36 CFR Parts 1190 and 1191 ADA and ABA Accessibility Guidelines - Preamble (Discussion of Comments and Changes)

Section 802.3 addresses companion seats, which are required to be paired with wheelchair spaces (221.3). In the final rule, the Board has clarified that companion seats are to be located to provide shoulder alignment with adjacent wheelchair spaces (802.3.1). Consistent with the ANSI A117.1‒2003 standard, the provision in the final rule specifies that shoulder alignment is to be measured 36 inches from the front of the wheelchair space and that the floor surface of companion seats is to be at the same elevation as that of wheelchair spaces. In the proposed rule (802.7), companion seats were required to be "readily removable." As discussed above in section 221, the final rule allows, but does not require, companion seats to be removable (802.3.2). In addition, the Board has added a requirement that companion seats be "equivalent in quality, size, and comfort and amenities" to seating in the immediate area (802.3.2). Amenities include, but are not limited to, cup holders, arm rests, and storage pockets.