Withdrawn Technical Assistance: Common ADA Problems at Newly Constructed Lodging Facilities

Visual Alarms

Common Problem:

Accessible guestrooms and suites (and an additional number of rooms specifically for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing) are not equipped with visual alarms and other visual notification devices.

Result:

People who are deaf or hard of hearing cannot hear fire alarms, ringing telephones, knocking at doors or ringing doorbells. Consequently, when accessible guestrooms and other guestrooms do not have visual fire alarms and visual notification devices, people who are deaf or hard of hearing have no notice of fires or other life-threatening emergencies and have no means of knowing when the telephone is ringing, when someone is knocking on the door, or when someone is ringing the doorbell.

Requirements:

All accessible guestrooms and a specific number of additional guestrooms for use by persons who are deaf or hard of hearing must be equipped with visual fire alarm strobes that are connected to the building's fire alarm system and visual notification devices to alert guests who are deaf or hard of hearing to telephone calls and to persons knocking on the door and/or ringing the doorbell. While visual alarms must be connected to the fire alarm system, notification devices (for doors and telephones) may be provided in kits available at the lodging facility's registration desk. In addition to accessible guestrooms, lodging facilities must provide additional guestrooms for persons who are deaf or hard of hearing following the table on this page. ADA Standards 9.1.3; 9.2.2(8); 9.3; 9.3.2.