance is increasing at an astounding rate. Property and business owners are subject to substantial and often unexpected liability. Equal Access can assist in all areas of built environment access as a DDA Consultant and would welcome the opportunity to work with you.
• FINNISH ACCESSIBLE BUILDING DECREE 2004-2005 [PDF], Barrier-free Building Regulations and Guidelines 2005, Ministry of the Environment Decree on accessible building, retrieved 2017/01/07
• FINNISH BUILDING DESIGNERS & PLANS DECREE 2002 [PDF], Building designers and plans A2 Regulations and guidelines 2002, Ministry of the Environment Decree, on building designers and plans, retrieved 2017/01/07
• FINLAND HOUSING DESIGN DECREE, 2004, [PDF] G1 THE NATIONAL BUILDING CODE OF FINLAND Housing Design Regulations and Guidelines 2005, Ministry of the Environment Decree on housing design, retrieved 2017/01/07
• FINLAND FIRE SAFETY CODES & DECREE 2002 [PDF], E1 THE NATIONAL BUILDING CODE OF FINLAND, Fire safety of buildings, Regulations and guidelines 2002, Decree of the Ministry of the Environment on fire safety of buildings, retrieved 2017/01/07
• IBC International Building Code 2003, SECTION 1007 ACCESSIBLE MEANS of EGREESS [PDF] ( exits and exit stairs stairways in buildings) as adopted by Florida, retrieved 2018/08/21, original source: http://www.floridabuilding.org/fbc/thecode/ada/2003-1007.pdf
• IRELAND (Northern Ireland) STAIR GUARD LANDING RAMP CODE [PDF] ret. 2018/11/23, original source: http://www.buildingcontrol-ni.com/assets/pdf/H2006.pdf
• MDA, Muscular Dystrophy Association, The EZ-Use Kitchen [PDF of web article] Muscular Dystrophy Association National Office, 161 N. Clark, Suite 3550, Chicago, Illinois 60601 USA, Tel: 800-572-1717 Email: ResourceCenter@mdausa.org retrieved 2018/09/22, original source: https://www.mda.org/quest/article/ez-use-kitchen
  Note: there nothing specific about motorized wheelchairs in this article.
• POWER-DRIVEN MOBILITY DEVICES, ADA-REQUIREMENTS [PDF] (2014) U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, Disability Rights Section, Tel: 800-514-0301 (Voice) and 800-514-0383 (TTY) - retrieved 2018/09/22, original source: https://www.ada.gov/opdmd.htm
  Excerpt:
  
  The Department of Justice published revised final regulations implementing the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) for title II (State and local government services) and title III (public accommodations and commercial facilities) on September 15, 2010, in the Federal Register.
  
  These requirements, or rules, clarify and refine issues that have arisen over the past 20 years and contain new, and updated, requirements, including the 2010 Standards for Accessible Design (2010 Standards).
• Steinfeld, Edward. "Accessible Buildings for People with Walking and Reaching Limitations." (1979).
• Steinfeld, Edward. Access to the built environment: a review of literature. The Office: for sale by the Supt. of Docs., US Govt. Print. Off., 1979.
• Steinfeld, Edward, Steven A. Schroeder, and Marilyn Bishop. Adaptable dwellings. Vol. 402. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Policy Development and Research: for sale by the Supt. of Docs., US Govt. Print. Off., 1979.
• UCP, Developing Homes For People With Physical Disabilities In New Jersey: A TECHNICAL GUIDE [PDF] (1986), retrieved 2018/09/25, original source: https://mn.gov/mnddc/parallels2/pdf/80s/86/86-DHP-UCP.pdf

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Reader Q&A - also see RECOMMENDED ARTICLES & FAQs

On 2019-07-31 by Patrick Wink

2019 Mid Country manufactured home. What is the minimum hallway opening in width.

I am handicapped and paid to have this house built with all 36 inch door opening throughout. Grab bars, tzll toilets, walk in shower with built in seat, etc. Hall width approved by Hud should be ?

This Q&A were posted originally at MOBILE HOME CODES, STANDARDS & MANUALS

On 2019-07-31 by (mod) - The minimum required ADA hallway width is 36 inches.

Patrick, The minimum required ADA hallway width is 36 inches.

What is the width of your hallway, and do you have adequate turning space for a wheelchair?

Also see the resources at

ACCESSIBLE DESIGN inspectapedia.com/Design/Accessible-Design-ADA-Codes.php

...

Continue reading at KITCHEN CABINET DESIGN Guide or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.

Or see these

Recommended Articles

• ACCESSIBLE DESIGN
• ADA STAIR & RAIL SPECIFICATIONS
• BATHROOM DESIGN, ACCESSIBLE
• CUSTOM TOILETS
• DISABLED or ELDERLY-USE TOILETS
• ELDERLY & VETERANS HOME SAFETY
• KITCHEN DESIGN, ACCESSIBLE
• RAMPS, ACCESS - home
• RAMP CODES & STANDARDS
• RAMP LANDING CODES
• RAMP RAILING CODES
• RAMP SLOPE or PITCH
• RAMP SLIP TRIP FALL HAZARDS
• RAMP SLIP TRIP FALL REDUCTION
• STAIR DESIGN for SENIORS
• STAIRWAY CHAIR LIFTS

Suggested citation for this web page

ACCESSIBLE DESIGN at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice.

Or see this

INDEX to RELATED ARTICLES: ARTICLE INDEX to BATH & KITCHEN

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Citations & References

In addition to any citations in the article above, a full list is available on request.

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