The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires that equal opportunities are created for people with disabilities and the general public by non-profit organizations, businesses, as well as state and local governments. This means that public spaces and companies must be accessible to everyone.
All types of businesses need to be ADA compliant, according to the law, and this includes any business that deals with the public. Business owners can take a few steps to ensure that their business and property are ADA-compliant.
What Is ADA Compliant Store?
An ADA-compliant store is a store that ensures that all areas of its premises are accessible to those with disabilities.
This includes the entrance to the building, having sufficient ADA signage that is visible to everyone, ensuring that there is adequate parking for persons with disabilities close enough to the entrance of the building, ramps to accommodate individuals in wheelchairs and that any elevators on the premises are accessible to persons with disabilities.
How Do I Make Sure My Business Is ADA Compliant?
You will need to incorporate a few changes to ensure your business is ADA compliant.
Signage
You should have signage at each relevant point in your business. The International Symbol of Accessibility must be displayed. The signage should contain braille and tactile characters. It should be displayed at all accessible entrances, parking, bathrooms, and elevators. And, more importantly, the text must be a contrasting color from its background.
Building Entrances
Assess the entrance/s to the building. There must be an accessible entrance that is available during business hours. In the event that there is more than one entrance to the premises, the company may have both accessible and non-accessible entrances provided that there is clear signage indicating where the accessible entrance is. Door handles and doorbells must be accessible to people with mobility issues.
Parking
The law requires that there is at least one handicapped or accessible parking space for every 25 parking spots in a parking area. The parking spots should be closest to the entrance and have an access aisle five feet wide for cars and eight feet wide for vans.
Elevators
If there are elevators on the premises, the elevators must be able to accommodate persons with disabilities by being both wide and long enough. The elevator’s entrance should be big enough so that individuals with mobility scooters or wheelchairs can easily access the elevator. In addition, the elevator door must reopen immediately if someone is obstructing the entrance.
Ramps
Ramps should be available for people with disabilities. The ramps should meet the slope requirements, which indicate that the slope should be at least 36 inches wide.
Additional steps include going over the policies of the company to ensure that they are not discriminating against anyone. Ensure that proper terminology is used in the company and that there are no discriminatory practices in any of the departments. Incorporate an employee training program that teaches other employees how to help employees with disabilities in the company.
In addition, assess all areas in the company in the event that you may need to rearrange furniture so that it is not blocking the way for anyone.
ADA stands for the Americans with Disabilities Act. This means that ADA-compliant locks will be easy to open by anyone, including people with disabilities. The Act was established in 1990. All the new buildings and adapted older architecture should be modified to be accessible for wheelchair users and people with disabilities such as visual or hearing impairment. The Act was passed to ensure that people with disabilities can access all public buildings and that employers guarantee that the place of work is accessible to all employees, including the ones with disabilities.
What Is an ADA Compliant Lock?
ADA regulations require that all door levers and locks on commercial buildings like schools, cinemas, and restaurants need to be manufactured in such a way as to make it possible for easy access to all their patrons, including people with disabilities. Visually, the ADA compliant lock should look the same or very close to those that are non-compliant.
There are three non-negotiable features a lock needs to have to be classified as an ADA compliant lock.
- You need to be able to operate the lock with only one hand.
- You should not need to tightly grasp, pinch or twist your wrist to open the lock.
- It should take less than five pounds of force to activate the operable parts of the lock.
Door levers (door handles) must be designed so people with disabilities can easily operate them. Therefore, when choosing door locks, you must confirm that the lever size and the handle’s projection from the door will be accessible to all.
Most of the locks with lever-operated mechanisms, push-type mechanisms, and U-shaped handles are acceptable. Also, locks that can be operated with a closed fist or gripped loosely can be fitted. If the handle and lock you choose require a coordinated movement of hand and fingers to open, it may require too much dexterity for a disabled person to operate; therefore, such lock designs should be avoided.
What Does ADA Compliance Require?
To be ADA compliant, the design of the doors, locks, and door handles should comprise all the above features. Additionally, the mounted operable lock parts need to be between 34 inches and a maximum of 48 inches above the floor level.
Be cautious when fitting devices such as keypads to operate the lock mechanism because these devices require coordinated finger and hand movements. However, the ADA code does not state that this type of lock is not allowed.
The door should open easily and take less than five pounds of continuous force to open it fully, excluding the force necessary to open the lock or retract the bolt.
To sum up, ADA made it compulsory for builders and architects to pay attention to the locks and how they design their buildings’ entrance doors. Ensuring public buildings are accessible to people with disabilities provides a better quality of life for those struggling with normal daily activities.
Americans with disabilities make up about 18 percent of the population right now, and that number is only expected to grow. That’s why the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) sets standards for public buildings. People with disabilities need to be able to access buildings without requiring additional assistance. That’s why ADA compliant locks and hardware are so important when getting your building up to standards.
Traditional door knobs that require gripping and twisting are not ADA compliant—the force they require people to exert is not compatible with many disabilities. Lever-style door handles are the most common ADA compliant lock. Read on to find out more about your options.
What are ADA compliant locks?
ADA compliant locks should be easy to open with one hand, requiring minimal grabbing or pinching. Unlike traditional round knobs, the user shouldn’t have to twist their wrist to be able to open the door. Many manufacturers make ADA-compliant locks for a variety of applications, including the indicator locks you might see on a public restroom (the type that say “occupied” or “vacant,” depending on whether the lock is engaged).
Why do I need ADA compliant locks?
If you run a business or operate a building open to the public, you will probably fall under the ADA’s compliance guidelines. Generally, unless it’s prohibitively expensive to make alterations, your existing building can’t have barriers to access for people with disabilities. Similarly, new construction must be built to be ADA compliant. Not only is it the law—which means you could be hit with serious fines for noncompliance—it’s also just good business. Why bar almost 20 percent of your potential clients and customers from visiting if it can be avoided?
Are there ADA compliant home security locks?
If your household includes people with disabilities, you’ll need ADA compliant home security locks. Although the ADA doesn’t apply to private residences, it’s important that every member of your household be able to get into and out of the home safely. There are many home security lock options available—consider browsing a selection in person to see which type works best for you or your loved ones.
Other ADA lock compliance considerations
When installing an ADA compliant lock, be sure to thoroughly review the building standards. For example, the door should require no more than five pounds of weight to successfully open with one hand. A person should be able to operate the door with a closed fist or open hand.
Similarly, the locking handle may not be more than 48 inches (four feet) above the ground, and no less than 34 inches (nearly three feet). This allows people with wheelchairs to open the doors, and the average person won’t need to bend down too far to use the door handle.
If you have questions about ADA compliant locks, talk to a locksmith—they’ll be familiar with the type of locks you need. Reach out to the experts at Artie’s Lock and Key to learn more about options for your home or business.
Every business owner wants an operation that appeals to all customers. We all know that we’d only be limiting ourselves if we had a business that only some people find interesting or attractive. This is not limited to the services we offer or the products that we sell, however—we also want to make sure all of our friends in the community can physically access our place of business, and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) lays out guidelines to help facilitate this. At Artie’s Lock and Key, ADA compliance in Fairfax, VA is something we take very seriously and study closely, so we’re happy to provide the following quick tips to our fellow business owners.
What does “readily achievable” mean?
One of the key components of the ADA that business owners should always keep in mind is how it words some of its suggested changes. The phrase “readily achievable” comes up over and over throughout the legislation, and it’s important to understand just exactly what this means for ADA compliance in Fairfax, VA.
In essence, something being “readily achievable” means it’s a change a business can be reasonably expected to make. Cost is not factored in—if there is a change you can make to your store to ensure it’s accessible to all customers, you need to move forward with it. There is some gray area here, however, so be sure to consult a lawyer if you’re unsure whether something qualifies as being readily achievable.
Where to look for compliance issues
Every commercial property has areas that can be tricky to get into compliance with ADA requirements. Most of these won’t come as a surprise—parking lots, curbs and stairways can all create trouble for customers who have difficulties getting around.
However, there’s also the matter of door accessibility – investing in doors that require minimal or no physical action to open and close can go a long way toward ensuring your business is ADA compliant. With relatively recent advances in technology, such as keyless entry systems, lever locksets, automatic doors, power-assisted doors and more, the lock industry has played a major role in forwarding the aims of the ADA.
Artie’s Lock and Key has handled a number of projects over the years to get our customers in compliance with ADA requirements, and we’d love to discuss your options with you.
Why does it matter?
ADA compliance in Fairfax, VA is important for a number of reasons. First of all, it’s just the right thing to do—you want to make sure every single member of your community regards your business as a welcoming and accessible place. Second of all, it’s the law – you can set yourself up for significant lawsuits and financial penalties if you fail to bring your company’s storefront into compliance with these federal regulations.
Finally, it’s just good business. You can expand your base of potential customers by doing everything in your power to expand access. Advertising is one way to get your products and services across to people, but so is making sure your storefront offers a welcoming and accessible experience for everyone. For more information about how we can help, contact Artie’s Lock and Key today.
