Improving the Accessibility of Buildings for People with
Disabilities
The odds are that many of us will experience a disability
at some point in our lives. Maybe it's temporary, like a broken
leg. Or it may be more permanent, such as mobility impairment,
vision loss or reduced hearing. Such disabilities, whether
temporary or permanent, may affect how we get around at home,
at work, when we're out shopping or seeing a museum, or even
when we visit the doctor.
Many buildings are easily accessible for people with disabilities.
Other buildings may not be as easy to maneuver around. Many
different groups are working to improve accessibility in the
United States. Federal agencies, state and local governments,
codes and standards organizations, the construction industry
and disability advocacy groups have all worked together to
make buildings accessible.
 Call for Public Comment on ICC/ANSI A117.1. Click here.
2006 International Building Code meets FHA accessibility requirements. Read more.
U.S.
Access Board Advisory Committee presents recommendations on
courthouse access. Read
more.
Free matrix compares ADA guidelines
to 2006 IBC. Read
more.
Access Board compares new ADAAG,
original ADA, 2003 IBC. Read
more.
Want to get an overall understanding of accessibility? Keep
reading to learn about the codes, standards and laws that
address accessibility of buildings. Have a specific question
about accessibility? Click on the related topic to learn more:
What is the International
Building Code?
The International Building Code (IBC) is the most widely
adopted building code in the United States. The International
Code Council, a membership association dedicated to building
safety and fire prevention, develops the IBC and other International
Codes.
When referenced in local, state or federal legislation, the
International Building Code becomes the minimum requirement
for construction. A jurisdiction either uses the code as is
or amends it to fit specific needs of the community.
The International Code Council is committed to meeting or
exceeding the accessibility requirements of the Americans
with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Fair Housing Act (FHA).
Accessibility requirements are incorporated into the International
Codes as the codes are updated, through the International
Code development process.
To find out what codes and local amendments are enforced
in your area, contact your local building department.
To see if the International Codes are used in your community,
click here.
What is the ICC/ANSI
A117.1?
The ICC/ANSI A117.1 Accessible and Usable Buildings and
Facilities is a nationally recognized standard of technical
requirements for making buildings accessible. Published since
1961, it is referenced by many federal documents and state
accessibility laws. The IBC also references the ICC/ANSI A117.1.
The International Code Council is the secretary of the ICC/ANSI
A117.1. The International Code Council, and its precursor
organization, the Council of American Building Officials (CABO),
have been responsible for the document since 1987. The ICC/ANSI
A117.1 is developed through a public hearing and consensus
process supervised by the American National Standards Institute
(ANSI). The document is on a five year cycle for development.
The most recent edition came out in 2003.
To find out more about the development of the ICC/ANSI A117.1
and activities of the ICC/ANSI A117.1 Committee, click
here.
Why use the IBC for
accessibility?
The Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines
(ADAAG) and Fair Housing Accessibility Guidelines (FHAG),
as federal guidelines, must go through a rulemaking process
to be amended or updated. The process can take a long time.
The IBC is updated on a three-year cycle. The International
Code Council uses an open-hearing, consensus process to develop
its building safety and fire prevention codes, including the
IBC. It is an inclusive process that allows input from all
individuals and groups, including federal agencies and disability
advocacy groups. Each cycle includes the opportunity for public
comments. Final decisions are made by International Code Council
voting members-code enforcement and fire officials who, with
no vested interests beyond public safety, represent the public's
best interest. This process allows for new ideas, techniques
and products to be incorporated in the requirements.
The IBC contains all the scoping (e.g. what, where and how
many) provisions for accessibility. Anyone can propose modification
to these requirements. For information on the code development
process, click here.
Most jurisdictions update their building codes on a regular
basis. Therefore, as new technologies and accessibility provisions
are incorporated into the IBC and adopted by jurisdictions,
they are built into new construction.
The International
Code Council and new technologies
Through the normal code development process, the International
Code Council incorporates new technologies into the codes.
The International Code Council is also involved in other activities
to address technology.
- Code
Technology Committee (CTC). The International Code
Council established the CTC to look at broad picture items
and suggest improvements to the code through the code change
process. The committee will address several accessibility-related
issues, including: Day care/Adult care/Assisted Living;
Emergency evacuations with elevators; and IBC coordination
with the new ADAAG. All meetings are open to the public.
- Workshop
on Use of Elevators in Fires and Other Emergencies.
The International Code Council and other organizations participated
in this workshop coordinated by the American Society of
Mechanical Engineers (ASME). Visit the ASME site for workshop
papers and follow-up meetings on improving the use of elevators
for evacuation during emergencies.
- "In
Case of Fire, Use Stairs." This article about
the elevator workshop looks at using elevators in case of
emergencies. It originally appeared in the July/August 2004
issue of Building Safety Journal.
To continue to the second page, click
here.
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