This is the 2024 IBC and IEBC self-certification training for
accessibility and accessible means of egress.
My name is Ross Sapon. I am a structural plans engineer and the architectural and
accessibility technical lead for the city of Phoenix planning and development
department. You can contact me by email at ro O S T dot S A P O N at P H O E N
IX dot gov. My telephone number is 6022627802.
You will notice during this video version of the PowerPoint presentation,
I will be describing in appropriate detail the graphics that appear on the
slide to provide persons with visual disabilities the opportunity to have
access to the information presented in this video.
This is a requirement by the Americans with Disabilities Act for a service or
program offered to the public by the city. And this requirement is
wholeheartedly supported by this department.
We welcome any suggestions on our efforts to make this video presentation
and any other services and programs accessible.
Many of you listening today have taken college classes. So this question should
be an easy one. What is the minimum grade you need to achieve in a college
class to get a credit for that class? The answer is a grade of D.
Codes specify minimum requirements. Codes provide requirements for a level
of work that would be analogous to the level of work necessary to achieve a
grade of D in a college class. Some of you may view code requirements
as the gold standard. They are not the gold standard. They are as low as you
can go without failing. We will see this when we start discussing chapter 11 in
the IBC. These are the four documents that will
provide you with the required provisions for accessibility and accessible means
of egress for work outside of the public ride ofway. the 2024 IBC and the 2024
IEBC with Phoenix amendments and the 2017
ICA117.1
and section 702G of the Phoenix zoning ordinance which
contains the provisions for accessible parking and loading zones.
The 2010 ADA standards for accessibility design is another document that contains
accessibility provisions. This document that you can find online for free is
title two and title three of the federal Americans with Disabilities Act.
The state of Arizona made it a state statute by reference to the federal law.
The state law requires that counties and cities adopt the state statute by
reference in their building code. The Phoenix Building Construction Code
is more comprehensive than the federal and state laws and has more stringent
accessibility provisions. The Fair Housing Act design guide
document is a design guide only. It is not the Federal Fair Housing Act law.
This guide is based on the 1988 amendments to the Federal Fair Housing
Act. Please do not use this document.
The Phoenix Building Construction Code has more comprehensive and stringent
accessibility provisions. Use the Phoenix building construction
code and zoning ordinance section 702G for work that's not in the public right
of way. The 2010 ADA document and the standards and policies of the street
transportation department are used for work in the public rideway. There is
another federal document titled public ride-of-way accessibility guidelines
that provides updated guidelines on how to make the public rideway accessible.
This presentation will not be discussing accessibility requirements in the public
rideway. Please contact the city of Phoenix
street transportation department for more information on what is required for
work in the public rideway. Let's discuss where accessibility
provisions are found in the building code.
IBC section 1009 in chapter 10 covers the provisions for accessible means of
egress. IBC chapter 11 covers accessibility
and IBC appendix E provides supplementary accessibility
requirements. Section 306 in the EBC contains
accessibility provisions for existing buildings.
The IBC and the IEBC are the scoping documents. They tell the user what is
required to be accessible and the quantity of each element that must be
accessible. Except for IBC section 1107, the IBC and the IEBC leave the technical
standards on how to make the element accessible to the ICA117.1
standards document. Section 1107
includes both scoping requirements and technical standards which avoided
amending the ICCA117.1 standard.
This approach maintains the city's longstanding amendment format which
places amendments in the adopted model code documents not in the reference
standards. Let's start with the IBC chapter 11.
This is accessibility. This chapter is all about getting into
sites, buildings, structures, facilities, and spaces and using the
elements within these without the need for physical assistance.
Chapter 11 starts out in section 1103.1 stating that everything shall be
accessible. If you were only to comply with section
1103.1, you would be achieving A+ work.
But remember, the code is all about minimum requirements. It is not the gold
standard. It only requires you to earn a grade of D to get credit.
The very next section, section 1103.2, lists 13 general exceptions.
These general exceptions are employee work areas, detached one and two family
dwellings, most group U occupancies, construction sites, raised areas
primarily for security, life safety, and fire safety, limited access spaces like
catwalks and crawl spaces. raised and lowered areas less than 300
square ft in area for religious worship, equipment spaces,
highway toll booths, specific R1 and R3 buildings,
the dwelling unit portion that also has a daycare facility,
specific common use areas in detention and correction facilities. ities,
walk-in coolers and freezers accessed from employee work areas.
This is the start of getting the accessibility requirements away from a
A+ level and back down to the D level. Accessible routes.
Most elements that are required to be accessible must have an accessible route
to them. But that is not always the case. The code must be read carefully to
determine if an accessible route is required to an accessible element or
space. The term accessible in the code only
means that the element must be provided with features that are considered
accessible in compliance with ICA117.1
standards. It does not automatically mean that the path to it must comply
with accessible route standards. What is an accessible route? An
accessible route is a continuous unobstructed path that complies with
chapter 11 of the IBC. An accessible route is a pedestrian
circulation path that can be made up of one or several specific components that
allows a person with a mobility disability to get from point A to point
B without assistance. There are six components that can be
used to make up an accessible route. Those six components are walking
surfaces with slope not steeper than one in 20 doors and doorways, ramps, curb
ramps excluding the flared sides, passenger elevators and platform lifts.
Platform lifts are also known as wheelchair lifts
and limited use limited application elevators, also known as Lulas, cannot
be used where passenger elevators are required, but they can be used where
platform lifts are allowed. Notice that providing physical
assistance is not one of the listed components of an accessible route.
Platform lifts. Always have a platform for a mobility device like a wheelchair.
Some may lift a platform along the incline of a stair. Some may lift a
platform vertically between floor levels. A picture of an inclined lift
that lifts the platform along the incline of a stair is shown on this
slide. A picture of a vertical lift is also
shown on this slide. Chairlifts have an integral chair. They
do not have a platform. These are not platform lifts. Chairlifts are not a
listed component of an accessible route. A picture of a chairlift crossed out
with a red X is shown on this slide. At least one accessible route within a
site is required to the accessible building entrance from
public transportation stops, accessible parking spaces,
accessible loading zones, accessible electric vehicle charging
spaces, and public streets or public sidewalks.
These are known as site arrival points. An accessible route is not required onto
a site from a public street or public sidewalk where only a vehicular way is
provided onto the site with no pedestrian access.
However, an accessible route is required onto a site from a public street or
public sidewalk if the building on the site has or serves type B units.
An accessible route is not required between a site arrival point and an
accessible building entrance where only a vehicular way is provided between the
site arrival point and the building entrance and no pedestrian access path
is provided. However, an accessible route is required
between a site arrival point and an accessible building if the building on
the site has or serves type B units. At least one accessible route shall
connect between accessible buildings, accessible facilities, accessible
elements, and accessible spaces within a site.
However, an accessible route on site is not required between accessible
buildings, accessible facilities, accessible elements, and accessible
spaces where the only means of access between them is a vehicular way with no
pedestrian access. A trail, a walkway, and a delineated
path on a vehicular way can all be considered pedestrian access. A
pedestrian access that's provided must also be an
accessible route. Common use circulation paths within
employee work areas shall be accessible routes. There are exceptions.
Press boxes shall be on an accessible route.
There are exceptions. Stories, mezzanines, and occupied roofs
shall be connected to accessible routes. There are exceptions and exceptions to
the exceptions. Accessible routes shall be located in
the same area as the general circulation path.
There are exceptions. Security barriers, ballards, checkpoints
shall not obstruct accessible routes. Again, there are exceptions.
Accessible entrances. At least 60% of public entrances shall
be accessible. Other required accessible entrances are
also listed. Parking garage entrances, pedestrian tunnel and elevated walkway
entrance. Restricted entrance. These include employee only and tenant renter
only entrances. Inmate detainee security personnelon
entrance. Service entrance when it is the only
entrance into an accessible space. Tenants space entrance. and a dwelling
unit entrance for accessible type A and type B units.
Parking and loading zones. An amendment deletes section 1106
entirely and refers to the city of Phoenix zoning ordinance. Accessible
parking is found in zoning ordinance section 702G.
Helpful TRT documents include city parking requirements guideline which is
number 000070
and accessibility parking standards which is number 00433.
Motor vehicle related facilities. An electric vehicle charging station is
not required to be a parking space, but if it also serves to provide vehicle
parking required by the Phoenix zoning ordinance, it shall be considered a
separate parking facility and shall comply with the most restrictive
requirements of both vehicle space types.
at least 5% but not less than one electric vehicle charging space for each
type of electric vehicle charging system in an electric vehicle charging station
shall be accessible. Section 1107.2
Two also provides the technical standards on how to make the accessible
electric vehicle charging station accessible such as vehicle space and
access aisle dimensions, headroom, clear floor space at operable parts,
accessible operability of the charging controls, etc.
Dwelling units and sleeping units. It is important to know the technical
difference between a dwelling unit and a sleeping unit. A dwelling unit provides
complete living facilities including permanent provisions for living,
sleeping, eating, cooking, and sanitation.
A sleeping unit provides permanent provisions for sleeping and can include
provisions for living, eating and either sanitation facilities or a kitchen, but
not both. A microwave is not considered a cooking facility.
The IBC specifies three dwelling and sleeping unit types depending on the
type of project. The accessible unit type is constructed
to be fully accessible upon issuance of the certificate of occupancy.
The typeA unit and the type B unit are adaptable units. They are constructed to
allow grab bars to be installed by the occupant and they also contain space
sizes that consider an occupant with a mobility disability.
The type A unit provides more accessibility features when fully
adapted than the type B unit, but it does not become an accessible unit even
when fully adapted. The type B unit represents the building
codes version of the adaptable unit described in the Fair Housing Act.
Although this presentation does not cover the International Residential
Code, it is worth mentioning that the city of Phoenix has adopted inclusive
home design requirements for one and two family dwellings and town houses that
are regulated by the IRC. Refer to IRC section R322
for specific details on inclusive home design.
Quantity and type of units depends on the occupancy classification.
Group I or group R. The specific use and the total quantity of units in the
building and on the project. The type of unit required is also
dependent on the length of stay and type of stay. The following terms are
important in determining which type of unit will be required.
Transient. This is a unit used for 30 days or less.
Intended to be occupied as a residence. This is a unit that is an occupant's
place of abode. The intended to be occupied as a
residence condition may occur when any one of the following is true.
The resident does not have another residence.
The residence is receiving their mail here
and the resident has the right to return to the same unit from let's say a
vacation and the unit is not rented to someone else while the resident is away
on that vacation. Special occupancies.
If a service or facility is provided in rooms and spaces used for assembly
purposes with fixed seating, bleachers, grandstands or folding and telescopic
seating that is not accessible. The same service or facility shall be
provided on an accessible level and be accessible.
Selfservice storage facilities shall provide accessible individual self
storage spaces in accordance with table 1109.3.
Accessible selfservice storage spaces of the various classes may be located
within one building of a multi-building facility and on one accessible story
within that building. Courtrooms including the litigant and
council stations and lectern shall be accessible.
Accessible routes shall be provided per section 1104.3.
Jury boxes shall have an accessible space, but no companion seat is
required. Fixed gallery seating shall have
wheelchair spaces and companion seat in compliance with section 1109.2.2.1
2.1 and designated aisle seats per section
11.09.4.1.5.
Other features and facilities. All toilet and bathing rooms shall be
accessible. There are nine exceptions.
An accessible family or assisted use toilet room is required in assembly and
mercantile occupancies where an aggregate of six or more male and female
water closets are required. A required family or assisted use toilet
room is not subject to exception 3 of section 1110.2
when clustered with single user toilet rooms.
where sinks are provided. At least 5% but not less than one accessible sink
shall be provided in accessible spaces. Adult changing stations are required
where family or assisted use toilet or bathing rooms are required
for a group B above the 12th grade educational facility with 600 or more
students and for a group E assembly space
requiring six or more total water closets.
Kitchens and kitchenetses in access in accessible spaces shall be accessible
where drinking fountains are provided. A minimum of one drinking fountain shall
comply with the requirements for persons that use a wheelchair and one shall
comply with requirements for standing persons.
Additional fountains shall generally be provided in pairs.
We're provided. Bottle filling stations shall be accessible.
A bottle filling station over a drinking fountain for standing persons is not
required to be accessible if a corresponding accessible bottle filling
station is placed over a drinking fountain for persons using a wheelchair.
Saunas and steam rooms shall be accessible.
5% but not less than one when they are clustered.
Passenger elevators on an accessible route shall be accessible.
Platform lifts can be used as a component of an accessible route in 10
specific locations. These locations are listed in section
1110.11.
I will not be listing them in this presentation. So, please look at section
1110.11.
At least 10% but not less than one of each type of fixed or built-in storage
element shall be accessible. Selfservice shelves and display units
must be on an accessible route, but these are not required to comply with
the reach range requirements. Detectable warnings, also known as
truncated domes, are only required at passenger transit platform edges
bordering a drop off not protected by platform screens or guards.
Remember that we are not discussing accessibility in the public rideway.
Although not required by code, a site should be consistent in its application
of detectable warnings. If an existing site has them, consider
specifying them on new construction in locations consistent with the existing
locations or removing the existing ones to avoid confusion for persons with
visual disabilities. Where dining surfaces for the
consumption of food or drink are provided. At least 5% but not less than
one of the fixed or built-in dining surfaces for the seating and standing
spaces shall be accessible. And at least 5% but not less than one of
the movable dining surfaces for the seating and standing spaces shall be
accessible in dining and drinking areas. All
interior and exterior floor areas shall be accessible and be on an accessible
route. There are four exceptions to this.
A percentage of service facilities like checkout aisles, sales, and service
counters and service windows and food service lines are required to be
accessible. Drive up service windows used
exclusively by persons in a vehicle are not required to be accessible.
controls operating mechanisms and hardware intended for operation by the
occupants, including switches that control lighting and ventilation and
electrical convenience outlets in accessible spaces along accessible
routes or as part of accessible elements shall be accessible. There are three
exceptions. This requirement covers controls,
operating mechanisms and hardware in interior and exterior locations.
Recreational facilities. Recreational facilities shall be
provided with accessible features as specified in section 1111.
Zoning ordinance section 507 tab A.2 2
C.4 also contains requirements for
accessible routes to exterior spaces, recreational facilities, and amenities
regardless of if they are accessible. Refer to TRT DOC0000137
as a guide for this zoning ordinance section.
Signage required accessible elements shall be
identified by the international symbol of accessibility at the listed locations
in section 1112.1.
An image of the international symbol of accessibility is included on this slide.
Required accessible public toilet and bathing rooms shall be identified with
signs containing visual characters, raced characters, and braille.
Pictograms may also be included on the sign, but they cannot take the place of
the characters. An image of a sign for an accessible
women's restroom, including a pictogram of a woman. The international symbol of
accessibility, the word woman and braille appears on
this slide. The international symbol of
accessibility is only required if not all of the women's facilities are
accessible. Directional signage shall be provided
indicating the route to the nearest like accessible element at the locations
listed in section 1112.3.
Other signage indicating special accessibility provisions shall be
provided as listed in section 1112.4.
Where provided signs identifying permanent rooms and spaces shall include
visual characters, raced characters, and braille.
Pictograms may also be included on the signs, but they cannot take the place of
the characters. Section E107
in appendix E has more signage provisions.
All right. Now let's look at the accessible means of egress.
This is getting out of sites, buildings, structures, facilities, and spaces
during a fire. Accessible means of egress provisions
are found in section 1009 of chapter 10. To simplify this presentation and
shoehorn it into the allotted time, this presentation assumes that an NFPA13
or NFPA13R automatic sprinkler system is present.
Accessible means of egress is required from all accessible spaces, not just
those that are required to be accessible.
If a space happens to be accessible, it requires accessible means of egress.
If one means of egress is required, then that means of egress shall be an
accessible means of egress. If more than one means of egress is
required, then not less than two accessible means of egress shall be
provided. No more than two accessible means of
egress are required from an accessible site, building, structure, facility, or
space. Let's take a look at the actual text of
section 1009.1.
Section 1009.1. Accessible means of egress shall comply
with this section. Accessible spaces shall be provided with not less than one
accessible means of egress where more than one means of egress is required by
section 1006.2 or 1006.3
from an accessible space. Each accessible portion of the space shall be
served by not less than two accessible means of egress.
Notice that the term accessible means of egress is used, not the term exit access
or exit. Section 1009.1
requires the entire accessible means of egress to be provided,
not just a quantity of exit accesses or exits.
When two accessible means of egress are required, this section requires two
separate egress paths, each containing separate exit access, exit, and exit
discharge. Each separate accessible means of egress
must extend to the public way and cannot be merged along the way. Otherwise, that
would make them one accessible means of egress to the public way, not two.
An accessible means of egress is not the same thing as an accessible route.
A person with a disability may be able to get into a space unassisted using an
accessible route, but that person may not be able to use that same accessible
route to get out during the fire emergency.
Assistance may be required when using an accessible means of egress.
Section 1009.2 lists 10 components that can be used to
make up an accessible means of egress. They are accessible routes,
interior exit stairways, exit access stairways,
exterior exit stairways, elevators,
platform lifts, horizontal exits, ramps, areas of refuge, and exterior areas for
assisted rescue. Notice that one of the components that
can be used to make up an accessible means of egress is an accessible route.
Accessible means of egress elevators. In buildings where a required accessible
floor is four or more stories above the level of exit discharge,
not less than one accessible means of egress elevator is required.
An accessible means of egress elevator does not have to serve floors that are
provided with a horizontal exit. In buildings where a required accessible
floor is four or more stories below the level of exit discharge,
not less than one accessible means of egress elevator is required.
Horizontal exits do not exempt an accessible means
of egress elevator in basement conditions.
Stairways. An accessible means of egress stairway
must have solid risers. It cannot be an exit access stairway
connecting two levels in the same story except from a mezzanine. And it cannot
be an exterior exit stairway within the exit discharge to public way portion of
the accessible means of egress unless an exterior area for assisted rescue is
provided on the egress side of the stair.
A picture of a vertical platform lift next to a stairway inside a building is
shown on this slide. Platform lifts are allowed as a
component of an accessible means of egress in the same places they are
allowed as a component of an accessible route as listed in section 1110.11
except they are not allowed on an exterior site
in lie of a ramp or elevator. A platform lift can be used as a
component on an exterior site accessible route, but that same platform lift
cannot be used as a component of an accessible means of egress.
A picture of a vertical platform lift next to an exterior stair on an exterior
site with a red X over the picture is shown on this slide.
When an accessible route is not present for the exit discharge to public way
part of the accessible means of egress, an exterior area for assisted rescue
must be provided on the exterior landing of the exterior exit door.
An exterior area for assisted rescue must have signage identifying the area.
The exterior area for assisted rescue cannot be used for anything else.
A two-way communication system is required at the landing of all passenger
elevators, regardless of if the elevator is an accessible means of egress
elevator or not. There are six exceptions to this.
When an exit serves a required accessible space, but it is not part of
an accessible means of egress, directional signage is required at that
exit to show how to get to the accessible means of egress exit or
exits. Okay, we are moving along. Now let's
discuss the accessibility provisions in the IEC for existing buildings.
Accessibility provisions are found in section 306 of the IEC.
These provisions are applicable to all repairs, alterations, additions, change
of occupancy, and relocation of buildings. Reducing the accessibility in
an existing building below the level required for a new building is
prohibited. Existing required accessible means of
egress shall be maintained during construction. Approved temporary
accessible means of egress may be utilized.
Accessible means of egress that might be required by IBC chapter 10 are not
required to be added to an existing building.
If an existing building does not have accessible means of egress and it is in
compliance with the code that it was permitted under, then accessible means
of egress is not required to be added. Additions are new construction and must
comply with the IBC. These requirements may extend into the
existing building portion depending on the design of the combined new and
existing portions. There are specific accessibility
provisions in other sections of the IEBC that are based on the level of work
being performed and the occupancy group of a space. Those appear in the
appropriate chapters of the IEBC. One such example of a specific
accessibility provision is found in section 905.4
and it is for two-way communication systems for buildings with elevator
service undergoing a level three alteration.
There are no provisions in section 306 when a change of occupancy does not also
include an alteration. When a change of occupancy also includes
an alteration, the accessibility provisions for the alteration apply.
A facility that is altered shall comply with the applicable provisions of IBC
chapter 11 and the IEBC unless technically infeasible.
The alteration shall provide access to the maximum extent technically feasible.
However, it is very important to look up the
definition of technically infeasible and not assume you know what it means before
trying to utilize it in the design. Primary function is another important
definition you need to be familiar with. Where an alteration affects an area of
primary function or the accessibility of an area of primary function, the route
to the area of primary function shall be accessible.
Toilet facilities and drinking fountains serving that area of primary function
and the route from the area of primary function to the toilet facilities and
drinking fountains shall be accessible. The cumulative costs of providing the
accessible route and the accessible toilet facilities and drinking fountains
that serve the area of primary function are not required to exceed 20% of the
cost of the alteration of the area of primary function.
Type B dwelling units required by IBC section 1108
are not required to be provided in existing buildings and facilities
undergoing alterations that did not originally require type B
units when the work area is 50% or less than the aggregate area of the building.
An alteration of an existing type B dwelling unit must maintain the unit's
compliance as a typeB unit unless it is altered into a type A unit or an
accessible unit. If an existing building has type B
units, that is a good indication that it is regulated by provisions of the FHA.
Eliminating type B unit compliance during an alteration may be a federal
civil rights violation. In existing buildings undergoing
alterations, limited use, limited application or LULA
elevators are allowed to be a component of an accessible route.
In existing buildings undergoing alterations, vertical and incline
platform lifts are allowed to be a component of an accessible route. Also,
we previously discussed that Lula elevators and platform lifts are limited
on where they can be used as components of an accessible route in new
construction. In alterations to existing buildings,
these limitations are not present. when additional toilet facilities are
being added in occupancies where adult changing stations are required by IBC
section 1110.4. Not fewer than one accessible family or
assisted use toilet room with an adult changing station shall be provided in
accordance with IBC section 1110.4. Historic structure alterations can
comply with reduced accessibility requirements specified in section
306.7.18.
Now for the final document we'll be discussing the 2017
edition of the ICA117.1.
This book provides the minimum technical standards required to make an item
accessible. It does not specify if an item is
required. Only the IBC and the IEBC provide the scope of what elements must
be provided and accessible. Just because an item is in this
document, it does not mean that it is required by the IBC or the IEBC.
A good example is the type C unit found in chapter 11 of this document.
Neither the IBC or the IEBC require a type C unit.
This presentation will limit the review of this document to the table of
contents to give you an idea of what is covered in this document.
Chapter 3, building blocks. Chapter four, accessible route. Chapter five,
general site and building elements. Chapter six, plumbing elements and
facilities. Chapter 7, communication elements and features. Chapter 8,
special rooms and spaces. Chapter nine, furnishings and equipment.
Chapter 10, recreational facilities. And chapter 11, dwelling units and sleeping
units. Time for a pop quiz.
A sequential picture of a person in a wheelchair launching from a launch ramp,
flying through the air, and landing in a pit filled with soft foam blocks is
shown on this slide. The question is, does this picture show
a person using an accessible route?
Well, although this person does not appear to need assistance to get from
here to there, speed, launch ramp, hang time, and foam
pit are not specifically listed as components of an accessible route.
So, no, this is not an accessible route. We have come to the end of this training
presentation. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at my
telephone number 622627802
or my email rx.
G O V. A picture of an infant with a quizzical facial expression is shown.