ADA mounting height question of the day

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jfrog

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I have an ADA mounting height question:

I'm designing a senior living complex, which is really basically a big apartment. In each of the apartments there is a living room window with a sill height of 18". With the structure below the window, we can't quite get the receptacle up to ADA height (15"). Is there any type of official exception to meeting ADA in this case? All of the other receptacles in the room are mounted at 18". The apartment units are not specifically designated as ADA either.
 
18 in. is ok. ADA rule is 15 in min. and 48 in max.
So, anywhere between these numbers shall be fine.
15 in comes as lowest as person in wheelchair can reach bending down. Can't be installed lower than 15 in.

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jfrog said:
I have an ADA mounting height question:

I'm designing a senior living complex, which is really basically a big apartment. In each of the apartments there is a living room window with a sill height of 18". With the structure below the window, we can't quite get the receptacle up to ADA height (15"). Is there any type of official exception to meeting ADA in this case? All of the other receptacles in the room are mounted at 18". The apartment units are not specifically designated as ADA either.
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Does the window have a width of 12 ft. How wide is the window?
 
No, those would interfere with the window. One solution is to add another receptacle at 18" to one side of the window to comply with NEC spacing. Since we're already under construction, the contractor would ask for more money x 68 units. The gist of my question was, does EVERY receptacle in a space have to be ADA, or is OK to have all but one be.
 
jfrog said:
No, those would interfere with the window. One solution is to add another receptacle at 18" to one side of the window to comply with NEC spacing. Since we're already under construction, the contractor would ask for more money x 68 units. The gist of my question was, does EVERY receptacle in a space have to be ADA, or is OK to have all but one be.
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Our building department would read ANSI/ICC to require all general purpose rec. in required accessible and adaptable units to meet the 15 to 48 in reach range

Edit: Your idea of adding a rec was what I was getting at when I asked the width of the window
 
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darkov said:
Install them all at 18 in high and you'll be code compliant

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He cant as the sill is at 18". As someone mentioned, Sillites:

http://www.sillites.com/

may be an option if the bottom of the receptacle isnt 15" AFF. If the place has concrete poured floors over plywood, heavy padding and carpet, you can lose an inch and a half over rough floor.

Per the diagram, 15" appears ADA compliant. Be careful with those tho, ADA comes and the do pull tape measures on anything suspect.

If someone is super anal about this receptacle placement height-wise, a simplex would give you another 1/2" or so AFF over where the bottom half of a duplex would be, or mount a single gang box horizontally.
 
There is nothing in ADA code that is talking about the receptacles. Only reaching ranges and clearances. That sinior care / apartment would be R2 or R4 occupancy type and in none of them mention receptacles. If someone tells you different ask him/her for code section and please let me know of that section. ADA doesn't require all, 100% to be accessible. In type A or type B units with 2 bathrooms only one shall be ADA compliant, but not both.
So, that one receptacle under the window shall be fine at any hight.

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jfrog said:
.... The gist of my question was, does EVERY receptacle in a space have to be ADA, or is OK to have all but one be.
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FWIW, I read somewhere that if a person in a wheelchair can approach the outlet parallel to the wall (i.e. reach over the side to access the outlet rather than straight forward), the receptacle can go as low as 9".
 
Smart $ said:
FWIW, I read somewhere that if a person in a wheelchair can approach the outlet parallel to the wall (i.e. reach over the side to access the outlet rather than straight forward), the receptacle can go as low as 9".
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4.2.6* Side Reach. If the clear floor space allows parallel approach by a person in a wheelchair, the maximum high side reach allowed shall be 54 in (1370 mm) and the low side reach shall be no less than 9 in (230 mm) above the floor (Fig. 6(a) and (b)). If the side reach is over an obstruction, the reach and clearances shall be as shown in Fig 6(c). Appendix Note
 
Smart $ said:
4.2.6* Side Reach. If the clear floor space allows parallel approach by a person in a wheelchair, the maximum high side reach allowed shall be 54 in (1370 mm) and the low side reach shall be no less than 9 in (230 mm) above the floor (Fig. 6(a) and (b)). If the side reach is over an obstruction, the reach and clearances shall be as shown in Fig 6(c). Appendix Note
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you guys need to be careful and site what year code you are quoting.

2010 ADA standards for Accessible Design Department of justice September 15, 2010 standards Titles II and III
308 308.1, 308.2, 308.3 unobstructed is between 48 in max and low reach 15 in Min.
 
darkov said:
There is nothing in ADA code that is talking about the receptacles. Only reaching ranges and clearances. That sinior care / apartment would be R2 or R4 occupancy type and in none of them mention receptacles. If someone tells you different ask him/her for code section and please let me know of that section. ADA doesn't require all, 100% to be accessible. In type A or type B units with 2 bathrooms only one shall be ADA compliant, but not both.
So, that one receptacle under the window shall be fine at any hight.

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Scope of coverage
The 1991 standard and the 2010 standard apply to fixed or built in elements of buildings , structures ,site improvements , and pedestrian routes or vehicle ways located on a site.

In addition to the federal standard a lot of states adopt ICC /ANSI 117.1
 
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david said:
you guys need to be careful and site what year code you are quoting.

2010 ADA standards for Accessible Design Department of justice September 15, 2010 standards Titles II and III
308 308.1, 308.2, 308.3 unobstructed is between 48 in max and low reach 15 in Min.
Click to expand...
You are correct. I did not realize the 9 inch limitation was from a dated regulation... and just trying to confirm what I had read somewhere.
 
jfrog said:
I have an ADA mounting height question:

I'm designing a senior living complex, which is really basically a big apartment. In each of the apartments there is a living room window with a sill height of 18". With the structure below the window, we can't quite get the receptacle up to ADA height (15"). Is there any type of official exception to meeting ADA in this case? All of the other receptacles in the room are mounted at 18". The apartment units are not specifically designated as ADA either.
Click to expand...

jfrog said:
I have an ADA mounting height question:
The apartment units are not specifically designated as ADA either.
Click to expand...

As a design professional you need to call out what standard or standards and year you are designing under.

I'm a little confused as a design professional you state you are asking an ADA mounting height then state "the apartment units are not specifically designated" as accessible. You must designate a certain % accessible and the rest ether type A or type B and be careful if someone tells you the ADA doesn't apply to your design, there are other federal laws such as the fair Housing Act and section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. also there are State accessibility standards adopted by most states such as the ICC / ASNI 117.1 and in addition there is chapter 10 (1005.2.1) international code counsel international building Code (ICC/IBC) also selections 207.1 207.2 216.4.2 216.4.3 of that same standard

ADA 2010 Standards title II

ADA 2010 Standards title III

Fair Housing Act

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended

ICC / ASNI 117.1 of what year.
 
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