You have finished constructing and paving your parking lot, so what comes next? Whether it is for your office or residential apartment building, following California ADA Compliance Checklist, it is essential that it complies with the ADA regulations. American Disability Act Regulations is not only about having elevators and ramps in your building, but the parking lot must also meet certain requirements to avoid government penalties and fines. Statistics from some of the most reliable sources show that about 50 million people in the United States of America live with a disability, with mobility limitations being the most common. The ADA regulations act, therefore, strives to ensure that there is no disability discrimination as far as paving and the parking lot is concerned. It also ensures everyone, including disabled people, have access to places that are open to the general public including those who are need handicapped-friendly parking spots.
Perhaps you know this, but you may be wondering whether your parking lot has violated any of the ADA regulations. Well, in this article, we shall explain a few ADA violations and a quick California ADA Compliance Checklist that must often found in parking lots & which asphalt driveway paving contractors follow. Take a look!
Having fewer than the minimum number of accessible parking spaces
There is no question about the fact that access to an office, residential apartment building, or any other building begins in the parking lot. The ADA Act states that the parking section must have a threshold number of accessible spaces. For instance, if the total spaces in a building are between one and twenty-five, then only one accessible parking space is required. If the total spaces are between 101 and 150, then the minimum accessible spaces are five, and so on and so forth. It is also required that at least 1 out of every 6 accessible parking spaces must be van accessible. Therefore, if your parking lot does not contain the number of accessible parking spaces, then you are committing an ADA violations. you can just follow California ADA Compliance Checklist to avoid violations.
Non-compliant ramps
Surfaces within your accessible parking spaces must be stable, firm, and slip-resistant. It should also include no significant changes in level. This is achievable by erecting accessible curbs and ramps. In most cases, an access aisle connects directly to a typical curb ramp that leads onto the entrance way or sidewalk of the building. The standard specification for ramps to comply with ADA is a slope of 1:12, 36 inches wide, and anti-slip edges. If your building, therefore, does not have ramps or the existing ramps do not adhere to standard specifications, then you are on the wrong side of the ADA rules.
Non-compliant handicapped accessible loading zones
According to California ADA Compliance Checklist, Your parking lot must be handicapped accessible with standard loading zones. You can also contact certified access specialist California for ADA inspection. This zone must provide users a pull-up space of twenty feet minimum distance and ninety-six inches minimum width. It is also required that the loading zones should not overlap with the traffic way. Notably, accessible aisles, vehicle pull-up spaces, and the vehicular route from the passenger-loading zone should have a vertical clearance distance of 114 inches at the bare minimum. If your parking lot does not meet this specification, then you are violating one of the ADA regulations.
Non-compliant signage
You may be thinking that you are in compliance with the ADA because your parking lot already contains all of the things previously mentioned. According to California ADA Compliance Checklist, Another important area of compliance is signage. For instance, your parking spaces should be identified with signs displaying the international handicapped accessibility symbol. The dimensions of this sign are 12 by 18 inches. The sign must be tall enough to be seen even if the parking space is occupied (at least 60 inches in height). If your parking lot does not meet the handicap accessibility guidelines ADA parking requirements California of these four areas, then, without doubt, you are not an ADA compliant. You should also be compliant with these ADA regulations and have the appropriate parking-lot striping created.
A quick guide to ADA rules, all you have to do is follow this California ADA Compliance Checklist to avoid the violations.
About Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
The Americans with Disability Act or ADA was passed in 1990 which specified prevention of any kind of possible discrimination against disabled people in public areas. The act prohibits discrimination in important areas including transportation, employment, public offices, communications, etc. Soon the state and local governments began enacting the act via several programs, and initiatives. The California ADA compliance checklist is one such initiative taken to promote an inclusive and tolerant administrative system. The California ADA requirements for business, public spaces, parking lots, etc. are within the purview.
Where California ADA Requirements Apply?
The requirements to follow ADA norms are relevant in any government entity. Other than that, ADA compliance California is also applicable to organizations or businesses that include 15 or more employees and rely on the general public. So, the ADA comprises within its scope, places like:
- Restaurants, Motels, Resorts, and Hotels.
- Public Parking Garages, Sidewalks.
- Bus Stations, Airports, Train, Railway Stations
- Parks
- Stores
- Hospitals, Public Restrooms, and Other Healthcare Facilities.
Other than these, in larger public facilities like parking lot ADA compliance should also be strictly abided by in California.
California ADA Compliant Parking Requirements
While complying with the ADA, the types of facilities associated with parking in public spaces in California are employee parking; unpaved parking lots, temporary parking lots, visitor parking, etc. Accordingly, some universal requirements on the parking lot include:
- The parking lot design should satisfy the size, slope, and signage standards as per the ADA standards.
- The need for marked access aisles providing enough navigation area for people with disabilities must be followed.
- Meeting the slope requirements for accessible spaces is also important. That is for parking spaces, the maximum slopes are 1:48, while for ramps and access routes, it is 1:12.
These are some of the additional ADA standards any new parking facility, existing ones, or resurfacing lots should follow.
ADA Sidewalk Compliance Checklist
The curb ramps and sidewalk should be constructed in an order that complies with ADA standards.
- If there are any concrete cracks or resurfaced sidewalks should be repaired as soon as possible.
- With sidewalk spaces of less than 60 inches, an approx. 200 ft passing space which must be 60 inches on all sides needs to be constructed for driving or walking purposes.
- Curb ramps need to be implemented at sidewalk crosses or street intersections.California ADA Inspection Checklist.
California ADA Inspection Checklist
Here’s a quick checklist to follow, when making sure a facility follows the California ADA requirements.
- Reporting the number of parking spaces accessible, space, signs, and identification.
- Ramps, curb ramps
- Sidewalks,
- Vestibule, urinals, lavatories,
- Public resources like telephone, etc.
