Accessibility Action: ICC Updates Standard

The International Code Council (ICC) released an update to the 2009 ICC A117.1 Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities standard that provides greater accessibility to buildings for persons with physical disabilities and incorporates new elements of building design. The updated edition of the standard continues to meet or exceed provisions with the Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines and the Fair Housing Design Guidelines. The standard includes:

• Enhanced dimensions for clear floor space, turning space, and accessible routes for new buildings and additions.
• Provisions incorporating many of the latest public right-of-way criteria for curb cuts, blended transitions, detectable warnings, diagonal parking and street parking.
• New provisions to improve safety for accessible routes through parking lots, and to address accessibility at electric vehicle charging stations.
• New provisions to facilitate the charging of powered wheelchairs in areas such as accessible hotel rooms and wheelchair seating in assembly spaces.
• New provisions for water bottle filling stations, and spaces for sign language interpreter stations and video booths.
• A new section addressing classroom acoustics to reduce the intrusion of noises from outside the classroom and improve room acoustics.

Read more at: https://www.iccsafe.org/icc-asc-a117/

This Quick Read was submitted by Dan Hounsell, editor-in-chief of Facility Maintenance Decisions, dan.hounsell@tradepressmedia.com. To read about new guidance on properly using the international accessibility symbol, visit https://www.facilitiesnet.com/38973FMD. To learn more about avoiding ADA and accessibility problems, visit https://www.facilitiesnet.com/38336FMD.

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