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Building Codes & Industry Standards
Denver Service Center (DSC) Requirements
Resources
National Park Service (NPS) Requirements
Laws
Executive Orders (EOs)
Regulations
Building Codes & Industry Standards
Accessibility
Facility & Site Designs
- Must meet ABA Standards for facility and site designs and address equal opportunity for all program areas. Activities within buildings, interpretation, hiking, walking, picnicking, swimming, and camping are examples of program areas and must provide equal opportunity per Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.
Universal Design
- Universally designed sites and facilities provide equal opportunity not only for persons with disabilities, but a variety of situations, such as:
- a parent pushing a stroller
- a child on crutches
- a person with arthritic knees
- Accessible and inaccessible constructed and programmatic components of a facility are indiscernible in Universal Design. This can include any of the following project considerations:
- site arrival
- access paths (interior and exterior)
- functional spaces
- furnishings
- millwork, fixtures, and appliances
- exhibits and media
- The Principles of Universal Design (North Carolina State University (NCSU) > Center for Universal Design)
Pedestrian Routes/Entrance
- Accessible parking is located closest to the accessible entrance.
- All users follow the same routes through the site and facility.
- The primary entrances (visitor and employee) of newly constructed facilities do not have steps.
- Provides a covered entry with the roof draining away from the entry, walk way, and entrance.
- Provides power assisted door openers on main accessible entrances and lever or push hardware on other doors.
Interpretive Media Accessibility Requirements
Denver Service Center (DSC) Requirements
Door Openers
Exterior Doors
- All buildings classified as IBC Assembly and/or Business occupancy spaces shall provide power-assisted door openers on the main entry door and other doors required for program access.
- Exceptions:
- Single occupancy spaces
- Restrooms without power
- Historic structures - the exceptions in Architectural Barriers Act Accessibility Stanards (ABAAS) for alterations to qualified historic buildings or facilities shall be permitted to apply. See ABAAS 202.5, and F206.4.
- Main entry has a vestibule with exterior and interior doors: At least one of the active leaves of the exterior door and at least one of the active leaves of the interior door in the vestibule shall have power-assisted door openers.
Interior Doors
- Interior doors are not required to have automatic door openers if they meet ABAAS Section 404 requirements.
- Interior doors on the accessible route through the building which cannot meet ABAAS Section 404 requirements shall have power assisted door openers.
Ramps and Sloping Pavement
- Architectural Barries Act Accessibility Standards (ABAAS) Advisory F104.1.1:
- Construction and Manufacturing Tolerances - "Where a [ABAAS] requirement is a minimum or a maximum dimension that does not have two specific minimum and maximum end points,…it would be good practice to specify a dimension less than the required maximum (or more than the required minimum) by the amount of the expected field or manufacturing tolerance…"
- American Concrete Institute (ACI-117.1R-14, 5.8.2.1) recommends the following design strategy to meet accessibility standards:
- "The general practice is to specify a dimension less than the required maximum…"
- See ACI design slope and cross-slope recommendations in the DSC Design Slope/Cross-Slope Requirements table below.
- DSC requires designs for slopes and cross-slopes be in accordance with DSC Design Requirements in the DSC Design Slope/Cross-Slope Requirements table below. This requirement considers construction tolerances in order to meet ABAAS post construction.
DSC Design Slope/
Cross-Slope Requirements |
ABAAS Construction Maximums
± Construction Tolerence |
DSC Design Requirements
ACI Recommendations |
| Ramps |
1:12 = 8.33% |
1:13.3 = 7.5% maximum |
| Walking Surfaces |
1:20 = 5.00% |
1:25 = 4.0% maximum |
| Parking |
1:48 = 2.00% |
1:66.6 = 1.5% maximum |
Level Areas
(landings, parking access aisles, turning spaces, etc.) |
1:48 = 2.00% |
1:66.6 = 1.5% maximum |
| Cross-Slope |
1:48 = 2.00% |
1:66.6 = 1.5% maximum |
Construction
Resources
ABA for Accessibility
Visual/Auditory Disabilities
National Park Service (NPS) Requirements
NPS Management Policies 2006 - The Guide to Managing the National Park System
Director's Orders (DOs)
NPS Memos
Laws
- Architectural Barriers Act (ABA) of 1968 - The ABA requires access to facilities designed, built or altered with Federal dollars or leased by Federal agencies. The law covers a wide range of facilities including national parks. It also applies to non-government facilities that have received Federal funding. Enacted in 1968, the ABA stands as the first effort by Congress to ensure access to the built environment. Facilities that predate the law generally are not covered, but alterations or leases undertaken after the law took effect can trigger coverage.
- Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) - The ADA prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in employment, state and local government services, transportation, public accommodations, commercial facilities, and telecommunications. The ADA primarily covers work that is not Federally funded or constructed. However, certain Federal work does enforce ADA; contact a regional DBTAC (Disability & Business Technical Assistance Center) or Federal agency.
- Rehabilitation Act of 1973 - Ensures access to programs and activities that are Federally funded. It also protects the rights of Federal employees with disabilities. Federal agencies are responsible for enforcing requirements as they apply to their own programs, services, and employment practices.
- Telecommunications Act of 1996 / Information and Communication Technology (Revised 508 Standards & 255 Guidelines) - Requires electronic and IT (Information Technology) procured by Federal agencies to be accessible according to standards issued by the Access Board.
Executive Orders (EOs)
Regulations
Code of Federal Regulations (CFR)
