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

805 Medical Care and Long-Term Care Facilities

Section 805 addresses access to patient or resident sleeping rooms in medical care and long-term care facilities. Revisions made to this section include:

• removing a stipulation that wheelchair turning space not extend beneath beds (805.2)

• clarifying fixture requirements in accessible toilet and bathing rooms (805.4)

Comment. Wheelchair turning space is required in patient rooms and resident sleeping rooms. The proposed rule prohibited this space from extending under beds (805.2). Commenters opposed this requirement, noting that it is inconsistent with specifications for wheelchair turning space in section 304 which recognize knee and toe clearances for specified portions of the turning space. Commenters questioned why space at beds are held to a higher standard. A similar requirement was included for transient lodging guest rooms (806.2.6) and holding and housing cells (807.2.1).

Response. For consistency with specifications for wheelchair turning space in section 304, the Board as removed the requirement prohibiting beds from overlapping this space. Beds can overlap turning space up to six inches where adequate toe clearance (9 inches high minimum) is provided. This change was also made for transient lodging guest rooms and holding and housing cells. The Board has added clarification that toilet and bathing rooms provided as part of a patient or resident sleeping room contain at least one water closet, lavatory, and bathtub or shower (805.4).