Designing ADA commercial buildings requires that your building is accessible to everyone including those with physical disabilities. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) has specific requirements to ensure easy access for everyone and one major aspect includes requirements for knee clearance.
Knee clearance ADA is required in commercial buildings like offices, retail spaces, hotels and restaurants. This article will discuss some major areas that must meet the ADA knee clearance requirements in your commercial building.
Why is Knee Clearance Important in Commercial Buildings
When people enter a commercial building, it’s expected that everyone has easy access. Knee clearance is mainly important in areas where people need to access a surface whether for work, dining or personal care. For example, when there’s not sufficient knee clearance under desks, tables or restrooms, wheelchairs find access very challenging. Ensuring proper knee clearance helps to get rid of these barriers and obstacles and allows everyone (including wheelchair users) to engage in their various activities with ease.
You must meet ADA standards in your commercial buildings, otherwise, you might face legal penalties in the forms of lawsuits and fines. The consequences extend beyond legal penalties; you now risk a bad company reputation and you also lose more customers due to lack of accessibility.
Ensuring ADA knee clearance in commercial buildings
There are key areas where ADA knee clearance is essential in commercial buildings. These include:
Restroom Facilities
Knee clearance is necessary in public bathrooms. Sinks should have sufficient clearance underneath so that wheelchair users can comfortably access the faucet and soap dispensers. Also, any inbuilt features such as hand dryers or paper towel dispensers should be installed at an accessible height for everyone.
Workspaces and Desks
Workstations and desks in office environments should be installed with ADA knee clearance in mind. Employees who use wheelchairs should not have difficulty accessing their work desks. Adjustable desks are the best options, especially in office environments with physically disabled employees.
Dining Areas
In restaurants and dining spaces, tables and countertops must be designed to have adequate knee clearance so that wheelchair users can dine comfortably. Bars and high-top tables should also be designed to be accessible with enough knee clearance underneath them.
Reception Counters and Service Desks
In commercial spaces, hotels, and offices, reception desks and service counters must provide knee clearance for wheelchair users. A portion of the desk or counter should be low enough and offer adequate space underneath for ease of access.
Conclusion
To ensure that everyone, including those with disabilities, can access your commercial building, you must prioritize ADA knee clearance. By following the ADA guidelines and requirements for commercial buildings, you can be able to create a comfortable and accessible environment for everyone.