ADA Shop Talk Episode 037 – Fire Station Accessibility, Dental Office Exam Rooms & SFD’s & Apartments on State Owned Land

Episode 037 – Fire Station Accessibility, Dental Office Exam Rooms & SFD’s & Apartments on State Owned Land

Questions answered this episode:

Hope –A local agency used to own a 2 story fire station, which was first occupied in the 1960’s, pre-March 13, 1991. The local agency deeded the property to another local agency, in 2015. The apparatus bays are on the first floor, with offices and living quarters on the second floor overlooking a beach. The local agency which now owns the property is considering remodeling the building to turn the 2nd floor into 3 small apartments, which since it is public housing would require that a lift is installed to provide access to the 2nd floor, and at least one apartment be compliant with the ADA. If the local agency were to sell the property to a private developer, could the developer remodel the building installing apartments without a lift since first occupancy (as a firehouse) was before March of 1991? Or is it first residential occupancy? The first floor, being prime retail space, would be developed as such with needed compliant public features. What’s the answer?

David -We have a housing subdivision adjacent to our university (in California). The land is owned by the state and there are single family owned residences, townhomes, and rented apartments. We have two community swimming pools and jacuzzis as well as one tot lot with playground equipment. Homeowners pay monthly maintenance fees for the upkeep of the common areas. The pools, jacuzzis and tot lot are for residents and their guests only. For all the facilities, is this condition considered private use and thus exempt from needing to have accessible entries into the pools/jacuzzis or to the play equipment in the tot lot? Does the fact that this is state land and the homeowners have a ground sublease require these amenities to be fully accessible?

Keith – Do all of the exam rooms in a dental office have to be fully accessible (e.g., 5 ft. circle, door or passageway width, sink approaches, etc.)? If all do not have to be accessible, how do you establish the number that do? Does the same apply to doctor’s exam rooms?

FREE – FHA Design and Construction Webinar: Strategies for Accessible Routes and Site Work (1 of 4) More Info

CalCasp to be part of CASI Accessibility Codes and Standards Summit In October

We are excited to announce that Paul Klein & Mark Wood have been asked to be part of the Building Officials panel for the CASI Accessibility Codes and Standards Summit October 19th & 20th 2017 at the Hyatt Regency in San Francisco.

Please join us for a special two-day event designed for expert-level CASp and building officials, architects and inspectors, to learn Accessibility Codes and Standards. Take advantage of this rare opportunity to obtain information directly from National Level (ADA specific) and California (CBC-specific) industry experts. You can register and obtain more information here.