Does Your Facility Have an ADA Compliant Entrance?

Make sure your company is ADA compliant by going through the ADA check list. There are four main priorities when assessing if your facility is ADA compliant.

1. The first priority is to see if your facility has an accessible approach and entrance.
2. The second priority is to see if your facility has access to goods and services.  
3. The next priority is to assess the access to restrooms.
4. The fourth and last priority is to assess all other measures. 

Today, we are going to go into further detail about the first priority: if your facility has an accessible approach and entrance.

The ADA believes that disabilities should never hinder people's ability to "arrive on site, approach the building, and enter as freely as everyone else." There are a few items to check off the check list to make sure your facility has an accessible approach and entrance.  The ADA has put together a checklist to help assess the degree to which your facility is ADA compliant.

Route of Travel

1. Stairs should not be required to enter.
2. The walkway is "stable, firm and slip-resistant."
3. The walkway should be at least 36 inches wide.
4. Objects protruding into the circulation paths must be detectable by a person with a visual disability using a cane.
5. Curbs must have curb cuts at drives, parking, and drop off.

Ramps

1. Slopes must not have a greater ratio than 1 inch of height to 12 inches along the base of the ramp.
2. Ramps longer than six feet must have railings on both sides.
3. Railings must be steady and between 34 and 38 inches high.
4. Ramps must be slip resistant.
5. A 5-foot-long level landing is required at the end of every 30-foot horizontal length of ramp.
6. Ramps must not rise more than 30 inches between landings.

Watch this video to explore how Fibergrate created this ADA-Compliant Wheelchair ramp for an energy company.

Parking and Drop-Off Areas

1. Your facility must have an adequate number of accessible parking spaces.

2. There should be parking spaces available for lift vans. 
3. Access aisles should be part of the accessible route to the accessible entrance.
4. Parking spaces for disabled should be closest to the appropriate exit and entrance.
5. Spaces should be clearly marked, and van accessible spaces should be marked "Van Accessible."
6. There must be a procedure in place to make certain that only those in need use the accessible spaces.

Entrance

This list is extensive but very important.  Make sure to go through the list and make note of the changes that need to be made to your facility.  There are various ways to make these changes, some more simple than you may think.  For instance, guardrails and ramps may be installed in a short amount of time.  In addition, slip resistant, corrosion resistant fibreglass grating can be easily installed to become your new ramp and landing solutions.  These and many other simple solutions are available to help your facility comply with the ADA.