The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was endorsed in 1990. It made public places more accessible for people with disabilities. It covers a lot of different situations and has a big impact on building codes all over the country.
Elevators are among the most important parts of building codes that the ADA covers. If you’re building a new facility or remodeling an existing one, you’ll need to install ADA-compliant elevators that meet ADA elevator requirements.
Providing elevators for disabled people will help you ensure your building is compliant.
Are you concerned about meeting ADA elevator requirements? No need to worry. Check out these ADA elevator requirements.
Are ADA-Compliant Elevators Required?
There are buildings that may be exempt from some ADA requirements. Private buildings with fewer than three floors, or less than 3000 square feet per floor, are not required to include an ADA elevator.
Exceptions include shopping centers, a health care provider’s professional offices, or a public transportation facility/station. All other businesses built after 2010 must include an ADA elevator.
Owners of older buildings are required to comply with all ADA requirements. Otherwise, they risk being subject to liability lawsuits and federal fines.
Some businesses have reasons for not including an ADA elevator. They are still required to make “reasonable accommodations” for disabled individuals.
ADA Elevator Dimensions
When using an ADA-compliant elevator, the doors must stay open for at least three seconds. The elevator requirement gives people with disabilities enough time to get in and out safely.
ADA elevator dimensions must meet the ADA requirements. Doors must be 36 inches wide, so that wheelchairs can get in and out easily. The car depth is one inch.
The inside of a building elevator is 68 inches unless the ADA elevator has a center-opening door. In those models, the inside width must be 80 inches.
ADA Buttons and Signage
ADA elevator requirements are specific regarding elevator button designs and ADA signage.
Call buttons should be 0.75 inches big, so they’re easy to use. They should also be 42 inches above the floor.
Emergency controls are grouped at the bottom. Their centerlines are no more than 35 inches higher than the floor making it accessible so everyone can get to them in an emergency, regardless of their ability.
ADA signage is very important. Braille should be written on the control panel in textile letters, either right below the buttons or next to them. The numbers should be in ascending order to match the elevator.
There should also be a warning when the elevator reaches a certain floor. Buildings can use a green light or a recorded announcement.
Are You ADA-Compliant?
ADA-compliant elevators are designed to meet the needs of people with various disabilities.
Accessibility not only means being able to walk through the building but also being able to get out of the building in the event of an emergency. Whether someone is physically disabled, hearing, or visually impaired, using an elevator is a basic need.
Keystone Elevator Service & Modernization is available to inspect your elevators for ADA compliance. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.