36 CFR Part 1191 ABA Accessibility Guidelines, Outdoor Developed Areas - Preamble

Outdoor Constructed Features

The proposed rule contained separate scoping and technical requirements for picnic tables, fire rings, grills, fireplaces, wood stoves, trash and recycling receptacles, water hydrants, utility and sewage hookups, outdoor rinsing showers, benches, and viewing scopes. The final rule collectively defines these elements as outdoor constructed features.

The proposed rule would have required 50 percent of picnic tables, fire rings, grills, and benches to comply with the applicable technical requirements, and would have required at least 40 percent of these elements that complied with the applicable technical requirements to be on an outdoor recreation access route. In the final rule, the scoping requirements for camping facilities, picnic facilities, viewing areas, trailheads, and trails include scoping requirements for outdoor constructed features; and the technical requirements for outdoor constructed features are contained in 1011. The final rule requires every outdoor constructed feature that complies with the applicable technical requirements in 1011 to be on an outdoor recreation access route.

The proposed rule based the size of the clear ground space at outdoor constructed features on the dimensions for clear floor or ground surfaces in 305.2 of the Architectural Barriers Act Accessibility Guidelines. The final rule bases the size of the clear ground space at outdoor constructed features on the dimensions for maneuvering clearance at clear floor or ground spaces that are confined on all or part of three sides in 305.7 of the Architectural Barriers Act Accessibility Guidelines. Outdoor constructed features can be confined on all or part of three sides by surfaces that are not firm and stable or that have changes in level. The dimensions for maneuvering clearance at clear floor or ground spaces that are confined on all or part of three sides in 305.7 of the Architectural Barriers Act Accessibility Guidelines provide additional space for maneuvering into and out of the space: 36 inches minimum by 48 inches minimum for a forward approach, and 30 inches minimum by 60 inches minimum for a parallel approach. At water hydrants, a clear ground space for a forward approach is required on each side of the water hydrant to enable individuals with disabilities to operate the water hydrant from their right side or left side. At rinsing showers, the size of the clear ground space is based on the dimensions for turning space in 304.3.1 of the Architectural Barriers Act Accessibility Guidelines to enable individuals with disabilities to turn in the space.

The proposed rule would have required outdoor rinsing showers to provide grab bars. Outdoor rinsing showers typically are provided at beaches for rinsing off sand and lotions that people apply to their bodies when they are outdoors. They are not designed for bathing and do not offer privacy. Individuals who use wheeled mobility devices are not expected to transfer from the devices when using outdoor rinsing showers and do need grab bars for this purpose. Therefore, the final rule does not require grab bars at rinsing showers.

The proposed rule also would have required outdoor rinsing showers to provide a fixed shower head at a lower height. The final rule requires outdoor rinsing showers to provide a hand-held shower spray unit that has at least one fixed position located 15 inches minimum and 48 inches maximum above the ground. Where vandalism is a consideration, a fixed shower head located 48 inches above the ground is permitted in place of a hand-held shower spray unit.

The proposed rule would have required benches to provide a backrest and armrests. The final rule does not require a backrest and armrests due to the varied designs and configurations of benches.