PLANNING BARRIER-FREE ARCHITECTURE FOR RECREATION

by

JAMES EDMUND WHITE, B.ARCH

A THESIS

IN
PARK ADMINISTRATION

Submitted to the Graduate Faculty

of Texas Tech University in
Partial Fulfillment of
the Requirements for
the Degree of

MASTER OF SCIENCE

Approved

Lu ' A·y\i,,~ 1-
Lil:~

Accepted
ARCH
flC-
<3oc;
13
t'l13 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
f\)o, ~l1
c. 3 I am deeply indebted to Dr. James W. Kitchen for his assistance

and direction during the many hours of work on this thesis.

Additional credit goes to Dr. Reid Hastie, who, through his personal

experience, gave invaluable first-hand knowledge and encouragement

in the development of the guidelines.

Appreciation is expressed to Dr. George Tereshkovich for his help-

ful criticism and suggestions.

It is to continued planning and development o f plans from architects,

designers, planners, and landscape a rchitec ts, to the handicapped them-

selves, and the progress that could be made through the use of these

guide lines that this thesis is respectfully and thoughtfully presented.

ii
 CONTENTS

Page

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ii

LIST OF FIGURES iv

CHAPTER

I. INTRODUCTION 1

Objectives of the Study 2

II. REVIEW OF LITERATURE 4

II I. MATERIALS AND METHODS 8

Types of Handicaps 8

Definition of Barriers 8

Approaches to Elimination of Barriers 8

IV. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 12

Exterior and Site Development 16

Interior Development 45

V. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS 68

SOURCES CONSULTED 70

APPENDIX 74

iii
 LIST OF FIGURES
FIGURE Page
1. International Symbol 13
2. The Wheelchair 14
3. Parking 17
4. Curbs 19
5. Ramps 21
6. Ramps 22
7. Ramps 23
8. Stairs 27
9. Fishing Pier 31
10. Picnic Table 33

11. Chalkboards 34

12. Swimming Pools 36

13. Swimming Pools 37

14. Swimming Pools 38

15. Slides 41

16 . Slides 41

17. Sand and Water Play 43

18. Basketball Goals 44

19. Doors and Doorways 47

20. Hardware Knurling 50

21. Toilet Stalls 57

22. Lavatory 59

iv
 v
FIGURE Page
23. Urinal 61
24. Drinking Fountains 62
25. Public Telephones 64
26. Shower 66
 CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

About the turn of the century many buildings in this country turned

to the Classic revival and became grandiose in scale and were to be show-

places. There was a driving interest of architects to build monuments

to themselves, whether the buildings satisfied all of their needs for

people or not. This nation has been deeply and actively concerned with

the opportunity for all of its citizens, yet it is shocking to realize

that millions of physically handicapped people are being denied basic

opportunities afforded to normal non-handicapped people. These people

are not victims of injustice, but victims of a lack of awareness on the

part of the average citizen.

The time has come for architects, planners, designers and landscape

architects to initiate designs to implement plans which would accommodate

all people. The ultimate in design should be such that people are unaware

that a facility is designed for the handicapped. According to the National

Easter Seal Society, over eigh teen million Americans suffer from a physical

disability and are affected in some way by architectural barriers (19).

Awareness of this fact should lead to a commitment to do something about

providing facilities for this group.

The physically handicapped need the recreation and relaxation of out-

door activities as much as any other person. Many local, state, and national

parks and recreation areas are accessible to the handicapped, but there is

a definite need for additional facilities to be made accessible and available

to the physically handicapped. The handicapped should not be denied the

1
 2
right of enjoyment of the natural landscape and the artificial environ-

ment created by man.

People with handicaps face an insurmountable problem of meeting

their needs for mobility. To some architects, ramps are simply places

to get in out of the rain and no more. The greatest barriers to the

physically handicapped are within the minds of able-bodied people, and

not the architectural barriers themselves. Mrs. Marie McGuire Thompson

(36), in her lecture at a national conference stated that there needs to

be a catalytic effort somewhere to bring together knowledge to approach

a national effort.

Objectives of the Study

The objectives of this study are:

1. To provide a set of guidelines for architects, planners,

designers and landscape architects to use in creating

barrier-free architecture for the handicapped.

2. To create public awareness and stimulate community action

leading to elimination of architectural barriers in exist-

ing structures and future construction.

3. To provide drawings and design criteria for facilities of

barrier-free architecture.

The following procedure was used to accomplish the objectives of the

study:
1. Review of literature and current practices relating to designing

barrier-free architecture, including state laws.

2. Review of existing facilities to analyze what has or has not

been done. Facilities reviewed were located at Texas Tech

 3
University, the University of Wisconsin, East Central State

College of Oklahoma, the State Capitol Building Complex in

Austin, the University of Texas at Austin, the University of

Texas of the Permian Basin and the Criss Cole Rehabilitation

Center for the Blind.

3. Interviews with disabled people and people working with the

handicapped to get first-hand information of what needs to

be considered in designing for the handicapped (38, 39, 40).

4. Attendance at national conferences on architectural barriers

and gaining the knowledge of the specialists in certain specific

subjects of barrier-free architecture (36, 37).

S. Transposing all of the information cited above into architec-

tural plans and related written specifications for guides to

use in planning barrier-free architecture.

The study is presented to project guidelines that meet standards of

all architecture. The information given in the drawings is an assembled

collection of standard accepted and proven practices used not only by

this researcher, but by the federal government1 state government and other

planners, architects, designers and landscape architects. The compilation

becomes a one-volume reference for planning barrier-free architecture.

 CHAPTER II

REVIEW OF LITERATURE

Approximately 100,000 babies are born each year with physical

handicaps forcing them to use braces, crutches or wheelchairs for

the rest of their life. Annually, to this is added a number of

people who are crippled by accidents, handicapped persons because

of wars, the aged, and those people who are temporarily handicapped

for one reason or another.

Why are guides being set up for barrier-free architecture?

Present day facilities, for the most part, are being designed and

developed for the average man and not much thought has been given to

the ten percent of the population that is designated as handicapped .

Little has been done in making facilities accessible to the physically

handicapped until about the last twenty years. Only in the past few

years has a concentrated effort evolved in the design of a man-made

environment for the handicapped .

The greatest hindrance to the physically handicapped is not the

physical limitation, but the limitation imposed by the thoughtless

barriers encountered every day. Architectural barriers not only affect

a large percentage of the population, but frustrate the goal of rehabi-

litating or restoring an individual to his greatest degree of physical,

social, economic and psychological independence. Millions of dollars

are spent in rehabilitating the handicapped so that they can become

self-supporting and productive members of our society.

The rights of the minorities should be extended to protect the

4
 5
physically handicapped. The 1969 Federal Environmental Impact Law

is broad enough to challenge facilities not designed for the handi-

capped. If the physically handicapped are denied the use of a facility,

then it does not comply with the requirements of an environment for

everyone.

Public Law 90-480 (Appendix) states that all federal buildings or

buildings with federally-assisted financing be made accessible to the

handicapped. Some exceptions to this Law are certain military install-

ations and residential buildings containing three units or less.

There are approximately forty states that have laws relating to

barriers, but many of them are unenforceable. These laws enacted by

the states dictate that all state-owned buildings of new construction

or extensive remodeling of existing structures, or any other facility

where public money is utilized in construction will be made barrier-free

and accessible by the handicapped.

Some of these states and the laws involved are: Texas, Senate Bill

111, enacted in January, 1970; Wisconsin, Chapter 66, Wisconsin Statutes ;

Minnesota, Minnesota Statutes, Section 73.57, enacted in October, 1969;

Oklahoma, Oklahoma Statutes, Title 61 , Section 12; and California, Govern-

ment Codes, Title 1, Chapter 7, Division 5. Division 13, Part 5.5, Section

19955 and following of the Health and Safety Code of California further

states that facilities for public use constructed with private funds must

meet the needs of the physically handicapped.

The guidelines presented in this study may be unenforceable in many

instances because of lack of adequate legislation and funding to provide

adequate enforcement personnel.

 6
The architect, planner, designer, and landscape architect can

plan and provide barrier-free designs for any type of building or

facility, but until there is a concentrated effort to remove archi-

tectural barriers and create a nation that provides facilities for

all people, these efforts could prove to be in vain.

This researcher became involved in making facilities free of

architectural barriers while designing the Criss Cole Rehabilitation

~
Center for the Blind in Austin, Texas for the Texas State Conunission

for the Blind. Through concentrated research for the design of the

center, it was found that little had been done to make facilities access-

ible for the blind and for those with other physical handicaps. Conse-
quently, research has continued in barrier-free architecture.

Any building or facility can be designed for all people without

changing basic design concepts and usually without additional cost.

Frequently an actual savings in cost of construction can be accomplished

through designing for the handicapped.

People can become more aware of each other as human beings and

more fully developed through open space.

Experience in human beings is continuous. Some are

tragically limited in what they can experience because
of physical, mental, or emotional disabilities, but
all share some part of their experience with all other
human beings. Each person, no matter how limited,
possesses some measure of ihtelligence, feeling and
strength. (2)
In planning outdoor recreation, year-round participation by the handi-

capped should be provided. The opportunity for outdoor recreation for

the handicapped is continually improving, but more needs to be done.

 7
The motivation to supply the handicapped with the opportunity of rec-

reation should be comp~lling to those responsible for providing for

outdoor recreation for all the public. A handicap does not need to
be a barrier to outdoor enjoyment.

Greater mobility for the handicapped is not the only benefit of a

barrier-free environment. Everyone benefits from safer, more accessible

facilities that include peoples'needs in their design. Able-bodied people

find it easier to get around in a facility designed for the handicapped,

maintenance is facilitated and operating costs are lowered.

The comparatively slight design modifications and construction costs

attributable to the needs of the handicapped more than off set the long-

range societal value of highly trained and skilled handicapped people.

The people we are concerned about are excluded from

society by more subtle ways than in the days, when,
in Greece, they were put on the mountain tops. The
Eskimos put their elderly on icebergs , the Japanese
left girls and handicapped people on the hilltops.
The world has been hard on people it didn't want and
one would think we would at last be above and beyond
that. I would like to quote from a paper written by
Steve Fiffer, a former Summer Research Fellow at the
Rehabilitation Institute: 'Stop for a moment and think.
We too have abandoned our handicapped and elderly. By
creating an environment to meet the needs of that myth-
ical young able-bodied Arnerican--an environment laden
with architectural barriers--we have taken the aged
and disab led off the icebergs and hilltops and im-
prisoned them in their homes'. (35)

These guides should not be considered as restrictive, but should provide

those involved in planning a reservoir of ideas and design concepts to

create not only a better and more sound architecture, but also to provide

a better and more sound total environment.

 CHAPTER III

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Types of Handicaps

Two main types of handicaps are to be considered in planning.

1. The ambulant and semi-ambulant, which includes persons with

crutches, or canes, the blind, the deaf, and individuals with

cardiac problems.

2. Paraplegics, amputees and hemiplegics. These people are all

handicapped in the upper and/or lower extremities to an extent

that usually dictate their confinement to a wheelchair.

The designer or recreation planner must know the many difficulties

disabled people encounter when using recreation facilities. This enables

the designer to develop his imagination and put knowledge to work.

Definition of Barriers

What are architectural barriers? They are obstacles built into

facilities which restrict their use by people with physical disabilities.

Some barriers keep physically impaired people from using specific areas

or certain buildings and others impede mobility. Countless barriers

restrict access by the handicapped more than their disability restricts

access.

Approaches to Elimination of Barriers

Certain general planning principles should be taken into consideration

bef ore designing facilities that will be accessible to the handicapped,

despite the individual and specific effect of a handicap. The basic need

is to provide the wheelchair user and other handicapped pedestrians with

8
 9

access, and ease of movement, to and within the exterior and interior

spaces of any facility. The equipment and the conveniences within these

spaces should also be easily accessible for use by the handicapped.

For centuries, the principal concern of designers has been the

"average man". Man's needs and desires have caused all products, equip-

ment, and environments of the world to be designed in this response.

A new unit, the man in the wheelchair or on crutches, has become a

challenge to the designer because of new attitudes toward the physically

handicapped and the new techniques of therapy and prothesis.

Man's height is decreased by one-third when placed in a wheelchair,

and his width doubled. The inability to get his body into close proximity

with objects limits his reach, simple because of the wheelchair construc-

tion. More room is needed to carry on the everyday activities. Life is

different from this vantage point, and man becomes very dependent upon

someone else all of a sudden.

Most of the time, the handicapped or physically disabled are reduced

to their lowest common denominator, stereotyped, or not thought of at all.

Thus, providing for recreational needs of the handicapped is a significant

design problem. Basic considerations on how facilities are constructed

for the handicapped, why they are constructed and what is to be constructed

determines the design criteria that is implemented.

The handicapped can obtain enjoyment out of participation in outdoor

activities and this participation can help them to strengthen their self-

direction and independence. The physically disabled have the same needs

and desires for the opportunities that outdoor recreation offers in exper-

iences that enhance one's life. Many disabled people are not benefiting
 10
from the nation's recreation resources for one reason or another.

Architectural barriers, non-acceptance of the handicapped by society,

the degree of their disability and the time lag on the part of the rec-

reation profession to adjust its programs to fit the needs of the handi-

capped have all contributed to the lack of recreation opportunity.

Handicapped people have, however, progressed a long way, especially in

being accepted and being cared for with respect to education and rehabi-

litation.

The study suggests methods of adopting outdoor recreation services

and facilities so that they may be enjoyed by the handicapped. The Bureau

of Outdoor Recreation states that by making outdoor programs and facilities

available to the disabled, we can prevent them from being "recreationally

handicapped'' (32).

Some suggested principles which have been used by this researcher in

designing facilities are as follows:

1. Each project should be analyzed to determine its general objective,

and provide a narrative delineating specific design criteria.

Design objectives should indicate ~hat is to be done and how

to do it.

2. An overall philosophy for the project determining its long and

short range objectives should be adopted.

3. Assistance from handicapped persons likely to use the project

would be helpful.
4. Other planned or completed projects should be reviewed for design

criteria.
 11
5. Current lep,islative etandardH shoul<l be reviewed.

6. Functions of professional organizations involved in day care

or other programs for the handicapped should be explored.

These might include such organizations as the Easter Seal

Society, San Francisco Recreation Center for the Handicapped,

Lighthouse for the Blind, and veteran hospitals.

7. The work other agencies have completed or are presently doing

for the handicapped should be analyzed. These would include

Federal Agencies; Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Outdoor

Recreation, National Park Service, Forest Service, United States

Department of Agriculture and the State Parks Commissions.

8. The most popular and most needed types of facilities should be

determined.

Considerations must be given to maintaining an aesthetic appearance

while incorporating adaptions which allow complete use of the facility

by the handicapped. A barrier-free path of travel should be maintained

at a high level at all times and kept free of obstructions, e . g. snow and

ice.
 CHAPTER IV

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Design criteria for the problem areas of providing facilities

for the handicapped could be separated into exterior and site develop-

ment and interior development. The areas designed for the handicapped

should be viewed from the perspective of appropriateness to the handi-

capped, but should not preclude use by the physically able-bodied indi-

viduals. Planning should stress flexibility to allow the full use by

the broadest possible number of people, both handicapped and non-handi-

capped.

Facilities for people in chairs and on crutches are the basis for

all barrier-free architecture. The wheelchair, because of its different

mode of movement, requires the most stringent standards with respect to

clear spaces, size of the openings, accessibility of conveniences, equip-

ment, and grades. The international symbol of access (Fig. 1), .which has

been adopted and recommended by the Rehabilitation International, designates

accessibility to the physically handicapped.

Wheelchair data is pertinent to the planning criteria and is there-

fore essential to successful planning and designing. The following are

characteristics of wheelchairs and persons on crutches, having been adopted

in the State Laws (24, 26, 27, 28).

Wheelchair specifications (Fig. 2).

The wheelchair that is collapsible and made of tubular

metal construction with plastic upholstery for the back

and seat is the most common one in use. All manufacturers'

12
 13

THIS SYMBOL IS DISPLAYED ON ANY FACILITY WHICH IS FULLY ACCESSIBLE

FOR USE BY WHEELCHAIR USERS ANO OTHER HANDICAPPED PERSONS WITH
LIMITED MOBILITY
FIG. I. INTERNATIONAL SYMBOL
 14

II 1/2°' 1'-0"

SIDE VIEW

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PLAN

FIG. 2. THE WHEELCHAIR

 15
standar d models have been found to be within the followi ng

limits and are to be used as a basis of consid eration :

Length - forty-e ight inches

Width (open) - twenty -six and one-ha lf inches

Height of Seat from Floor - ninetee n and one-ha lf inches

Height of Armres t from Floor - twenty- nine and one-ha lf inches

Height of Pushe~Jiandles (rear) from Floor - thirty- six inches

Width (collap sed) - twelve and one-ha lf inches
Wheelc hair functio ning

Turning area - to make a 180 degree turn. a space that

measur es sixty inches by sixty inches is require d. Spaces

of sixty-t hree inches by fifty-s ix inches or sixty-n ine

inches by fifty-tw o inches are also accepta ble.

Passing - sixty inches minimum is require d for two wheelc hairs

to pass each other.

Optimum Reach of Person in Wheelc hair (adult) - some indivi-

duals. small. large. weak or strong could fall outside of the

ranges and could be differe nt from the figures given. The

reaches given are an average of a large number of individ uals.

Vertic al - average unilate ral vertica l reach is sixty inches

and ranges from fifty-f our inches to seventy -eight inches.

Horizo ntal - average maximum forward horizo ntal reach is

thirty inches and ranges from twenty -eight to thirty- three

inches .
Diagon al - average reach forty-e ight inches above the floor

(reachi ng diagon ally at towel dispens er or wall-mo unted

 16
telephone).

Crutch Clearance for Adults on Crutches:

A minimum width of thirty-two and one-half inches between

crutch tips is required for individuals six feet tall. The

required horizontal clearance will be the same as wheelchair

clearances since they require approximately the same space.

Exterior and Site Development

The criteria outlined have all been developed and used by this

writer in architectural practice unless specifically noted otherwise.

The standards are considered to be the most desirable and were derived

from modifications of state law requirements and practical experience.

1. GRADING. The ground should be graded to attain a level

with a normal entrance, even if that grade is contrary

to existing contours or topography. The maximum grade

would be the same as for ramps, e.g., 8.33 percent.

2. PARKING. Parking layouts for the physically handicapped

should be provided according to the following (Fig. 3).

Width: The width of a parking space should be at least

12 feet wide, arranged so as to allow the handicapped to

easily get in and out of his car. The end space parallel

to a sidewalk should be no less than 10 feet wide.

Length: The length should be increased by three feet over

normal length when parking spaces are parallel to the curb,

so as to allow wheelchair passage between cars.

Number: The frequency and persistency of the parking needs

of the handicapped should be considered when making

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 18
distribution of spaces. The spaces should be located as

near as possible to the facility served. At least two

parking spaces should be reserved for the disabled.

Identification: The spaces that are set aside for use

by the handicapped should be identified by a sign indi-

cating that the spaces are reserved for the handicapped.

The International Symbol (Fig. 1) should be used for this

purpose.

Protection: It is desirable to have parking spaces reserved

for the handicapped covered and protected from the weather.

Safety: Spaces reserved for the handicapped should be so

designed that movement behind parked cars or across traffic

lanes is not necessary.

Drainage: The placement of the sidewalk at the high point

and the center of the parking driveway at the low point is

recommended for surface drainage.

Curb Cuts: When a curb is placed between the parking lot

surf ace and a sidewalk, a curb cut or incline should be

provided at each wheelchair parking space, with a maximum

gradient of 12.5 percent. The minimum width for a curb cut

is three feet (Fig. 4).

3. RAMPS. Ramps with gradients should be provided when it is

not possible to have grade-level approaches (Fig. 5, Fig. 6).

Surface: The ramp should be constructed of materials to

provide a non-slip surface with a high coefficient of friction,

and should be fire resistant.

 19

PIPE FOR DRAINAGE WHERE

GUTTER IS USED FOR
PARKING LOT DRAINAGE

RAMPED CURB

DROPPED CURB

FIG. 4. CURBS
 20
Gradient: The maximum gradient should not exceed 8.33
percent, except as follows:

If a circumstance limits the space for the ramp normally

required above, and a steeper ramp is required, it may

have a slope of twelve and one-half percent. The

following conditions must be met:

The ramp must be three feet wide minimum to accommodate

normal pedestrian traffic and must contain a curbed aisle

of thirty inches clear width. The curb must be at least

two inches high and four inches wide. Handrails for the

curbed ramp must be thirty-two inches (clear) apart

(Fig. 5, Fig. 7).

Width: A one lane ramp must be at least three feet wide

between handrails, and a two lane ramp must be at least

six feet wide.

Level Areas: Level areas must be provided as follows:

Bottom Landing: The landing length should be not less

than six feet at the end of a ramp which leads onto a

walk.

Intermediate Landings: At thirty foot intervals, a

ramp should have a level intermediate landing with a

minimum length of four feet six inches. The same land-

ings should occur at each change in ramp direction. The

purpose of the intermediate ramps is for rest and safety.

Landings at Entrances: Where a ramp enters a building,

there should be a platform with a minimum depth of 5 feet

 11•6 II
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 24
and exten ded at least one foot on each side of the

door. The platfo rm should be sloped for drain age,

limite d to a maximum of one-q uarter inch.

Hand rails: Hand rails should be provid ed on each side of

ramps as follow s:

Rail Heigh t: The handr ail should have a heigh t of

thirty -thre e inche s with a midra il ninete en inche s

high. The heigh t dimen sions are measured verti cally

from the surf ace of the ramp to the top of the hand-

rail. The midra il may be omitte d provid ed some other

means of prote ction such as verti cal bars space d 12

inche s to 18 inches is provid ed.

Rail Exten sions: Exten sions should be proje cted a

minimum of eighte en inche s beyond the top and bottom

of the ramp. The exten sion must not, howev er, become
a hazar d in itsel f.
Rail Conto ur: The handr ails shoul d be of a smooth
mater ial and not less than one and one-h alf inche s nor

more than two inches in diame ter. They shoul d be round

or oval in const ructio n or provid e a simil arly shape d

cross sectio n for easy gripp ing.

Clear ance at the Wall: When the handr ail is adjac ent to
a wall, one and one-h alf inche s minimum cleara nce shoul d

be betwe en the inner borde r of the handr ail and the walk.

Hand rail Stren gth: The handr ail shoul d be capab le of

suppo rting a minimum of five-h undre d pound s.
 25
Hand rail Cont inuit y: Hand rails shou ld be conti nuou s
at all inter med iate leve ls.

Prot ectio n from Weather: All ramps shou ld be cove red

by cano pies or a snow -melt ing devi ce shou ld be
prov ided
in clim ates where appl icab le.
4. WALKWAYS •

Surf ace: Walkways shou ld have a hard , dura ble, firm sutfa
ce,
smoo th enough to perm it easy mob ility by a whee
lchai r, yet
a non- slip surfa ce for perso ns walk ing. The walk
shou ld be
a cont inuo us common surfa ce unin terru pted by step
s or abru pt
chan ges in leve l.

Grad ient: A walkway shou ld not have a grad ient exce eding
five perc ent. Grad ients of three perc ent or less can be
nego tiate d with out much diffi cult y by whee lchai
r user s.
Widt h: Publ ic walk s shou ld be a minimum of 48 inch es wide
.
If the walkway abuts a park ing area , the minimum widt
h 1hou ld
be five feet .

Leve l Area s: The follo wing leve l area s shou ld be prov ided :
Walks at Near Maximum Grad ient: If a walk is near the
maximum grad ient or five perc ent, a leve l rest
area , a
minimum of fifty -fou r inche s long , shou ld be prov
ided
at inter vals of sixty feet maximum.
At Entr ance s and Gate s: There shou ld be a leve l area with
a minimum depth of 5 feet and exten ding at leas
t one foot
beyond each side of the door or gate . A slop e
of one- quar ter
inch maximum shou ld be prov ided for drain age.
 26
Drai nage of Leve l Area s: All leve l area s shou ld have
a maximum slop e of one- quar ter inch for drain age.

Gua rdra ils: If the surfa ce adja cent to the walkway drop s
off with a slop e of three perc ent or more , guar
drail s shou ld
be prov ided on the sides of the walkway, with
a heig ht of
thirt y-si x inch es.

Cros sing s: Inter secti ons of walk s with stre ets, othe r walk
s,
park ing lots or drive ways shou ld blend to a comm
on leve l
area or be blend ed by ramps. Where ·curb s occu
r, the use of
curb cuts shou ld be prov ided to blend the area
s.
Grat ings : Grat ings, manholes and like impe dime nts shou ld
not be loca ted in walk s.

Curb Cuts : Curb cuts shou ld be prov ided as outli ned in

Item 2, Park ing.

5. EXTERIOR STAIRWAYS. If exte rior stair ways are prov ided or

requ ired , they shal l conform to the follo wing requ
irem ents:
Surf ace: The stai r tread s and nosin gs shou ld be of a

non- slip surfa ce mate rial (Fig . 8).

Rise r and Trea d Prop ortio n: Rise rs shou ld not exce ed six
inch es and tread s shou ld not be less than fourt
een inch es
deep , and with out proje cting nosin gs.

Stai r Widt h: The stai r width shou ld be a minimum of

forty -two inch es, nomi nal.

Hand rails : Prov ide hand rails at each side of the stai rs

as follo ws:
Rail Heig ht: The normal rail heig ht is 32 inch es,
 27

I 1- 6 11
L L

1 1

NON- SKID TREAD

NOSING
I 1-6 11

STAIR SECTION

UNACCEPTABLE
SECTION

0 3
GRAPHIC SCALE FEET

FIG. 8. STAIRS
•
 28
measu red verti cally above the point of inters ectio n

of tread and riser . This heigh t may vary betwe en

30 inche s and 33 inche s.

Rail Exten sions: Hand rails shoul d have an exten sion

at the top and bottom , exten ding a minimum of eight een

inche s horiz ontal ly. If the stair has contin uous rails ,
the exten sions are not neede d.

Rail Conto ur: Hand rails should be eithe r round or oval

shape d, not less than one and one-h alf inche s nor more

than two inche s in diame ter, and the mater ial shoul d be

smoot h. Equiv alentl y shape d cross sectio ns of handr ails

may be used provid ing they are easy gripp ing.

Hand rail Stren gth: The handr ail and its suppo rts shoul d
be capab le of suppo rting a minimum of five-h undre d pound
s.
6. SIGNS. Where signs are requi red for areas other than parki ng

(Item 2), they should be made of durab le mater ials to with-

stand vanda lism and weath er. It is recommended that ident i-

ficati on signs on nature trails be prepa red in both letter
ing
and brail le for the benef it of the blind . The signs shoul d
be locate d at a heigh t that is easily read by a perso n
in a
whee lchair . Speci al signs and maps should direc t handi cappe d

perso ns to facil ities design ed for their use.

7. NATURE TRAILS AND PATHWAYS. Natur e trails shoul d be laid-o ut

so as to destro y as little of the natur al enviro nment as

possi ble. However, the pathw ays shoul d be of a surfa ce that

will allow wheel chair use. Soil cement is ideal for hard
 29
surf aced path ways beca use when it is finis
hed, aest he-
tica lly, it prov ides a natu ral-l ooki ng path
.
Iden tific atio n: Sign s or plaq ues shou ld be plac ed at
each poin t of inte rest , both in prin ted form
and in
brai lle. It is also desi rabl e to have audi o inte rpre
ta-
tion s at the poin ts of inte rest . Spea kers shou ld be con-
ceal ed as much as poss ible , so as to not dest
roy the
land scap e. To give the blin d pers on dire ctio n as to wher
e
poin ts of inte rest occu r on the trai l, a rope
rail shou ld
be prov ided . At appr oxim ately thre e pace
s befo re a poin t
of inte rest , one, two or thre e knot s shou
ld be tied in the
rope to give the blin d pers on warn ing that
he is appr oach -
ing a poin t of inte rest . At the begi nnin g
of the trai l,
inst ruct ions shou ld be post ed givi ng the blin
d pers on an
inte rpre tatio n of the use of the knot s.

Prot ecti on: A hand rail shou ld be prov ided on one or both
side s of the trai l or path way. The hand rail shou ld be thir ty-
thre e inch es abov e the trai l. A kick plat e shou ld be prov ided
at the botto m of the rail a minimum of four
inch es high .
8. FISHING AND BOATING.

Boa ting : Pont oon boat s with spac e for whe

elch airs are the
idea l type for boat ing. The Bure au of Outd
oor Recr eatio n (32)
recommends that boat s shou ld ride dock high
out of the wate r
to perm it whe elch airs to roll dire ctly on
the deck . Pont oon
boat s are stur dy and have a high degr ee of
safe ty.
 30
Fish ing Pier s: Fish ing piers can be exten ded into the
wate r with prot ectiv e raili ngs and prov ide a
safe fishi ng
pier for hand icapp ed peop le as well as the non-
hand icapp ed.
The deck of the pier shou ld be conc rete or wood
with a
slop e of .02 perc ent or one- eigh th inch per foot
to prov ide
prop er drain age (Fig. 9).

Prot ectio n: A hand rail shou ld be prov ided aroun d the pier
at a heig ht of 33 inch es. A prot ectiv e kick plate shou ld
be prov ided at the base of the rail to stop the
smal l whee ls
on a whee lcha ir. As an aid to those who are not able to
hold the fishi ng rod, a smal l pipe at an angl
e betw een 30
degr ees and 45 degre es shou ld be proje cted towa
rd the wate r
from the hand rail. This desig n was propo sed for a priv ate

proj ect, late r aband oned (Fig. 8).

Appr oach : Appr oache s to fishi ng piers shou ld be asph alt

or
some othe r hard surfa ce pavin g mate rial and shou
ld be at the
same leve l as the pier so as to accommodate whee
lcha irs.
9. PICN IC AREAS AND CAMPING.

Picn ic Area s:
Picn ic Tabl es: Tabl es shou ld be place d on hard dura ble
surfa ces such as asph alt or conc rete. A hard surfa ced
appr oach shou ld be prov ided leadi ng to the picn
ic table .
Soil ceme nt is a mate rial which has prov ided
an adeq uate
surf ace. Picn ic table s shou ld be 30 inche s from the groun
d
to the unde rside of the table . Jay Jorge nson (36) recommends
that legs shou ld be reces sed at one end for use
by a whee lchai r
 31

PIPE SECTION TO
HOLD FISHING ROD

DECK

KICICPLATE ~

WATER

I
I
I I
I I
l:~ .. J

SECTION

0 a
" ' • "'Pt• •p•
GRAPHIC SCALE ft!!T

FIG. 9. FISHING PIER

 32
occu pant s or have a bench cut on the sides of
the table
(Fig . 10).

Fire plac es or gril ls: Firep laces or gril ls shou ld be mounted

on a post and set at a heig ht of 29" abov e the
grou nd. A
hard surfa ced area shou ld be prov ided aroun d the
firep lace
or gril ls.

Camping: The terra in shou ld be fairl y leve l with a hard

surfa ced pathw ay conn ectin g all faci litie s, so
that whee l-
chai r occu pants and ambu lator y perso ns can move
easi ly and
safe ly. Restroom and drink ing wate r faci litie
s shou ld be
desig ned for use by the hand icapp ed (see Inte rior
Deve lop-
men t).

Shel ter in the form of smal l build ings , open pavi

lions or
tent s shou ld be prov ided. Thes e shel ters shou
ld be buil t
leve l with the groun d. Shel ters thus prov ide
use for rainy
day prog rams , over nigh t sleep -out s, arts and craf
ts and shad e
area s.
Fire plac es or gril ls place d nearb y outd oors serve
for cook -
outs . Outd oor chalk board s can be insta lled for art progr
ams
as prop osed for a Boy Scou t Camp near Ft. Davi
s, Texa s. "nle
chalk boar d shou ld have a minimum clear ance of
two feet two
inch es from the ground to the botto m of the board
to accommo-
date perso ns in whee lchai rs. Grab rails shou ld
be prov ided
at the side s and botto m of the chalk boar ds, and
shou ld be a
minimum one and one- half inche s and maximum of
two inch es in
diam eter (Fig . 11).
 33
1 11
2 -6 MIN.
"
t
I

,,
I I
r1
I I
I I BENCH CUT I
I I I
.L ..! I I
Ll

,.., r-,
I I
I I I I
I I
I I
I I
TABLE
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
~
-t ALTERNATE
CHAIR LOCATION
WHEEL -

I I I I
I (I SUPPORTS
LJ l_J r'-o" Ml N.
L

t"..,
I I
r1
I I
I I BENCH I
I I I
I I
LJ LJ

PLAN

.,.__I l

ID
I
r I BENCH CUT I l

"'
lGRADE

ELEVATION

0 2 3
GRAPHIC SCAL.E FEET

FIG.10. PICNIC TABLE

 34

4' - o" MIN. 6'-o" RECOMMENDED

t i
-
CALUM . TRIM

r CEMENT ASBESTOS CHALKBOARD -0

11
I 1/2 DIA. GRAB BAR l
H - ::t
~ 2 ALUM . SUPPORTS
11

t\I
I

t\I
.lHARD SURFACE GRADE

FRONT ELEVATIO N

I 1/2 DIA. GRAB BAR

-0 ~~-
11
2 ALUM . SUPPORTS SECURELY
-v ANCHORED TO GRADE SURFACE

- - - CHALKBO ARD

HARD SURFACE GRADE

SIDE ELEVATIO N --
I 0

GRAPHIC SCALE
2 3

FEET

FIG. 11. CHALKBOARDS

 15
10 . SWIMMING FACILITIES

Pool s:

Acc essib ility : Pool s can be made acce ssibl e to the hand i-
capp ed in four diffe rent ways (32).

a. The copin g can be raise d nine teen and one- half

to
twen ty inch es above the pool deck (Fig. 12).

b. The deck may be ramped down on one side adja cent

to
the pool copin g and prov ide a well nine teen and

one- half to twenty inche s below copin g (Fig . 13).

c. A ramp may be buil t on the insid e of the pool .

d. An elev ator may be prov ided in the pool

.
Copi ng: If the copin g is raise d above the deck , it shou
ld
be cant ileve red over the deck area to prov ide
a whee lchai r
foot rest. A smooth, non- slip finis h shou ld be prov ided

on all copi ngs.

Wate r Leve l: The wate r leve l shou ld be flush with the pool
deck , or as high as poss ible to the copin g.

Step s: Step s with shor t riser s and wide step s shou ld be

buil t lead ing into the wate r. Hand rails of one
and one- half
to two inch es in diam eter shou ld be prov ided on
each aide
of the step s (Fig . 14).
Ramps: Ramps, with hand rails (size s noted abov e), may
be
prov ided and will perm it peop le with unste ady gaits
to ente r
the pool by them selve s. The ramp shou ld be place d at the
shall ow end of the pool .
 36

~uA11
WATER

<>
- - GRAB RAil:-
0
RAISED COPING I
FOR WHEEL- ·~
GUTTER CHAIR
GUTTER

4' A
l
1 11

,l
(
1 11 :.
,r-DRAIN 1
3 -0 MIN.
DRAIN~
I 0
0

PLAN

rGRAB RAIL

I 1/2
11
I 1/2
11
-
-
I

WATER

:. oo<P:
··oo·
: .• -.h :·
•. . ·,

11 11
SECTION A-A

NOTE: COPING IS RAISED AT

SHALLOW END OF POOL

FIG. 12 SWIMMING
--
GRAPHIC
0

SCALE

POOLS
2

FEET
3
 37

WATER

GRAB BAR~ 0
I

GUT TER
GUTTER

_r- DRAIN
0
"•" ~1 OR AIN l,
0

i 3'- 0"M IN .

PLA N

GRAB RAI L

I l/Z ' 11/ 2

11 - I

SEC T ION II A-A "

NOT E : LOC ATE AT SHA

LLOW
ENO OF POOL I 0 I 2 3
•• I I
GRAPHIC SCA LE FEE T

FIG. 13 SWIMMING POOLS

 38

I 1/2" HANDRAIL

POOL DECI<
WATER

·: a'. ~.::~: .:-:.,

.. ·. Q '-: -:-.:-: 7 , ':T
': . • ~ • (7- Q :' I 11 ,
.· . ~· · ~; "... · 4 ..,...~'---:; -...::i I
O o" . ·. . ., . , r-; .. , 11 C1> 11 0
·~,..,,.,.. ~ . . . . :.c.. .-0.
er'. .' L -
· l:--'o . . ~
- -
. · .. ,-ry
II
11
-
C\J
I
II -,.,I

• • " · : .. ·: ~P • J'.>C,.' I 11 POOL

:.·~'.. . .:·~c.<:5' ~--,~:-:-1 I ~BOTTOM 1

~.'.' "·. b'"Ct,0

·"b'.L.-.- ,--t~-:i ---+----.....
1

~:~::: 0
.. .. ... '0# : 0 ., -It)

·G.: . . .... o°"'...k .- ...,.. - -

.... .
.. ,.~ · · .: ¢:' ; ·o ?.~o.:

SECTION OF STEPS INTO POOL

~ STEPS SHOULD BE AT
SHALLOW END

·-
I

GRAPHIC
0

SCALE
2

FEET
3
I

FIG. 14. SWIMMING POOLS

 39
Dept h of Pool : The depth of the pool shou ld be a minimum
of three feet at the shall ow end. Eigh ty perc ent of the
pool area shou ld be five feet deep or less .

Chan ging Area s: Cubi cles with benc hes shou ld be prov ided
in both men' s and women's dres sing room s. The cubi cles
shou ld be large enough to accommoda t e a whee lchai
r. The
benc h shou ld be nine teen and one- half inche s high
and four
to six feet in leng th so as to perm it a hand icapp
ed perso n
to lie down.

Show ers: The show ers shou ld be indiv idua l cubi cles with

benc hes nine teen and one- half inche s high . The show er
fauc ets shou ld be forty -two inche s high with a
hose exte n-
sion for show er spray . Hand rails one and one- half to two
inch es in diam eter and thirt y-si x inche s above
the floo r
shou ld be prov ided aroun d the cubi cle. The curb shou ld be
elim inate d (Fig . 26).

Lake Fron t Swimming Area s: Sandy beac hes free of rock s

and s tone s shou ld be prov ided. The lake shou ld have a
grad ual chan ge in depth to make the wate r safe
and enjo yabl e.
One or more wood cribs of vary ing depth s shou ld
be prov ided
if the lake does not have grad uated leve ls of
wate r. Two
natu ral crib area s are prov ided by an H-sh aped
dock . This
crea tes segre gated and safe learn ing area s for
hand icapp ed
swiuu ners. The cribs shou ld have dock s with a six foot
minimum widt h and grade d ramps , with hand rails
, into the
wate r.
 40
11. PLAYGROUNDS

Slid es (Age group 4 to 12 year s): Slide s for the hand i-

capp ed can be buil t into a mound with a grad uated
ramp -type
path curv ing to the top. A serie s of post s one to three
inch es in diam eter prov ides a hand rail along
the way for
hand icapp ed child ren who can walk . This conc ept was used i n
a desig n stud io class prop osal for a neigh borho
od park
(Fig . 15, Fig. 16).

Sand and Wate r Play (Age ~roup 4 to 12 vear s) : Sand and

wate r table s can be pr.ov ided at a heig ht of twen
ty-ni ne
inch es so that whee lchai r parti cipa nts may use
them . They
shou ld be of suff icien t len~th and curve d so as to prov ide
a plac e to sail boat s. The idea is an adap tatio n of Rich ard
Datt ner's desig n (2) and was used in a desig n
stud io class
prop osal (Fig . 17).

Tabl es: Tabl es and stoo ls shou ld be prov ided at diffe

rent
heig hts for use in quie t game s, eatin g and sitti
ng. The
table s shou ld be of a perm anen t type . An eye- bolt with a
belt attac hmen t perm its seve rely disab led peop
le to stand
at the table and work with out falli ng.

Bask etba ll Goal s: Bask etbal l goal s six feet abov e the grad e
perm it the use by perso ns restr icted to whee
lchai rs. A
curv ed fenc e of meta l wire shou ld be prov ided
behin d the
goal so as to rebou nd the ball to the user .
This desig n
conc ept has been utili zed by vario us high scho
ols in Texa s
(Fig . 18).
r NOTE: THIS IS A REPRESENTATIO NAL LAYOUT ONLY .
THE DESIGN OF THE SLIDE AND RAMP MAY BE
MODIFIED TO FIT THE TERRAI N OF A SPEC IFIC
SITE .

LEVEL
PLATFO RM

SAN D AREA ~ SL I 0 E
~~~~~~~======~~~==~~..,..,..,......~~.............l-::::::~
=- ----..:=-

,;::;;-:~
-%~~~......-::;...-~~---=~-=-__.-:::::-~ 'ill/(\\)\\\\\~\~~ :::.::::~
~
~ ~~~~~/I l\ ~~
~
. .-::::-- ~~ ~ ~ m 11r.1\1\y(
;.q:-~~~~})/1111 \
~ ·ill\ ~'\"\ ~~ \I\\\\ \\"-\
PLAN
5 0 5
GRAPHIC SCALE FEET
~

FIG. 15. SLIDES

....
~
r
1" - 3" POST HANORAILl

.. ______ ___... _ _

.. N

'-AMP GRADIENT LEADING <O

to SLIDE - I : 12 OR 8.33%

-
r
; rBUILT-UP OR NATURAL GRADE _J

-
~

ELEVATION

FIG. 16. SLIDES

--- 0

GRAPHIC SCALE
2 3

FEET

s:-
N
 43

4" 12" TO 18"

WATER
SAND

.Q··:-.
oo: ·
. :.
-
.. ··'&:>::
•. .
If)

-0
-
N
~·

. ·Q
... ,:_.
.l.._..f;;- •

~
..
. a' ...

GRAD E

SECT ION

NOTE : THE LENG T H AND SHAPE

MAY VARY WITH THE PARK
DESIG N

0 2
GRAPHI C SCAL E FEET

FIG. 17. SAND AND WATER PLAY

 44

6'- o"

0
- I
.q-
0

0 lBACKSTOP

METAL FENCE
...--- BACKSTOP

0
·co

ELEVATION

-- -
5

GRAPHIC
0

SCALE
5 10

FEET

FIG. 18. BASKETBALL GOALS

bn
 45
Sur fac es: Pav ed wal ks sho uld con nec t all play
gro und are as.
The wal ks sho uld hav e a circ ula r
sec tion to per mit whe el-
cha irs to turn arou nd.

Swi ngs : Box -typ e swi ngs sho uld be pro vide d
for the sev ere ly
dis abl ed. The swi ngs sho uld hav e a gua rdr ail
on them.
Cou rt Games: Cou rt games and pitc hin g and catc hin
g can
be don e in the same are a. A sol id eve n surf ace d wal l sho uld
be pro vid ed wit h a smo oth, hard grou
nd sur fac e lead ing up
to it to pro vid e good bou nce s. Div
ider s per pen dic ula r to
the wal l and exte ndin g ten fee t out
pro vid e com part men ts to
pre ven t inte rfer enc e of one pla yer
by ano the r. The div ide rs
sho uld be twe nty fee t apa rt to acco
mmodate games suc h as
han dba ll. The bac k sid e of the wal
l can be use d for some
oth er pur pos e if the wal ls are app
rop riat ely loc ated at the
sit e.

Ben che s: Benches wit h bac ks sho uld be pro vide

d in all pla y-
gro und are as.

Int erio r Development

In many cas es, inte rio r des ign of
arc hite ctu ral stru ctu res re-
str ict s acc ess by the han dica ppe d.
The foll owi ng stan dar ds hav e bee n
dev elop ed and use d by the wri ter
in arc hite ctu ral pra ctic e.
1. ENTRANCES
At lea st one entr anc e sho uld be usa
ble by the han dica ppe d,
and be on a lev el which makes elev
ato rs acc ess ible .
Ves tibu les: Ves tibu les sho uld be
a minimum of sev en fee t
dee p and exte nd a minimum of one
foo t on eac h sid e of the
 46
door way.

Floo r Mats : Floo r mats shou ld be flush with the floo r.

2. DOORS AND DOORWAYS (Fig . 19).

Door Wid th: The door s shou ld conf orm to the follo wing :

Sing le Door s: A minimum widt h of thre e feet , nom inal,

or two feet ten inch es clea r shou ld be main
taine d on
all sing le door s.

Doub le Door s: A minimum widt h of thre e feet , nom inal,

or two feet ten inch es clea r shou ld be main
taine d on
each leaf of doub le d.oor s.

Ease of oper atio n : Doors shou ld be oper able by a sing le

effo rt. A manual push or pull requ ired to oper ate the
door
shou ld not weigh more than nine pounds for
an exte rior door
or five poun ds for an inte rior door . If a
door requ ires a
grea ter forc e, it shou ld be equi pped with
com pens ating spri ng-
load ed devi ces to redu ce the forc e to a maxim
um of nine poun ds
for an exte rior door and five pounds for an
inte rior door .
Door Clos ers: The sele ctio n, plac emen t, and
sett ing of door
clos ers shou ld be such that they do not prev
ent the use of
the door s by the hand icap ped. Time -dela y
clos ers shou ld be
used , set to give a recommended six-s econ d
hold -ope n sett ing.
Door Type s:
Side -Hun g Sing le or Doub le-Le af Door s: Thes e are the
most typi call y used throu ghou t for exte rior
and inte rior
door s.

b
 47

\
\ I
PASSAG EWAY
' I
'- I
UNACCEPTABLE .3'"'

5'-0 " MIN.

11
7'- 0 MIN.

0
I

11
1'-0 MIN . VESTIB ULE

0 I 2 3
SCALE FEET

FIG.19. DOORS 8 DOORWAYS

 48
Revo lving Door s: Revo lving door s are haza rdou s to
thos e with hand icap s and shou ld not be inclu
ded in
desi gns for hand icap ped.

Auto mati c Door s: Auto mati c door s are the most desi rabl e
type of door s to use as the main entr ance s
to buil ding s.
The cont rols shou ld be desig ned to perm it
safe use by
the slow est pers on and shou ld be able to be
used when
the power is off.

Thre shol ds: Exte rior thre shol ds shou ld be beve led and
not
exce ed one- half inch in heig ht. Inte rior thre shol ds shou ld
be flus h with the floo r.

Kick plat es: Kick plate s shou ld be a minimum of thir teen

inch es
high and shou ld be plac ed flush with the
botto m of the door .
All door s norm ally used by whee lcha irs shou
ld have a sixt een
inch minimum heig ht kick plat e. If the door
is made of a
dura ble mat eria l that will take the abus e
of a whe elch air,
the kick plat e may be omit ted.

Door Han dles : Door hand les shal l conf orm to the follo wing
:
!I.E!_: Hori zont al leve r-typ e hand les are the best
type
for the hand icapp ed to oper ate and shou ld
be used .
Mou nting Heig ht: Door hand les and pani c devi ces shou ld be
loca ted no high er than forty -two inch es abov
e the floo r.
Thir ty-s ix to thir ty-n ine inch es is desi rabl
e for
hand icap ped.
Iden tific atio n of Haza rdou s Area s for the
Blin d: Door s
open ing into haza rdou s area s from the path
of trav el

t
 49
(i.e . doo rs to boi ler room s, fire esca
pes, load ing
doc ks, etc .) shou ld be made quic kly
ide ntif iab le to
the touc h by knu rlin g the doo r han dle
(Fig . 20) .
Acc ess to Han dle from Whe elch air: An
uno bstr ucte d wal l
area at lea st eigh teen inch es wid e,
on the latc h side
of all pub lic doorways shou ld be prov
ided to fac ilit ate
ope ning by a pers on in a whe elch air.

Loc ks: Locks shou ld be ope rabl e by one han d.

Gla ss Vis ion Pan els: Side -hin ged doo rs in the path of trav
el
sho uld hav e a glas s visi on pan el loca
ted with the low er edge
a maximum of thir ty-n ine inch es from
the floo r. Saf ety glas s
sho uld be used in all ope ning s. When
ther e is no res tric tion
on the allo wab le glas s open ing area ,
the low er edge of the
visi on pan el shou ld be loca ted a maxi
mum of thir ty-s ix inch es
from the floo r. Markings on the glas
s shou ld be prov ided if
the doo r has larg e ope ning s, so as to
prev ent acc iden ts.
Lev el Flo or: The floo r shou ld be leve
l on each side of the
doorway and shou ld exte nd a minimum
of five feet from the doo r-
way . The leve l area shou ld exte nd beyo
nd each side of the
doorway a minimum of one foo t.

Doo rs Swi ngin g into Pass agew ays: All doo rs that swin g or open
into a pass agew ay shou ld be rece ssed
to avo id acc iden t haz ards .
3. PASSAGEWAYS
Wid th: Pass agew ays, hall way s and corr
idor s shou ld be a
minimum of five feet wid e.

b
 50

KNU RLI NG - - -

PANIC BAR

KNURLING J

KN OB

HA ND LE S LAT CH

NO SC ALE

FIG. 20 HARDWARE KNURLING

.
 51
Ve rtic al Cle ara nce : Ce ilin g lig hts , low -ha ngi ng
sig ns, etc .
wh ich pro tru de int o cor rid ors
, pas sag ew ays , tra ffi c ways
or
ove r sid ew alk s sho uld be avo
ide d. Seven fee t minimum cle
ar
hei gh t abo ve the flo or is req
uir ed.
4. FLOORS

Le vel : Flo ors on a giv en lev el sho uld

hav e a conunon lev el
thr oug hou t or be con nec ted by
a ramp as def ine d in number
6.
Su rfa ce: All flo or sur fac es
sho uld be no n-s lip .
Ca rpe tin g: Ca rpe tin g, if use
d, sho uld be we ll- fit ted to
the flo or and sho uld be rec ess
ed to be flu sh wit h the adj ace
nt
sur fac es, or hav e the edg es
fea the red wit h an edg e str ip
to
ble nd wit h the adj ace nt flo or
sur fac e. Ca rpe tin g sho uld be
of the low -pi le typ e and sho
uld hav e a minimum pad , as dee
p
pil es and thi ck pad din g off er
too much res ist anc e to un ass
iste d
wh eel cha ir per son s.
5. INTERIOR STAIRS: Req uir ed int eri or sta irs and
ex it sta irs
sho uld con for m to the fol low
ing :
Sta ir Wi dth : Sta irs sho uld hav e a minimum
nom ina l wid th of
for ty- two inc hes .
To tal Ris e: The tot al ris e in one run of
int eri or sta irs sho uld
not exc eed six fee t in hei ght
.
Ris ers , Tre ads and No sin gs
(Fi g. 8):
Ris er He igh t: Ris ers sho uld
be a maximum of sev en inc hes
in hei gh t. All ris ers in any
one fli gh t of sta irs , or in
any one sto ry sho uld be of equ
al hei ght •

...
 52
Riser Number: There should be no more than fiftee n nor
less than three risers in any one run of stairs .

Open Risers : Open risers should not be used.

Nosing s and Riser Slope: Rounded nosing s which do not

projec t beyond the top of the riser should be used on

all stairs . Sloped risers with the top of the riser

projec ting a maximum of one inch beyond the base of the

tread is prefer red. Square -nose, projec ted nosing s are

unacc eptabl e.

Tread Depth: The tread should be a minimum of ten and

one-h alf inches , exclud ing horizo ntal extens ion.

Tread Surfac e: Treads and nosing s should have a non-sl ip

surfac e. Carpet on treads should be the same constr uction
as carpet for floors .

Handr ails: Handr ails should be provid ed on each side of the

stairw ay as follow s:

Rail Heigh t: Rail height should be thirty- two inches

measu red vertic ally above the point of inters ection of

the riser and tread. The height of the rail should be a

minimum of thirty inches and a maximum of thirty -three inches .

Rail Extens ions: Each handr ail on each run of stairs should
extend a minimum of eighte en inches beyond the top and bottom

riser a maximum of thirty -six inches above the floor of the

landin g. Extens ions do not need to be provid ed on rails that

are contin uous and extend to other levels . The extens ion
should not become a hazard in itself .
 53
Rail Con tour : The han drai l shou ld be smooth with a
minimum one and one- half inch es and a maxi
mum two inch es
in diam eter . The rail shou ld be roun d
or oval or prov ide
a near by equ ival entl y shap ed cros s sect
ion.
Clea ranc e at Wal l: A minimum clea ranc e of one and one -hal
f
inch es shou ld be main tain ed betw een the
inne r bord er of
the han drai l and the adja cent wal l when
the han drai l abu ts
a wal l.

Han drai l Stre ngth : The han drai l and its supp orts shou ld
be capa ble of supp ortin g a minimum of five
hund red poun ds.
Han drai l Con tinu ity: Han drai ls at inte
rme diat e land ings
shou ld be cont inuo us.

Sta irs Othe r Than Req uire d Exit Stai rs:

Even thou gh chan ges
in leve l are not desi rabl e in inte rior
barr ier- free path s of
trav el, when they do occu r and ramps are
prov ided , it is
des irab le to prov ide a set of stai rs that
prov ide for the sem i-
amb ulan t hand icap ped pers on who pref ers
stai rs to ramp s,
6. INTERIOR RAMPS: If inte rior ramps are
used they shou ld follo w
the requ irem ents of exte rior ramps exce
pt that the drai nag e
and wea ther prot ecti on requ irem ents wou
ld be elim inat ed, It
is mos t des irab le, how ever , to mai ntai n
all inte rior spac es on
the same leve l, and elim inat e ramps alto
geth er.
7. ELEVATORS: Elev ator s shou ld be prov ided in any buil
ding that
is over thre e floo rs in heig ht. The elev ator s shou ld conf orm
to the follo win g requ irem ents :
Where Req uire d: Elev ator s shou ld be acce ssib le to, and
usab le
 54
by the handicap ped on the level that they enter the

building and at all levels normally used by the public.

Cab Size: The minimum cab size for wheelch airs should be
five feet by seven feet.

Elevato r Doors: Doors on elevator s shall conform to the

followin g:

Door Width: The shaft doors and the cab doors of all
elevato rs should have a minimum clear opening of

thirty-s ix inches wide.

Door Closing: Doors should have a sensitiv e safety edge

as well as a sensing device (e.g., a photo-e lectric eye)

to prevent closing while entering or leaving the elevator .

The doors should be an adjustab le delayed closing type,

timed to remain open at least eight seconds. An override

button should be provided to hold the door open. The door
closing speed should require a minimum of from three to

three and one-half seconds to complete ly close.

Cab Interio r: The cab interior should conform to the followin g:

Control Panel: Figures on controls , or directly beside

control s, should be raised a minimum of .025 inch, have a

minimum height of one inch for identifi cation by the blind,

and have square edges. Braille should be provided beside

the raised figures.

Along with the override button, an emergency button and

alarm signal should be provided . The control buttons

should be of the type that depress for action. See also
 55
Emergency Power under this sectio n.

Contr ol Panel Heigh t: The eleva tor contr ols shoul d be

locate d a minimum of thirty -six inche s from the cab floor

and a maximum of fifty- two inche s from the floor .

Indic ators : An indic ator shoul d signa l the direc tion of

trave l and the floor level of the eleva tor.

Hand rails: Horiz ontal handr ails, at a maximum of

thirty -six inche s above the cab floor should be provid ed

on at least two sides of the cab.

Wall Mate rial: The wall mater ials shoul d be able to take
the abuse they might receiv e from the whee lchair .

Seat: A foldin g wall seat should be provid ed along one

wall, havin g a minimum width of fiftee n inche s.

Level ing: The eleva tors should be self-l eveli ng and shoul d

stop preci sely at the floor level .

Emergency Power : At least one eleva tor shoul d be opera ble by

emerg ency power , and in the event of fire, the eleva tor
shoul d
retur n autom atical ly to the main entran ce level .

Eleva tor Lobbi es: A minimum area of five feet by five feet
shoul d be provid ed in front of each eleva tor door on each
level .
The signa ls in the lobby should have an illum inated arrow
indi-
catin g direc tion of trave l. An audib le signa l should be provi ded
to indic ate arriv al of the eleva tor.

Call butto ns shoul d be depre ssed to activ ate.

Floor level shoul d be indica ted by a raised figure one and

one-h alf inche s high locate d on the door jamb of the eleva
tor
 56
at a maximum height of five feet above the floor. The
raised figure s should otherw ise conform to the requir ement s

for contro ls of elevat or cabs. Braill e identi ficati on

should be provid ed.

8. PUBLIC REST ROOMS: A public rest room for each sex should
be provid ed on each floor of any facili ty of public assemb ly .

The provis ions of these rest rooms access ible to the handi-

capped should confor m to the follow ing:

Space Requir ed: A minimum space of five feet by five feet

should be provid ed to allow a wheelc hair to turn. A mini-
mum of three feet wide should be provid ed for indivi duals

in wheel chairs to approa ch a fixtur e.

Toile t Vestib ules: A toilet vestib ule should have a minimum

size of four feet wide by five feet long.

Toile t Stalls : Where indivi dual stalls are uaed. at least

one stall. locate d furthe rmost from the entran ce should be

provid ed and meet the follow ing require ments (Fig. 21).

~: The toilet stall should be a minimum of three feet

wide and four feet ten inches minimum length .

Doors: If doors are used, they should be a minimum of

thirty -two inches wide and swing out from the stall.

Grab Bars: Grab bars or handra ils should be provid ed on

each side of the stall, a minimum of one and one-h alf

inches and a maximum of two inches in diame ter. The bars

should have a cleara nce betwee n wall and bar of one and

one-h alf inches , and secure ly fasten ed at the ends and

 57

STA LL

11
4 1 - 10 TO 5'- o "

PLA N

WA LL HUNG WATER CLO

SET
RECOMMENDED

FLOOR LINE

ELE VAT ION

FIG. 21 .
--
I 0
GRAPHIC

TO ILE T ST AL LS
SCALE
2 3
FEE T

.
 sa
the cente r, mounted thirt y-thr ee inche s above the
floor .

Wate r Clos et: The water close t in the stall shoul d

have a seat heigh t of twent y inche s above the floor
.
A wall- hung water close t is recommended.

Lava torie s: Lava torie s shoul d have narro w apron s, which ,

when mounted at stand ard heigh t, are usabl e by perso
ns
in whee lchai rs; or shoul d be mounted highe r to accom
modate
perso ns in whee lchai rs (Fig. 22).

Supp ort: The lavat ory shoul d be wall- moun ted on adequ ate
wall supp orts or chair carri ers.

Clear ance: There shoul d be a minimum clear ance twen ty-six

inche s below the bowl and the floor . The apron shoul d be
minimum.

Pipes : All hot water suppl y lines and drain pipes shoul d

be insul ated to prote ct the legs of perso ns in whee

lchai rs.
Fauc ets: All fauce ts shoul d be easy to mani pulat e and

shoul d not be the self- closi ng type. They shoul d be wris t

type or other suita ble types not requi ring manu al dext
erity
or stren gth.
Mirro rs and Shelv es: The mirro r and shelf above a lavat ory
shoul d be at a maximum heigh t of forty inche s above
the floor
to the top of the shelf and botto m of the mirro r.
If space
perm its, full lengt h mirro rs are desir able, place d
two feet
above the floor to the botto m of the mirro r.
.. 59

MIRROR
TOWEL DISPENSER
TOWEL BAR

MIN . APRON - - -....:::.

-
I()

N
I

FLOOR

EL E VATION

-- 0

GRAPH IC SCALE
2 3

FEET

FIG. 22. LAVATORY

 60
Urin als: At leas t one wall hung urin al shou ld be
prov ided
with the open ing of the basi n nine teen
inch es abov e the floo r.
The flus h valv e shou ld be maximum of fort
y-ei ght inch es abov e
the floo r. If urin al scre ens are used
, they shou ld be spac ed
thre e feet apa rt to perm it acce ss by a
whe elch air (Fig . 23).
Disp ense rs: Towel disp ense rs shou ld be
loca ted a maximum
of fort y inch es abov e the floo r to the
bott om of the disp en-
ser. Towel bars , if requ ired , shou ld
also be mounted a
maximum of fort y inch es abov e the floo
r.
9. WATER FOUNTAINS: Wat er foun tain s shou ld conf orm to the
follo win g requ irem ents (Fig . 24).

~: Wat er foun tain s or coo lers shou ld have

fron t-lo cate d
spou ts and hand -ope rate d con trol s.

Wal l-mo unte d Typ es: Wal l-mo unte d wate r

foun tain s shou ld
be a maximum of thir ty-t wo inch es abov
e the floo r to the
rim. The foun tain shou ld be secu red with
adeq uate cha ir
sup port s.

Floo r-mo unte d Typ es: If a floo r-mo unte d wate r foun tain i s
used and is high er than thir ty-t wo inch
es, a sma ll side -
mou nted foun tain shou ld be prov ided at
a heig ht of thir ty
inch es abov e the floo r.
Rec essi ng Wat er Fou ntai ns: Full y rece ssed wate r foun tain s
shou ld not be perm itted beca use they are
inac cess ible to
pers ons in a whe elch air. I f a foun tain
to be used by pers ons
in a whe elch air is s et in an a l cove , the
alco ve shou ld be a
minimum of thre e feet wide .
 61

11---URINAL SCREEN

1--· 3'-o"
·- ···-·-·· -- -+

URINAL SCREEN
0
I

-,.._
I
FLOOR LINE

ELEVATION

0 2 3
GRAPHIC SCALE FEET

FIG. 23. URINAL

 62

x
<t
~

11
11 - 12"
FLOOR LINE

WAL L HUNG ELE VATION

A
- 11

I' - 3"

_,.,
A

-v 12" - 15"
:
0
' -'
r()
x
,___, ci
:IE
:
<D
I

FLOOR LINE l,
FLOOR MOUNTED ELE VATION

0 2 3

GRAPHIC SCALE FE ET

FIG. 24. DRINKING FOUNTAINS

 63
10. PUBLIC TELEPHONES: The dia l, coi n slo t and rec eiv er sho
uld
be loc ated a maximum of for ty-e igh
t inch es abo ve the floo r.
If a she lf is pro vid ed, it sho uld
be a minimum of twe nty- sev en
inch es abo ve the floo r. The minimum
doo r clea ran ce, if use d,
is thi rty inc hes . An opt ion al fold
ing sea t is des irab le in
a boo th and loc ated at a hei ght of
sev ente en inc hes . To
fac ilit ate tho se with hea ring dif
fic ult ies , an amp lifi er
sho uld be pro vide d and ins truc tion
s for use . The pus h but ton
pho ne is hig hly des irab le (Fig . 25)
.

11. LAUNDRY AREAS IN CAMPGROUNDS: When laun dry are as are pro vid ed,
a bar rier -fre e path of trav el sho
uld be pro vide d for use by
the han dica ppe d.

Door Pos itio n: At lea st one was her and one dry er
sho uld be
fro nt loa din g.

Ins tall atio n Hei ght: Fro nt-l oad ing app lian ces sho uld be
set
abo ve the floo r so tha t the cen ter
line of the doo r is at a
hei ght of thir ty- six inc hes . Thi
s ena bles whe elch air per son s
and peo ple who hav e dif ficu lty ben
ding , to use the laun dry
fac ilit ies .

12. SIGNS AND SIGNALS:

Sig ns to Ide ntif y Bui ldin gs Acc essi
ble to Wh eelc hair s: The
bui ldin gs whi ch hav e entr anc es acc
ess ible by whe elch air per son s
sho uld dis pla y the Inte rna tion al
Symbol (Fig . 1).
Sig ns Rea dab le by the Blin d: Rai
sed figu res , sui tab le for rea d-
ing by tou ch, sho uld be pro vide d
to ide ntif y exi ts, toi lets ,
 64

1 11
2 6 MIN.
t
-

a·•••..
-0
I I \
: I I \
I \

~HINGED
YsEAT

ELEVATION

I 0 2 3
-=-
GRAPHIC SCALE
I I

FEET

FIG. 25. PUBLIC TELEPHONES

bz
 65
elev ator s, stai rs, room names and room numb ers.
Prov ision
shou ld also be made for the same desig natio ns
in brai lle.
Figu res: Figu res shou ld be of simp le desig n, raise d a

minimum of .025 inch , and a heig ht of one and

one-q uarte r
inch es.

Loca tion: Sign s shou ld be place d at a minimum of

fifty -fou r inch es and a maximum of sixty -six

inch es
abov e the floo r. The sign s shou ld be loca ted with in
eigh teen inch es of the door jamb on the strik
e side .
The brai lle iden tific ation shou ld be loca ted
to the
righ t or below the raise d figu res.

Warn ing Sign als: Audi ble warn ing sign als shou ld be prov ided
alon g with visu al sign als for those with seein
g diff icul ties.
Visu al warn ing sign als shou ld be pr ovid ed with
audi ble sign als
for thos e with hear ing diff icul ties.

Haza rds: If manh oles or acce ss pane ls are open and in

use,
or if an open exca vatio n exis ts on a site , barri
cade s shou ld
be place d on all open side s, when the haza rd
is in prox imity
to norm al pede stria n traff ic. The barri cade s shou ld be
loca ted at leas t eigh t feet from the haza rd and
warn ing devi ces
prov ided as outli ned abov e.
13. PUBLIC SHOWER AREAS: The follo wing appl ies to all show er rooms
with two or more stal ls (Fig. 26).

Size : The minimum size of a show er stal l shou ld be

three feet
by three feet , with plum bing locat ed on a side
wall .
Floo r Surf ace: The floor surfa ce shou ld be non- slip and the
 66

CURTAIN ROD
SHOWER HEAD

2"
HAND TEST
UT LET-SPRA Y
HEAD a4°-0
11

RUBBER HOSE
1 11
3 -0

1
SEAT
-0
-,.,
I

II 11-0 11 7 11 -ID 2' - 6" :

I

CURB

PL AN SECTION - ELEVATIO N

THE CURB SHOULD BE ELIMINATE D IF

POSSIBLE . THE CURB SHOULD BE NO
11
MORE THAN 2 HIGH, SHOULD IT BE

--
NECESSAR Y

0 2 3

GRAPHIC SCALE FEET

FIG. 26. SHOWERS

 67
curb shou ld be elim inate d. If a curb has to be used , it
shou ld be no more than two inche s high .

Seat : A seat shou ld be prov ided, locat ed twen ty inch

es
abov e the floo r. It shou ld be a foldi ng seat , so that
thos e wish ing to stand may fold the seat out
of the way.
Grab Rail : A grab rail, one and one- half inch es in diam
eter
and one and one- half inche s from the wall shou
ld be prov ided
at a heig ht of thirt y-si x inch es.

Oper ating Valv e and Dive rsion Valv e: The wate r cont rol
oper ating valv e shou ld be loca ted forty -two inch
es abov e
the floo r and thirt y inche s from the back wall
. The dive rsion
valv e shou ld be locat ed a maximum of fifty -two
inch es abov e
the floo r and thirt y inche s from the back wall
.
Soap Dish : The soap dish shou ld be reces sed and loca ted
four
and one- half inche s from the back wall and forty
-two inch es
abov e the floo r to the botto m of the dish .

Show er Head : The show er head shou ld be loca ted sixte en inch
es
from the back wall and six feet two inche s abov
e the floo r. A
port able hand spray with a flexi ble hose with
a minimum leng th
of forty -eig ht inch es, shou ld be prov ided, loca
ted two feet
from the back wall and sixty -one inche s abov e
the floo r.
14. VENDING MACHINES: Vending mach ine cont rols and acce ss for
them shou ld be loca ted betw een two feet and four
feet abov e
the floo r. The pull on the cont rol knobs shou ld requ ire
no
more than eigh t poun ds of tensi on.
 CHAPTER V

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION

Through the years, the handicapped have suffered inuneasurably

in either not being able to use facilities or having difficulty in

using them. Considerable effort has been exerted and the evolution

in recent years to alleviate the problems faced by the handicapped

in gaining accessibility to all buildings and places of recreation

has gained momentum. It is apparent that more development needs to

be accomplished. The usufruct is inherent in the law.

Legislation has been enacted to help provide barrier-free archi-

tecture, but often it has been weak and unenforceable. There needs to

be greater consistency in legislation and stronger laws restricting

barriers. Increased efforts to acquire more funding for the enforce-

ment of these laws is necessary in order to provide the recreation f acili-

ties that will accommodate the handicapped.

Through the use of data presented, it is hoped that some of the

needs of the handicapped will be fulfilled. These guidelines should be

considered a beginning which could lead to improved facilities and expanded

opportunities for the handicapped. As these guidelines are implemented

and used to solve problems, new challenges will arise to stimulate further

research into other aspects of providing facilities for the handicapped

persons .

In the field of architectural practice and architectural e4ucation,

many people are unaware of laws restricting barriers or of being required

to design barrier-free architecture. Through the years of architectural

68
 69
pra ctic e. the re has bee n no one plac~ or volume where an arc hite ct.
land sca pe arc hit ect . pla nne r or des
ign er cou ld obt ain the cri ter ia
of des ign for bar rier -fre e arc hite
ctu re. The cri ter ia is pre sen ted
her e in one volume to fac ilit ate the
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Your Chu rch, Oct obe r, 196 3, PP• 40-
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(10) Hil lea ry, James F. "Bu ildi ngs for
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(ll) Jac obs , Iren e D. "Campus Con cern

: the Dis able d Stu den t."
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 71
(13 ) Murphy, Tom. 11 De nis is De nis
." Wi sco nsi n Alumnus. Vo l. 14,
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---
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Inf orm ati on and De mo nst rati on elopment of a Model
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(18 ) Me ltz er, Da nie l. AIA Ba rri er-
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(19 ) Na tio nal Ea ste r Sea l So cie ty
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New Yo rk, New Yo rk, 1971.

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Fun d. Making Fa cil itie s Ac ces Rep ort of the Co nst ruc tio n
sib le to the Ph ysi cal ly
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(23 ) The Ins tit ute of Ph ysi cal Me

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New York Un ive rsi ty Me dic al nal Home for Ea sie r Liv ing .
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Public Documents

(24) Califo rnia. Governm ent Codes. Title 1, Chapter 1, Divisio n

5. 1968.

(25) Califo rnia. Health and Safety Codes. Divisio n 13, Part 55,
Section s 19955 ff. Chapter 1018. 1972.

(26) Minnes ota. Minnes ota Statute s. Section 73.57 et seq.,

as amende d, Chapte r 813, 1963; amended 1965.

(27) Oklahoma. Oklahoma Statute s. Section 12, Title 61. 1965.

(28) Texas. Civil Statute s, Annota ted (Vernon ). Senate Bill 111
art. 678g. 1970.

(29) U. S. Congre ss, Senate . An act to insure that certain buildin gs

finance d with Federa l funds are so designe d and constru cted
as to be access ible to the physic ally handica pped. Public
Law 90-480 , 90th Congre ss, August 12, 1968.

(30) U. S. Departm ent of Health, Educati on and Welfare . Selecte d

Rehab ilitatio n Facilit ies in the United States: An
Archit ect's Analys is, by Thomas K. Fitzpa trick.
Washing ton, D. C. Government Printin g Office, 1971.

(31) U. S. Departm ent of Housing and Urban Develop ment. Housing

for the Physic ally Impaire d. Washin gton, D. C. Government
Printin g Office , 1968.

(32) U. S. Departm ent of Interio r, Bureau of Outdoo r Recrea tion

and Nation al Recrea tion and Park Associ ation, co-ope rating.
Outdoo r Recrea tion Plannin g for the Handica pped. Techni cal
Assista nce Bulleti n. Washin gton, D. C. Government Printin g
Office . April, 1967. p. 1.

(33) Wiscon sin. Wiscon sin Statute s. Chapter 66.616.

Proceed ings

(34 ) Americ an Associ ation for Health, Physic al Educati on and Recre-
ation and Nation al Recrea tion and Park Associ ation
co-ope rating. Physic al Educati on and Recrea tion for
Handica pped Childre n. Proceed ings of a Study Confere nce
on Researc h and Demon stration Needs. College Park,
Maryla nd, 1969.

(35) Rehab ilitatio n Institu te of Chicago . Access Chicago : Toward

a Barrie r Free Environ ment. Proceed ings of One-Day
Confer ence. Chicago , Illinoi s, 1972. P· 5.
 73
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(36) Univ ersity of Wisc onsin , Department of Engin eerin g,
Univ ersity
Exte nsion . Desig ning Working and Livin g Envir onme
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(37) East Cent ral State Colle ge, Ada, Oklahoma. Remov al
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tectu ral Barr iers. Workshop. July 16-17 , 1973.

Perso nal Inter view s

(38) Mr. Richa rd Aust in, State Parks and Wild life Depa rtmen
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Aust in, Texa s. August 30, 1973.
(39) Mr. O.J. Colli ns, East Cent ral State Colle ge, Ada,
Oklahoma.
July 16-17 , 1973.
(40) Dr. Reid Hast ie, Texas Tech Univ ersity , Lubbock, Texa
s. August
3, 1973 .
AP P E Nn I X

74
 Public Law 90-480
90th Congress, S. 222
August 12, 1968

AN ACT

To insure that certain buildings financed with Federal funds are

so designed and constructed as to he accessible to the physically

handicapped.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the

United States of America in Congress assembled, That, as used in

this Act, the term "building" means any building or facility (other

than (A) a privately owned residential structure and (B) any building

or facility on a military installation designed and constructed pri-

marily for use by able bodied military personnel) the intended use

for which either will require that such building or facility be

accessible to the public, or may result in the employment or residence

therein of physically handicapped persons, which building or facility

is --

(1) to be constructed or altered by or on behalf of the United

States;

(2) to be leased in whole or in part by the United States after

the date of enactment of this Act after construction or alteration in

accordance with plans and specifications of the United States; or

(3) to be financed in whole or in part by a grant or a loan

made by the United States after the date of enactment of this Act if

75
 76
Public Law 90-480 (Cont'd )
such buildin g or facilit y is subjec t to standar ds for design,

constr uction , or alterat ion issued under author ity of the law

author izing such grant or loan.

SEC. 2. The Admin istrator of Genera l Service s, in consul tation

with the Secreta ry of Health , Educat ion, and Welfar e, is authori zed

to prescr ibe such standar ds for the design, constru ction, and alter-

ation of buildin gs (other than reside ntial structu res subjec t to this

Act and buildin gs, structu res, and facilit ies of the Departm ent of

Defens e subjec t to this Act) as may be necessa ry to insure that physi-

cally handica pped persons will have ready access to, and use of, such

buildin gs.

SEC. 3. The Secreta ry of Housing and Urban Develop ment, in con-

sultati on with the Secreta ry of Health , Educat ion, and Welfar e, is

author ized to prescri be such standar ds for the design, constru ction,

and alterat ion of buildin gs which are reside ntial structu res subjec t

to this Act as may be necessa ry to insure that physic ally handica pped

person s will have ready access to, and use of such buildin gs.

SEC. 4. The Secreta ry of Defense , in consul tation with the Secre-

tary of Health , Educat ion, and Welfar e, is authori zed to prescri be

such standar ds for the design , constru ction, and alterat ion of build-

ings, structu res, and facilit ies of the Departm ent of Defense subjec t

to this Act as may be necessa ry to insure that physic ally handica pped

person s will have ready access to, and use of, such buildin gs.

SEC. 5. Every buildin g designe d, constru cted, or altered after

 77
Public Law 90-480 (Cont'd )

the effecti ve date of a standar d issued under this Act which is

applica ble to such buildin g, sha ll be designe d, constru cted, or

altered in accorda nce with such standar d.

SEC. 6. The Admin istrator of Genera l Service s, with respec t

to standa rds issued under section 2 of this Act, and the Secreta ry

of Housin g and Urban Develop ment, with respect to standar ds issued

under section 3 of this Act, and the Secreta ry of Defense with respec t

to standa rds issued under section 4 of this Act, is author ized--

Cl) to modify or waive any such standar d, on a case-by -case

basis, upon applic ation made by the head of the departm ent, agency ,

or instrum entalit y of the United States concern ed, and upon a deter-

minatio n by the Admin istrator or Secreta ry, as the case may be, that

such modifi cation or waiver is clearly necessa ry, and

(2) to conduc t such surveys and investi gations as he deems

necess ary to insure complia nce with such standar ds.

Approv ed August 12, 1968.