The 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design (2010 Standards) were published in the Federal Register on September 15, 2010, and will become mandatory after 18 months.
In the period between September 15, 2010, and March 15, 2012:
- Places of public accommodation may choose between compliance with the 1991 ADA Standards or the 2010 Standards.
- State and local governments may choose between compliance with the 1991 ADA Standards, the Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards (UFAS), or the 2010 Standards.
On and after March 15, 2012, the standards mentioned above will be replaced by the 2010 Standards, which become mandatory and enforceable, and must be applied to all new construction, renovations, modifications, alterations, and barrier removal.
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EXAMPLE: A non-profit theater is planning two major renovations. The first renovation is currently in the design phase, is scheduled to start construction April 2011, and will be completed in April 2012. The theater is not going to start the design process on the second renovation until June 2012 for completion in June 2013. The theater can use either the 1991 Standards or the 2010 Standards on the first renovation but can only use the 2010 Standards on the second renovation. |
Standards Specific to Assembly Areas
Assembly areas include spaces such as classrooms, lecture halls, meeting rooms, movie theaters, auditoriums, theaters, concert halls, performing arts centers, amphitheaters, arenas, and stadiums.
Most of these changes can be found in sections 221 and 802 of the 2010 Standards. The following are some of the relevant standards for arts and cultural organizations:
Dimensions: A single wheelchair space must be 36 inches wide, while two wheelchair spaces adjacent to one another need only be 33 inches wide each.
Path of Travel: Wheelchair spaces must be on an accessible route but may not overlap another wheelchair space or the circulation path.
• Note: This means that access to a wheelchair space cannot be through another wheelchair space, nor can the wheelchair space stick out into the aisle.
Dispersion of Wheelchair Spaces:
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Box Seats: Wheelchair spaces must be provided and located in not fewer than 20% of all boxes.Wheelchair spaces must be dispersed vertically, horizontally, to all levels, and around the performance area, if seating encircles the stage.
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Wheelchair spaces must provide spectators with choices of seating locations and viewing angles that are substantially equivalent to, or better than, seating for other spectators.
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In stadium-style movie theaters, wheelchair spaces must be located within the rear 60% of the seats in the auditorium.
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Wheelchair spaces generally should not be on temporary or movable platforms.
Lawn seating: There must be a wheelchair-accessible path of travel to lawn seating and any exterior overflow seating.
Companion Seats: At least one companion seat (fixed or movable, adjacent, and on the same level) must be provided for each wheelchair space, and be equivalent in size, quality, and comfort to other seats in the area.
Designated Aisle Seats: Designated aisle seats are those seats with folding or retractable armrests. Five percent of all aisle seats must be a designated aisle seat, identified as a designated aisle seat, and located close to accessible routes.
Number of Wheelchair Spaces Required: Use the following table to calculate how many wheelchair spaces must be provided:
| 2010 ADA Standards Number of Wheelchair Spaces in Assembly Areas | |
|---|---|
| Capacity of Seating (i.e. # of Seats) | Minimum # of Required Wheelchair Spaces |
| 4 to 25 | 1 |
| 26 to 50 | 2 |
| 51 to 150 | 4 |
| 151 to 300 | 5 |
| 301 to 500 | 6 |
| 501 to 5000 | 6, plus 1 for each 150, or fraction thereof, between 501 through 5000 |
| 5001 and over | 36, plus 1 for each 200, or fraction thereof, over 5000 |
New Requirements for Assistive Listening Systems (ALS)
You can find most of these changes in sections 219 and 706 of the 2010 Standards.
Requirements: ALSs are required where audible communication is integral to the use of the space, but are not required where audio amplification is not provided.
Hearing Aid Compatibility: 25% of the receivers must be hearing aid compatible, which means that the ALS receiver must be usable with an induction neckloop that interfaces with the telecoil in an individual’s personal hearing aid or cochlear implant.
Technical Requirements
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Receivers must have a 1/8 inch (3.5 mm) standard monojack.
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ALSs must be capable of providing sound pressure levels of 110 dB minimum and 118 dB maximum with a dynamic volume control range of 50 dB; the signalto-noise ratio for internally generated noise must be 18 dB minimum; and the peak clipping must not exceed 18 dB of clipping relative to the peaks of speech.
Number of Receivers Required: Use the following table to calculate how many receivers must be provided.
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2010 ADA Standards Receivers for Assistive Listening Systems |
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|---|---|---|
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Capacity of Seating in Assembly Area |
Minimum # of Required Receivers |
Minimum # of Receivers Required to be Hearing-aid Compatible |
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50 or less |
2 |
2 |
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51 to 200 |
2, plus 1 per 25 seats over 50 seats or fraction thereof |
2 |
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201 to 500 |
2, plus 1 per 25 seats over 50 seats or fraction thereof |
1 per 4 receivers or fraction thereof |
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501 to 1000 |
20, plus 1 per 33 seats over 500 seats or fraction thereof |
1 per 4 receivers or fraction thereof |
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1001 to 2000 |
35, plus 1 per 50 seats over 1000 seats or fraction thereof |
1 per 4 receivers or fraction thereof |
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2001 and over |
55 plus 1 per 100 seats over 2000 seats or fraction thereof |
1 per 4 receivers or fraction thereof |
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EXAMPLE Theater A has a maximum seating capacity of 2225. Per the previous chart, they are required to have 55 receivers (the minimum) plus 1 per 100 seats over 2000 seats or fraction thereof (the additional receivers). Calculate the additional receivers using the chart above. Always round up.
Calculate the number of hearing-aid compatible receivers. (1 out of 4, or 25%). Always round up.
Theater A is required to have 58 receivers, 15 of which must be hearing-aid compatible. |
FIND IT IN THE REGULATIONS
State and Local Governments: Title II regulations at 28 CFR 35.151 and the 2004 ADAAG at 36 CFR part 1191, appendices B and D
Places of Public Accommodation: Title III regulations at 28 CFR part 36, subpart D; and the 2004 ADAAG at 36 CFR part 1191, appendices B and D
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