The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) establishes rules and regulations for the public to follow to make buildings more accessible for people with disabilities. The ADA has become increasingly important as America’s population ages and the number of people living with disabilities continues to grow. This means that property owners will need to be even more aware of their responsibilities under the law and what violations could lead them into legal trouble. This blog post by Action Asphalt will highlight a few common ADA violations that can be avoided if paid attention to.
Parking Signage
Whether you’re looking at your front lawn, an office building’s lobby, or any business signage out there, people with disabilities should easily be able to see them all. However, some businesses choose not to comply with these rules, which is why it’s important to know what constitutes an effective sign when you’re designing one yourself.
- Signs must have lettering that is between five inches and seven inches.
- They cannot be in any way misleading or difficult to read.
- Font size must also follow the same rules as stated above and should include a description of what’s at each location, for instance, “front office” instead of just “office.”
- Using the wrong language on signage, including “handicap” instead of the ADA-approved term, “accessible parking” can cause some serious troubles for your business.
- High-contrast coloring between background and letters is also encouraged, so signage doesn’t blend, creating an illegible design instead of clear communication about ADA compliance.
ADA Striping
Line striping in parking lots and accessible parking spaces is sometimes done incorrectly. The stripes should be broad enough so that a wheelchair can easily fit within them, and they should be evenly spaced out so that there is no confusion about where people are allowed to park. Often, these guidelines are not followed, and as a result, people with disabilities end up struggling to get in and out of their cars.
New ADA Guidelines for Stairs
The structure must be built with stairs that are at least 36 inches wide, and the handrails should extend at least one foot past each stair, all of which help ensure that every person who uses the building can use it properly. The new guidelines call for low-set railings on both sides of the steps so wheelchairs can fit underneath them if necessary.
Doors
A door that isn’t compliant with the ADA may be a bit too narrow for someone in a wheelchair to use, and even doors that can open wide enough could have thresholds or other parts of the entranceway that are hazardous. The new guidelines call for rounded door thresholds, so they don’t pose trip hazards as well as automatic openers on both sides of every accessible entryway.
Is your commercial building in Stockton ADA compliant? If not, contact Action Asphalt right away. We have over twenty years of experience executing the most demanding outdoor renovations and providing turnkey solutions to guarantee you follow ADA standards and laws. Get a free estimate now!
