Maintaining disabled parking is not only good for business, it's the law.
Businesses that provide goods or services to the public are required to remove architectural barriers in existing buildings and make sure that newly built or altered facilities are constructed to be accessible to individuals with disabilities. Commercial facilities that do not provide goods/services directly to the public are only subject to new construction and alteration requirements.
Specific ADA rules may vary, depending upon your location, but there are standard regulations outlining the number, size, and location of handicap parking stalls, handicap-accessible ramps up to sidewalks, and the installation of signs indicating handicap parking.
Alaniz Construction, Inc. offers the following ADA Compliance services:
- Handicap Parking Lot Markings: parking stalls, emblems, external paths of travel
- Signage Installation
- Handicap Ramps
- Handrail Installation
- Truncated Dome Installation: This isn't a requirement under the 2101 ADA Standards, but detectable warnings are required under the California Building Code for vehicular hazard areas and transit platforms.
- External Paths of Travel: The California Building Code requires external paths of travel to be at least 48" wide, with a recommendation of 60 inches. Depending on hardship, existing buildings can go down to 36" and still be compliant with the ADA. The cross-slope for a path of travel cannot be greater than 1:48 inches. No change in vertical level greater than 1/2 inch is allowed. Changes in level between 1/4 and 1/2 inches should be beveled at a 45 degree slope. From every disabled parking space there should be an access aisle, which must connect to the accessible path of travel. Individuals with disabilities tend to travel slower than individuals who do not have disabilities. One could be in a wheelchair, or they could use a walker, or cane, or be legally blind. Preferably, paths of travel should not cross vehicular traffic. But when they inevitably do, areas that are shared by driver and pedestrian must be blue stripped and hatched like in the photo. These areas are known as crosswalks. Crosswalks are an integral part of the accessible path of travel.For this purpose, the blue stripping helps alert both drivers and pedestrians that this is an area reserved for those who walk. Individuals who are legally blind may not be able to see very well. They may be able to see the blue stripping if it contrasts with the pavement but they definitely cannot see other drivers’ faces. This means that they cannot tell if a driver sees them or not. Legally blind individuals look like everyone else. Drivers may assume that such a person sees them and will stop walking. Do not ever block this crosswalk. Surface slopes of accessible parking spaces and access aisles shall be the minimum possible and shall not exceed one unit vertical in 50 units horizontal (2-percent slope) in any direction.
New ADA Regulations went into effect on March 15, 2011. What you need to know (related to parking lot compliance):
- You can choose between the 1991 standards or the 2010 standards between now and March 14, 2012. The entire building's barrier-removal must comply with oneof those standards (you cannot use a combination of the two). If all barrier-removal is completed by March 14, 2012, there will be a "safe harbor" under the 2010 standards, meaning that your facility can remain in compliance with 1991 standards until they are renovated, altered or part of a new construction project.
- Starting March 15, 2012, all renovations, new construction and readily-achievable barrier removal must comply with the 2010 standards.
- 1 of every 6 accessible spaces must now be van-accessible (increased from 1 of every 8).
- Parking lot striping is considered an alteration, and must comply with current ADA standards.
Why you should comply
- More than 50 million Americans (18% of our population) has a disability, and each is a potential customer.
- 71.5 million baby boomers will be over the age of 65 by the year 2030 and will need products, services and environments that meet their age-related physical needs.
- You can face legal action if you do not comply.