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THE INTERIOR DESIGN REFERENCE + SPECIFICATION BOOK
Text
Chapter 8: Code and Accessibility
Building codes and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) are the two basic stan-
dards with which the interior designer needs to comply. The building code is speci-
ed by the jurisdiction in which a project will be built. These codes can be dened
by a state, county, township, or city and are typically based on a national model
such as National Building Code (BOCA), International Building Code (IBC), Interna-
tional Residential Code (IRC), and Uniform Building Code (UBC). The main focus of
these codes is to secure the public’s life safety. Codes are frequently amended,
and designers need to know which edition the jurisdiction is adhering to during the
permitting timeframe of a specic project.
ADA was passed in 1990 to secure civil rights protections for people with disabili-
ties. Unlike the building code, ADA includes design guidelines and requirements
based on the principle of equality for people with disabilities. Compliance with the
building code thus does not mean compliance with ADA, and vice versa. ADA is
the national accessibility code, and as with the building code, jurisdictions have
interpretations of the guidelines that are specic to the governing municipality. It is
reasonable to assume that these guidelines are written for public facilities and not
for private use.
The terminology of the building code and accessibility guidelines are not always the
same. While interpreting a code or guideline, it is important to reference the correct
denitions.
KEY TERMS AS DEFINED BY ADA
Access Aisle: Accessible pedestrian space
between elements such as parking spaces,
seating, or desks that provides appropriate
clearances per the ADA guidelines.
Accessible: Site, building, facility, or portion
thereof that complies with the ADA guide-
lines and that can be approached, entered,
and used by persons with disabilities.
Accessible Route: Continuous, unobstructed
path connecting all accessible elements and
spaces within or between buildings or facili-
ties. Interior accessible routes may include
corridors, oors, ramps, elevators, lifts, and
clear oor space at xtures.
Accessible Space: Space that complies with
ADA regulations and can be used by persons
with disabilities.
Adaptability: Ability of certain buildings,
spaces, and elements (e.g., kitchen coun-
ters, sinks, grab bars) to be added to or
altered so as to accommodate the needs of
persons with or without disabilities or with
different types of degrees of disability.
Adaptable:
sible to, functional for, and safe for use by
persons with disabilities without structural
change.
Area of Rescue Assistance:
access to an exit, where people who cannot
use stairs may remain temporarily in safety
to await further instructions or assistance
during an emergency evacuation.
Automatic Door:
power-operated mechanism and controls
that open and close the door automatically.
The switch that begins the automatic cycle
may be a photoelectric device, oor mat, or
manual switch.
Bathroom:
spaces that contain a toilet, sink, and bath-
tub or shower.
Change of Use:
from a private to a public one.
Clear:
Clear Floor Space:
oor or ground space required to accom-
modate a single, stationary wheelchair and
occupant. Unless otherwise stated, the
dimensions of clear oor space shall be
by
Common Use:
exterior rooms, spaces, or elements that are
made available for the use of a restricted
group of people.
Detectable Warning:
feature built into or applied to walking sur-
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Text
Building codes and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) are the two basic stan-
dards with which the interior designer needs to comply. The building code is speci-
and designers need to know which edition the jurisdiction is adhering to during the
based on the principle of equality for people with disabilities. Compliance with the
interpretations of the guidelines that are specic to the governing municipality. It is
reasonable to assume that these guidelines are written for public facilities and not
The terminology of the building code and accessibility guidelines are not always the
same. While interpreting a code or guideline, it is important to reference the correct
spaces within or between buildings or facili-
ties. Interior accessible routes may include
corridors, oors, ramps, elevators, lifts, and
: Space that complies with
ADA regulations and can be used by persons
altered so as to accommodate the needs of
persons with or without disabilities or with
different types of degrees of disability.
Adaptable:
Able to readily be made acces-
sible to, functional for, and safe for use by
persons with disabilities without structural
change.
Area of Rescue Assistance: Area with direct
access to an exit, where people who cannot
use stairs may remain temporarily in safety
to await further instructions or assistance
during an emergency evacuation.
Automatic Door: Door equipped with a
power-operated mechanism and controls
that open and close the door automatically.
The switch that begins the automatic cycle
may be a photoelectric device, oor mat, or
manual switch.
Bathroom: Space or series of interconnected
spaces that contain a toilet, sink, and bath-
tub or shower.
Change of Use: Varying the use of a building
from a private to a public one.
Clear: Unobstructed.
Clear Floor Space: Minimum unobstructed
oor or ground space required to accom-
modate a single, stationary wheelchair and
occupant. Unless otherwise stated, the
dimensions of clear oor space shall be 30
by 48 inches (762 by 1 220 millimeters).
Common Use: Refers to those interior and
exterior rooms, spaces, or elements that are
made available for the use of a restricted
group of people.
Detectable Warning: Standardized surface
feature built into or applied to walking sur-
faces or other elements to give warning of
hazards on a circulation path.
Dwelling Unit: Unit providing living facilities
for one or more persons.
Egress, Means of: Continuous and unob-
structed path of travel from any point in a
building or structure to a public way, consist-
ing of three separate and distinct parts: the
exit access, the exit, and the exit discharge.
A means of egress comprises the vertical
and horizontal means of travel and should
include intervening room spaces, doorways,
hallways, corridors, passageways, balco-
nies, ramps, stairs, enclosures, lobbies,
horizontal exits, courts, and yards.
Entrance: Any access point to a building or
portion of a building or facility that is used
for the purpose of entering. An entrance in-
cludes the approach walk, stairs, lifts, ramp,
or other vertical access leading to the en-
trance platform; the entrance platform itself;
vestibules; the entry door(s) or gate(s); and
the hardware of the entry door(s) or gate(s).
Ground Floor: Floor of a building closest to
the level of the exterior grade and any oor
within 36 inches (914 millimeters) of an ex-
terior grade at some or all of its perimeter.
Buildings on sloped sites may have more
than one ground oor.
Half Bathroom: Space with a toilet and a
sink.
Loft: An intermediate level between the oor
and ceiling of any story, located within a
room or rooms of a dwelling.
Mezzanine or Mezzanine Floor: Intermediate
level between the oor and ceiling of any
story with an aggregate oor area of not
more than 33 percent of the oor area of the
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THE INTERIOR DESIGN REFERENCE + SPECIFICATION BOOK
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DOORS
An offset pivot allows a door
to swing clear of the frame.
Clear Opening
The minimum clear opening width is
in a
stop on the strike jamb. For bifold, accordion, and pocket doors, the clear widths are mea-
sured when the doors are in a fully opened position. No projections are allowed in clear open-
ing space, with the exception of door hardware.
For double doors, one leaf must comply with the minimum clear opening. Shallow closets
that are less than
Doors that are recessed more than
comply with pull- or push-side requirements.
Thresholds
The maximum height for a threshold
is a half inch with a slope no greater
than
carpet is the maximum allowed.
story in which the level is located.
Occupiable: Room or enclosed space
designed for human occupancy in which
individuals congregate for amusement,
education, or similar purposes, or in which
occupants are engaged in labor, and which
is equipped with means of egress, light, and
ventilation.
Ordinary Repairs: Any maintenance that
does not affect structure, egress, re pro-
tection systems, re ratings, energy conser-
vation provisions, plumbing, and sanitary,
gas, electrical, or other utilities.
Power-assisted Door: Door with a mecha-
nism that helps to open the door or that
reduces the opening resistance of the door,
on the activation of a switch or a continued
force applied to the door itself.
Ramp: Walking surface that has a running
slope greater than 1:20 but no greater than
or equal to 1:12.
Reasonable Modication: Physical changes
to multiple dwellings requested by persons
with disabilities or their agents to enable full
use and enjoyment thereof.
Remodeling: Modication beyond an interior
decoration or involving any structural changes,
or the redecorating of a public building for
which the cost of such refurbishing, updating,
or redecorating equals or exceeds 5 percent
of the full and fair cash value of the building.
Repair: Reconstruction or renewal of any
part of an existing building for the purpose
of its maintenance.
Sleeping Accommodations: Rooms in which
people sleep; for example, dormitory and
hotel or motel guest rooms or suites.
Space:
Denable area; for example, a room,
toilet room, hall, assembly area, entrance,
storage room, alcove, courtyard, or lobby.
Story: Portion of a building between the up-
per surface of a oor and the upper surface
of the oor or roof next above. This portion
of the building must include occupiable
space to be considered a story. There may
be more than one oor level within a story,
as in the case of a mezzanine.
Structural Changes: Major reconstruction of
walls or partitions, or relocation of bearing
walls or partitions. Minor alterations, includ-
ing the opening of wall sections and/or the
relocation of equipment or xtures, are not
considered structural changes.
Tactile: Describes an object that can be
perceived using the sense of touch.
Tactile Warning: A surface texture applied
to or built into walking surfaces or other ele-
ments to warn visually impaired persons of
hazards in the path of travel.
Unassisted Access: Condition that enables
a person with a disability to obtain informa-
tion about and to maneuver a path of travel
without the assistance of another person,
except at those points and under those con-
ditions in which individuals without disabili-
ties would need assistance from another
person. This denition does not restrict the
right of a person with a disability to request
and receive assistance.
Use: Purpose for which a building is de-
signed, used, or intended to be used.
Walk (Walkway): Interior or exterior pathway
with a prepared surface that is intended for
pedestrian use, including, but not limited to,
general pedestrian areas such as plazas,
courts, and crosswalks.
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Code and Accessibility
Text
DOORS
Offset Hinged Door Hinged Door
Pivot Door
Pocket Door
Sliding Door
An offset pivot allows a door
to swing clear of the frame.
Clear Opening
The minimum clear opening width is 32 inches (813 millimeters) measured with the door open
in a
90-degree position. The measurement should be taken from the face of the door to the
stop on the strike jamb. For bifold, accordion, and pocket doors, the clear widths are mea-
sured when the doors are in a fully opened position. No projections are allowed in clear open-
ing space, with the exception of door hardware.
For double doors, one leaf must comply with the minimum clear opening. Shallow closets
that are less than 24 inches (610 millimeters) deep are exempt from the minimum clear width.
Doors that are recessed more than 6 inches (152 millimeters) from the door opening need to
comply with pull- or push-side requirements.
Thresholds
The maximum height for a threshold
is a half inch with a slope no greater
than 1:2. Half-inch (12.7-millimeter) pile
carpet is the maximum allowed.
2
1
½" (12.7)
pile
Denable area; for example, a room,
Portion of a building between the up-
per surface of a oor and the upper surface
of the oor or roof next above. This portion
Major reconstruction of
walls or partitions. Minor alterations, includ
-
ing the opening of wall sections and/or the
relocation of equipment or xtures, are not
to or built into walking surfaces or other ele-
ments to warn visually impaired persons of
a person with a disability to obtain informa-
tion about and to maneuver a path of travel
except at those points and under those con
-
ditions in which individuals without disabili-
person. This denition does not restrict the
right of a person with a disability to request
Interior or exterior pathway
with a prepared surface that is intended for
pedestrian use, including, but not limited to,
32" (813)
32" (813)
32" (813)
32" (813) 32" (813)
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THE INTERIOR DESIGN REFERENCE + SPECIFICATION BOOK
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Pull-Side Clearance
Front Approach
Hinge-Side Approach
Latch-Side Approach
60"
(1 525)
18"
(457)
54"
(1 370)
42"
(1 065)
Door Hardware
Handles, pulls, latches, and locks must be easy to grasp with one hand. Door hardware should
be operable with a closed st or loose grip. All operating devices should be mounted between
34 and 48 inches (864–1 220 millimeters) above nished oor.
Opening Force
The opening force for an interior hinged,
sliding, or folding door should not exceed 5
pounds (2.26 kilograms). The opening force
does not consider the force required to oper-
ate a latch or the initial force to open the
door; it is a measure, rather, of the continu-
ous application of force.
34"–38" (864–965)
24"
(610)
48"
(1 220)
36"
(914)
60"
(1 525)
Push-Side Clearance
1
Add
2
Add
3
Add
4
Beyond hinge side.
Latch-Side Approach
Hinge-Side Approach
MANEUVERING CLEARANCES AT MANUAL DOORS AND GATES
Approach Direction Door or Gate
Front
Hinge-side
Hinge-side
Latch-side
Front
Hinge-side
Latch-side
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