ABA Accessibility Standard for GSA Facilities Pocket Guide

The Basis for this Pocket Guide

This publication has been compiled from the General Services Administration (GSA) Architectural Barriers Act Accessibility Standard downloaded from the US Access Board website at http://www.access-board.gov/guidelines-and-standards/buildings-and-sites/about-the-abastandards/aba-standards and from selected sections from the GSA Final Rule adopting these standards at http://www.gsa.gov/portal/ext/public/site/FMR/file/Part102-_76.html/category/21859/. The accessibility standards for buildings and facilities covered by the Architectural Barriers Act (ABA) are set forth in Appendices C (Chapters 1-2 Scoping) and D (Chapters 3-10 Technical) to Part 1191 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 36. These new standards replace the Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards (UFAS) and apply to buildings and facilities subject to GSA regulations. See “GSA Notice, §102-76.65” at http://www.gsa.gov/portal/ext/public/site/FMR/file/Part102-_76.html/category/21859/.

The standards became effective May 8, 2006, for new construction and alterations, and February 6, 2007, for leased facilities. For leased facilities where the Government expressly requires new construction to meet its needs the effective date was August 7, 2006. In addition, new requirements for outdoor constructed features, including trails, picnic and camping areas, and beach access routes, became mandatory as part of the ABA standards on November 25, 2013. These requirements apply to sites that are built, altered, or leased with federal funds. These Guidelines and supporting materials are available on the Access Board’s website at http://www.Access-Board.gov/Guidelines-and-Standards/Recreation-Facilities/Outdoor-Developed-Areas/Final-Guidelines-for-Outdoor-Developed-Areas.

The Access Board’s ABA Standards have also been adopted by the Department of Defense and the United States Postal Service. The Department of Housing and Urban Development is in the process of review and adoption of this standard. This publication contains only the GSA’s ABA Accessibility Standard. Below is information concerning the other departments that have adopted the ABA Accessibility Standard.

The Department of Defense, in a Memorandum from the Deputy Secretary of Defense dated October 31, 2008, adopted the same Appendices to Part 1191 as its standards under the ABA effective the date of the Memorandum. An attachment to the Memorandum, which identifies the facilities that are subject to the standards and describes the requirements for alterations to a primary function area, is also part of the Department of Defense standards. This Memorandum can be viewed at http://www.access-board.gov/guidelines-and-standards/buildings-and-sites/about-the-abastandards/background/dod-memorandum.

According to the Access Board, the Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards (UFAS) are still in effect for federally funded housing facilities. The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is in the process of replacing UFAS with updated ABA standards. (See http://www.Access-Board.Gov/ABA).

The United States Postal Service published regulations implementing the ABA and adopted by reference Appendices C and D to Part 1191, with the exception of the advisory notes, as the regulatory standards for its postal facilities, effective October 1, 2005. (See http://www.Access-Board.Gov/Guidelines-and-Standards/Buildings-and-Sites/About-the-ABA-Standards/ABAStandards).

The above information is current as of the publication of this pocket guide.