ADA Shop Talk Episode 038 - How Do You Measure The 36" x 36" ISA? Nursing Home Canopy And Is Accessibility Required For Fuel Island Pumps?

ADA Shop Talk Episode 038 - How Do You Measure The 36" x 36" ISA? Nursing Home Canopy And Is Accessibility Required For Fuel Island Pumps?

October 27, 2017

Questions answered this episode:

Steve - We received an inspection from a certified CASp inspector on one of our construction projects. In his punchlist report, he stated that the ISA within the accessible parking space was incorrectly painted, even though the overall dimension is 36"x36". The ISA is in the center of a blue background and has a white border. Since the outside of the white border defines the 36"x36" dimension, the blue background is somewhat small then 36"x36". The CASp inspector cited CBC 11B-502.6.4.1 that states the ISA shall appear "in white on a blue background a minimum of 36 inches wide by 36 inches high." I have seen this ISA on a blue background and surrounded by a white border in many construction documents and installed in many locations. Have you heard of this dispute in your work? Is the ISA on a blue background and surrounded by a white border an acceptable portrayal of the ISA pavement marking for an accessible parking space? Does this ISA meet the intent of the CBC, but perhaps not the strict letter of the CBC?

Megan -  Question regarding fuel islands at a mini-mart. Are they required to comply? If so, Are they required to have an accessible route to the island from the store? Are there reach range requirements for the transaction keypad? Does the keypad have the same requirements as any transaction pad or is it now exempt? What are the rules for supplying assistance to the patrons? If they have assistance, do all these requirements go away? Can the store have hours for the assistance? Also, how about the tire inflation area? Does that have to have an accessible route to it, level area around it? Does reach range apply? Is anything from the access board on this?

Jeff - An existing nursing home of I.2 Occupancy considered as a long-term care medical facility in California proposed a major alteration to add more patient rooms without increasing the floor area. The adjusted construction cost exceeds the current valuation threshold. OSHPD directed AHJ (local building department) to review only the path of travel from the accessible parking to the main entrance; whereas the rest of scope was reviewed by OSHPD. As the plan examiner for the AHJ, I applied Section 11B-206.4.10 to this project and request for weather protection as part of compliance to provide accessible entrance under Section 11B-202.4. My request was overturned by OSHPD because it is their interpretation that weather protection requirement only applies to new building and addition, not alteration. I respect their decision but I do not understand the code basis behind such interpretation. When it comes to compliance with the path of travel requirements, how do you distinguish between addition and alteration? Can you clarify? Had this project not certified by OSHPD, how would you enforce the path of travel requirement? this.

Malvin -  Quick question, my colleague is working on a housing project for housing graduate students, 600 units total. They’re looking at a mailbox configuration. My question is in putting all mailboxes in reach ranges, 15” – 48”, Can we start at 24” AFF and go up to 72” AFF and ensure that mailboxes can be assigned as needed at convenient heights? I would think so, but I’d appreciate your opinions.