This guide explains scoping and technical requirements for accessibleroutes in the ADA Standards.
Interactive/keyboard accessible – Immediately after each that has the role='listitem' add an so that it contains the entire group. Currently, this is the only way to add interactivity to an SVG. AccessiBe is changing the game. Years of R&D led to the first and only automated solution that turns websites fully accessible in compliance with WCAG 2.1 an. Accessible Routes within a Site §206.2.2 At least one accessible route within the boundary of the site originating from site arrival points must connect all accessible buildings, facilities, elements, and spaces on a site. Accessible Routes (Exterior) within a Site. Accessible Routes within a Site §206.2.2 At least one accessible route within the boundary of the site originating from site arrival points must connect all accessible buildings, facilities, elements, and spaces on a site. Accessible Routes (Exterior) within a Site.
Where Required: Site Arrival Points
[§206.2.1]
What does accessible mean? Accessible is defined as something that you can obtain, get to or use. (adjective) An example of a handicap accessible b.
At least one accessible route must be provided within the site toaccessible facility entrances from these site arrival points, whereprovided:
- accessible parking and accessible passenger loading zones
- public streets and sidewalks
- each public transportation stop.
Accessible Routes from Site Arrival Points [§206.2.1]
Accessible Routes within a Site
[§206.2.2]
At least one accessible route within the boundary of the siteoriginating from site arrival points must connect all accessiblebuildings, facilities, elements, and spaces on a site.
Accessible Routes (Exterior) within a Site
Accessible Routes within a Building or Facility
At least one accessible route must connect all accessible spaces andelements. If a circulation path is interior, the accessible route alsomust be interior. Accessible vertical interior circulation must be inthe same area as stairs and escalators, not isolated in the back of thefacility.
Recommendation: In alterations and additions, an accessible route is required where circulation paths are altered or built (§202.3). Also, alterations or additions to areas containing a primary function (a major activity for which a facility is intended) require an accessible path of travel that extends to site arrival points to the extent that the additional cost does not exceed 20% (§202.4). Otherwise, if a space or element is altered, but the circulation path to it is not, an accessible route is not required.
Where Required: Multi-Story Buildings and Facilities
[§206.2.3]
An accessible route must connect each story and mezzanine in a facilityunless an exception applies. However, if a building does qualify for anexception in the Standards:
- all other provisions in the Standards still apply to stories and mezzanines not served by an accessible route
- elevators provided anyway must fully comply (as standard or LULA elevators)
- vertical access still may be required by an applicable state or local code.
Private Sector Facilities (Places of Public Accommodation & Commercial Facilities)
An accessible route is not required to connect stories in aprivate sector facility (place of public accommodation or commercialfacility subject to title III of the ADA) that is either less than 3stories or that has under 3,000 square feet per story and is not a:
- shopping center or mall with 5 or more sales or rental establishments
- professional office of a health care provider
- public transit facility or airport terminal
In mixed use facilities that otherwise qualify for this exception,vertical access is required to any story containing occupancies notpermitted the exception.
Public Sector (Government) Facilities
An accessible route between stories is required inmulti-story government facilities subject to title II of the ADA exceptthose with no more than two stories where the inaccessible story above(or below) the entry level has no public use space and an occupant loadof five maximum.
Exceptions for Specific Occupancies [§206.2.3]
The Standards also include limited exceptions for accessible routes between stories in air traffic control towers and, under certain conditions, detention and correctional facilities, residential facilities, multi-story transient lodging guest rooms, and qualified historic facilities.
Mezzanines (Private and Public Sector Facilities)
[§206.2.4, Ex. 3]
An accessible route must serve mezzanines in multi-story facilitieswhere vertical access between stories is required or provided. Anaccessible route to mezzanines is not required in:
- single story facilities (mezzanines do not count as a story) or
- facilities that are exempt from the requirement for an accessible route between stories (additional conditions apply to restaurants and cafeterias).
Alterations and Additions
[§206.2.3.1, §202.4]
In alterations and additions to multi-story facilities, an accessibleroute to stories and mezzanines is required where a stair or escalatoris provided where none existed previously and major structuralmodifications are necessary (§206.2.3.1). The accessible route mustconnect each level served by the new stair or escalator (except where acompliant connecting accessible route already exists).
An accessible route to stories or mezzanines may be required as part ofan accessible path of travel to primary function areas that are alteredor added (§202.4). Alterations or additions involving primary functionareas must include an accessible path of travel that extends to sitearrival points to the extent that the cost is not “disproportionate”(i.e., more than 20% of the total cost of alterations to the primaryfunction area).
Exceptions for accessible routes between stories and to mezzaninespermitted in new construction, including those based on the number ofstories or square footage per story, apply fully to alterations andadditions, including those that trigger an accessible path of travel toa primary function area.
When Accessible Routes to Stories/ Mezzanines are Required in Alterations or Additions
Accessible Routes to Accessible Spaces and Elements
[§206.2.4]
An accessible route must connect accessible facility entrances with allaccessible spaces and elements in a facility that are connected by acirculation path (§206.2.4). Exceptions for accessible routes to storiesand mezzanines (§206.2.3 and §206.2.4, Ex. 3) do not extend to levelchanges within a story or mezzanine that are part of a requiredaccessible route to spaces or elements. These exceptions apply only tothe portions of an accessible route that connect stories or that connecta story and mezzanine.
Dining Areas in Restaurants and Cafeterias
In newly built restaurants and cafeterias, an accessible route must serve all dining areas, including those that are raised or sunken or located outdoors (§206.2.5). If a story or mezzanine is exempt from the requirement for vertical access, an accessible route within each story or mezzanine is still required to connect dining areas and other spaces and elements even though an elevator (or ramp) does not serve the story or mezzanine.
Recommendation: In alterations, an accessible route is not required to existing raised/ sunken dining areas or to all parts of outdoor dining areas if the same services and decor are available in other dining areas that are accessible (§206.2.5, Ex. 2). A platform lift (or limited use-limited application elevator) can be used to provide access to such areas in alterations, but not in new construction (§206.7).
Performance Areas
An accessible route must connect stages and other performance areas directly to seating areas where they are directly connected by a circulation path as well as to dressing rooms and other ancillary spaces used by performers (§206.2.6).
Press Boxes
[§206.2.7]
An accessible route is required to press boxes except where theaggregate area of all press boxes serving a playing field or assemblyarea is no more than 500 sq. ft. if press boxes are either:
- free-standing and elevated above grade at least 12’ or
- located in bleachers with points of entry on one level.
Employee Work Areas
[§206.2.8]
Common use circulation paths must be accessible in employee work areasthat are 1,000 sq. ft. or more in size. This applies to the size of workareas as defined by permanently installed walls, partitions, counters,casework, or furnishings, but not modular partitions or furnishings,including systems furniture. Other portions of areas used only byemployees for work are not required to comply.
This requirement does not apply to employee work areas that are eitherless than 1,000 sq. ft. in size or that are exterior and fully exposedto the weather. However, these types of employee work areas still mustbe accessible for “approach, entry, and exit” (§203.9). This requires aconnecting accessible route to the work area, a compliant entrance,including entry doors or gates, and a wheelchair space within the workarea. Work areas must also be served by an accessible means of egress,as required by the International Building Code. (See the ADA Scoping:New Construction Guide.
Common Use Circulation Paths in Employee Work Areas Over 1,000 SF
Recreation Facilities [§206.2.9 – §206.2.17]
The ADA Standards also address accessible routes to amusement rides, boating facilities, bowling lanes, court sports, exercise machines and equipment, fishing piers and platforms, golf and miniature golf facilities, and play areas.
Accessible Routes
[§402]
Components of accessible routes include walking surfaces, doorways,ramps, curb ramps, elevators, and, where permitted, platform lifts.
Components of Accessible Routes
Clearances
[§403.5]
The minimum 36” continuous clear width of accessible routes can reduceto 32” at points, such as doorways, for a maximum distance of 24”.Greater clearance is required for 180 degree turns around narrowobstructions and for wheelchair turning space. The minimum clearancecannot be reduced by any elements, including handrails or protrudingobjects.
180 Turns Around Obstructions
Additional clearance is required at 180 degree turns around an elementthat is less than 48” wide. The clear width must be at least 48” at theturn and 42” minimum approaching the turn (unless the clear width at theturn is 60” minimum).
Passing Space
[§403.5.3]
Passing space is required every 200 feet and must be provided as a 60”by 60” minimum space or as T-shaped space where each stem is at least48” long.
Handrails Along Walking Surfaces
[§403.6]
Handrails are required at ramps with a rise greater than 6” and atstairs that are part of a means of egress, but not at other locations.Where handrails are provided along other portions walking surfaces, theymust comply. (Handrails provided in elevator cabs or on platform liftsare not required to comply).
Handrails along Walking Surfaces
- 34” to 38” high measured to the top of the gripping surface.
- Gripping surface must be continuous the full length and top and sides cannot be obstructed.
- The bottom gripping surface can be obstructed up to 20% of the length (or along the full entire length when part of crash rails or bumper guards).
- No sharp or abrasive elements on gripping surfaces or adjacent surfaces, and no rotation within fittings.
Surface requirements and clearances facilitate a power grip along thelength of handrails. Handrails can have circular or non-circularcross-sections, but must have rounded edges. The gripping surface andadjacent surfaces must be free of abrasive or sharp elements.
Circular Cross Section and Clearance (§505.5, §505.7)
Non-Circular Cross Section and Clearance (§505.5, §505.7)
Common Questions
If no pedestrian route onto a site is provided, is an accessible route still required?
An accessible route from the boundary of the site is not required wherethe only means of site arrival is a vehicular way without pedestrianaccess. Where vehicular ways are also intended to accommodate pedestriantravel, such as a shopping center parking lot, an accessible route isrequired.
Do accessible routes that cross vehicular ways need to be marked as a crossing?
No, accessible routes that cross vehicular ways are not required by theStandards to be marked as a crossing. The Standards only require accessaisles at accessible parking spaces and accessible passenger loadingzones to be marked. (Local codes and traffic laws may require crossingsto be marked).
Do stories not required to be on an accessible route have to comply with the Standards?
Yes, stories (and mezzanines) not connected by an accessible route muststill meet all other applicable requirements in the Standards. Thisensures access for people with disabilities who can use stairs andfacilitates compliance should vertical access be achieved through laterrenovations or additions.
Do basements count in determining a facility’s story count?
As defined in the Standards, a “story” pertains to those portions ofbuildings “designed for human occupancy included between the uppersurface of a floor and upper surface of the floor or roof next above”(§106.5). A basement or other level below grade designed for humanoccupancy (i.e., equipped with lighting, ventilation, and means ofegress) counts as a story. Basements or other levels not containing anyspace designed for human occupancy are not considered stories under theStandards.
Is an accessible route required to rooftop levels?
In facilities where an accessible route is required to each story(§206.2.3), an accessible route must serve rooftop levels that containpublic or common use spaces or elements that are required to beaccessible, such as sun decks, lounges, dining areas, bars, or swimmingpools. An accessible route is not required to rooftop levels in thosefacilities that are exempt from the requirement for an accessible routeto each story based on the number of stories or the square footage perstory. In determining whether a facility qualifies for this exception,rooftop levels are not counted as a story unless they meet thedefinition of “story.” The Standards define a story as “that portion ofa building or facility designed for human occupancy,” (i.e., equippedwith lighting, ventilation, and means of egress) that is “includedbetween the upper surface of a floor and upper surface of the floor orroof next above” (§106.5).
Do the exceptions for accessible routes between stories apply to facilities that are only partially occupied by entities not permitted the exception, such as health care facility or shopping center?
Accessible routes between stories are not required in private sectorfacilities that are either less than 3 stories or that have less than3,000 square feet per story excluding the professional offices of healthcare providers, shopping centers and malls with at least 5 sales orrental establishments, and public transit facilities, including airportterminals. In mixed use facilities that otherwise qualify for thisexception, an accessible route is required to serve each storycontaining occupancies not permitted the exception. For example, if allsales or rental establishments of a shopping center are on the samestory, an accessible route is required only to that story. If located onmultiple stories, an accessible route must connect to each story thatcontains a sales or rental establishment.
When alterations are made on an upper story of a facility, is vertical access required?
Accessible Definition
If an alteration includes installation of a stair or escalator wherenone existed previously and involves major structural modifications, anaccessible route between levels served by the stair or escalator isrequired (unless an accessible route already exists). If alterations aremade to a primary function area on an upper floor, an accessible path oftravel to the area is required to the extent that the cost is notdisproportionate (i.e., more than 20% of the cost of the overallalteration). In any alteration, an accessible route between stories isnot required in a facility that qualifies for those exceptions permittedin new construction based on the number of stories or square footage perfloor.
When an addition increases the number of stories or square footage beyond the maximum permitted by the exception, is an accessible route between stories required?
Accessible Beige Sherwin Williams
If a facility no longer qualifies for the exception for multi-storyfacilities due to an increase in square footage or stories, anaccessible route between stories is required where the work alsoincludes installation of a stair or escalator where none existedpreviously and major structural modifications are needed (unless acompliant accessible route between stories already exists). Theaccessible route must connect the levels served by the new stair orescalator. Also, if the addition includes a primary function area, anaccessible path of travel to the primary function area is required,including where it involves travel between stories or levels, to theextent the cost does not exceed 20% of the cost of the overallalteration. Compliance in an alteration, including with the requirementfor an accessible route between stories, is not required where it is“technically infeasible.” In this case, compliance is required to themaximum extent feasible.