Ask Gary ADA

Posted By Gary Renick on April 23, 2009

Why is it so hard to create a building code that is inclusive of accessible design? There have been efforts to do this for years. How hard would it be to just add the features or change the way something is done? Why must we have to two standards for our homes? Have you ever considered exactly what it is we are talking about when we say make it accessible? Okay well let’s take a look at that.

Just to make every house built accessible, what would we have to do? Surprisingly, not as much as you might think.  There are basically five areas that need to be modified or changed. These five are topography and approach, entries and exits, passageways, bathrooms, and kitchen design. Lets take a look at these one at a time.

First let’s look at topography and approach. When we think of topography in terms of accessibility we look at how the site is graded. Are there steep inclines as you approach the front entry? Do you have to negotiate obstacles, either natural or man made, to enter the house. For accessibility we need to keep in mind that there should be at least one approach that is free of these things.  All of this will add little if anything to the cost of building a house.

Secondly we look at entries and exits. Okay we have taken care of getting to the front or back doors. Now we need to get through the doors. The doors themselves have never been a problem, at least not in modern times. All entry doors are 36″ wide by code. Where the problem with entries and exits begin is with the threshold. By design and code a conventional threshold is 3″ to 4″ above the porch or walkway area.  This is to prevent rain water from entering under the door. This can be accomplish also by gently sloping the porch or walkway away from the entry. Then we use a flat threshold which removes a tripping hazard and allow wheelchair access. The cost of this modification is nearly zero.

Third we look at passageways. We need to avoid narrow hallways and tight turns, including   entering a room and having to make a very tight turn because of the placement of a cabinet or wall. Not only does it make difficult to maneuver a wheelchair or walker but it is difficult to move furniture into or out of that doorway. So we make all hallways 4′ wide instead of 3′ wide. And we use 3′-0″ doors everywhere, thus allowing builders by in lots and standardise installation. And lastly open design which for the most part is already a common practice. Cost a little more for doors, maybe 20% more.

Fourth and most critical, at least in my mind, are bathrooms.  The trend has been for many years towards smaller and smaller guest bathrooms. This is especially true in multi-story homes, where the main bath and master bath are upstairs and downstairs is only a half bath. Now a half bath as you know is just a sink, sometimes with a small vanity, and a toilet. Now this might be a room a little bigger than a coat closet shoved under the staircase. Most jail cells are bigger than that. Consider using a space that is about 5′ by 7′ as a minimum and with a 3′ door you satisfy every one’s needs. Consider this, how many of you have ever had someone you know suddenly find themselves in a wheelchair, on crutches, or using a walker and they come to visit and they need to use the bathroom, only to find they can’t get in. Well soon after they have to leave and you might not see them again until they are better or worse yet not at all. What if it’s you that get injured?

Finally we come to kitchen design. Fortunately the trend the last few years has been towards bigger kitchens. With lots of counter space and plenty of room to move around. Also there has been some movement to provide multi-level counter space. That is counter space that can be used from a sitting position. There is even some who have offered adjustable height cooking and washing areas. In this age of technology, we still tend to make our houses very low tech.

In conclusion I think it is high time we revamped our building codes. Maybe even looked at a unified federal building code. A building code that is more universal in it’s intent. Most builders and individuals mistakenly think that the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) covered specifications for residential accessibility. Not at all, the ADA covers only public buildings and public places. That’s not to say that much of it can’t be used for residential design. But because it doesn’t specifically cover residential design, it can’t be looked at as a building code and it needs modification to work for this purpose. We find it easy and even desirable to embrace changes in home design when it comes saving energy. Why is it so hard to change when it comes to accessibility?

Categories: Government Policy, Handicap Issues, Residential Standards
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