ADA is the Americans with Disabilities Act, a federal law that has been incorporated into building codes. ANSI A117.1 is the standard that meets ADA requirements for accessibility guidelines, adopted by government agencies and other organizations. These standards are published by the International Code Council (ICC) as part of the International Building Code (IBC). Let’s dive into some fast facts about the Americans with Disabilities Act!
Clear Width
Accessible openings must have a clear width of at least 32 inches to ensure that anyone in a wheelchair, using a mobility device, a walker, or accompanied by a service animal, can access and use public spaces and facilities.
Door Height
To avoid awkward maneuvering, the doorway must have a minimum clear opening height of 80 inches. Your overhead stops and closers can be mounted 78 inches from the finished floor or ground.
Door Closers
For someone using a mobility device to have enough time to go through an opening, the door closer must take a minimum of 5 seconds to close from 90 degrees (open) to 12 degrees from the latch.
Spring Hinges
For someone using a mobility device to have sufficient time to go through an opening, the spring hinges on the door must take at least 1.5 seconds to move from 70 degrees (open) to a closed position.
Opening Force
To ensure that the largest range of people can open a door, the force needed to open a door is no more than five foot-pounds. This excludes exterior hinged doors and fire doors.
Hardware Mounting Height
To allow people in mobility devices to open the door, the operating portion of the door hardware must be installed between 34 and 48 inches above the finished floor.
To accommodate the broadest range of users, operating door hardware should be able to be operated with one hand, a loose grip, or a closed fist, and should not require a tight grasp, pinching, or wrist twisting to operate. Because of this, round doorknobs do not comply.
Smooth Bottom Rail
To facilitate access by those with mobility aids, such as wheelchair footrests, swinging doors should have a smooth surface to a height of at least 10” across the full width of the door. Any vertical or horizontal joints should not exceed 1/16” and any cavities between a kick plate and door surface should be capped or closed.
Thresholds
To aid in passage through any door opening, the maximum height of a threshold is limited to ½” and the edge must be beveled 1:2 maximum above a height of ¼”. A maximum height of ¾” is permitted for existing or altered thresholds if the slope is not steeper than 1:2.
Vision Lites
To allow for visibility by the greatest range of users, all doors and side lights with one or more glazing panel should have at least one located 43” maximum above the finished floor. Vision lights located at least 66” inches above the finished floor are not required to comply, as they are generally used for light and not viewing.
Thank you for exploring these ADA Fast Facts! Ensuring accessibility in public spaces isn’t just about compliance, it’s about creating environments where everyone can move freely and safely. From door widths to hardware height and vision lites, every detail plays a crucial role in making spaces inclusive for all.
If you have questions about ADA compliance or want expert guidance on your next project, contact LaForce. Our team is here to support you with the knowledge and solutions you need to meet accessibility standards confidently.
For additional information about ADA restroom requirements, please check out our blogs ADA Bathroom Requirements: Toilet Height , ADA Compliant Bathroom and ADA Bathroom Requirements: Restroom Space .
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