2022 California Standards for Accessible Design Guide (effective January 1, 2023)

Advisory 11B-302.2 Carpet. The accessibility provisions of the California Building Code apply only to the design, alteration, and new construction of buildings and facilities, not to movable floor mats. However, if floor mats are built-in as part of new construction or alterations, and are part of an accessible route, they must comply with the accessibility provisions of this section and Section 11B-302.1 which requires firm, stable and slip-resistant surfaces along accessible routes.

However, in addition to circumstances in which the California Building Code applies to built-in floor mats, there may also be circumstances in which Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements apply to floor mats that are not built in. If movable floor mats impede access for people with disabilities, they may need to be moved or removed under Section 36.304 of the ADA Title III regulations. That section requires that a public accommodation remove barriers in existing facilities where removing them is "readily achievable," that is, easily accomplishable and able to be carried out without much difficulty or expense. Even though the requirements of this chapter would not apply to the mats themselves, the ADA regulations can provide helpful guidance in ensuring that mats do not constitute barriers. ◼