Why do stairs have ADA Requirements?
Have you ever wondered why stairs have accessibility requirements even though they are not a feature of an accessible route?
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires all public accommodations to make their goods, services and facilities accessible for people with disabilities. A primary component of this mandate is the accessible route. When most people think about disability access in the built environment, at least one component of an accessible route come to mind:
ACCESSIBLE ROUTE. A continuous unobstructed path connecting accessible elements and spaces of an accessible site, building or facility that can be negotiated by a person with a disability using a wheelchair and that is also safe for and usable by persons with other disabilities. Interior accessible routes may include corridors, hallways, floors, ramps, elevators and lifts. Exterior accessible routes may include parking access aisles, curb ramps, crosswalks at vehicular ways, walks, ramps and lifts.
While the accessible route plays a very important function in accessible design, it is not the only consideration. There is also the circulation path to think about. The circulation path is any area intended for pedestrian traffic including stairways. Even though circulation paths may not be accessible for people with mobility disabilities, they still have accessibility requirements to protect those with vision impairments, limited mobility and a number of other disabilities. Some of the common disability access requirements that apply to circulation paths are protruding objects and stairs.
Accessibility requirements for stairs.
The ADA standard requirements for stairs aim to make them accessible and usable for everyone, including people with disabilities. These standards include requirements for risers, treads and handrails.
The stair risers and treads have specific height and slope requirements to ensure that they can be used safely by people with mobility and vision disabilities. In California, treads have additional requirements for contrasting stripes to help people with visual impairments to detect the presence of stairs and avoid tripping.
The requirements for handrails ensures that people with limited mobility have something to hold onto while using the stairs, which can make them safer and easier to use. Stair handrails have a number of requirements including but not limited to: height, size/shape, clearance and extensions.
Overall, the ADA requirements for stairs aim to make them accessible and usable for everyone, regardless of whether or not they have a disability. If you are unsure what the accessibility requirements are for stairs at your facility, we recommend consulting with a Certified Access Specialist (CASp). A CASp consultant can assist with plan review or evaluate existing facilities to determine compliance and guide you toward compliance. Contact one of our experienced CASp experts today.
