EXISTING FACILITIES CHECKLIST

A. Priority 1:
Accessible Entrance People with disabilities should be able to arrive on the site, approach the building, and enter the building as freely as everyone else. At least one path of travel should be safe and accessible for everyone, including people with disabilities.

Path of Travel:

1. Is there a path of travel that does not require the use of stairs? Yes No

2. Is the path of travel stable, firm and slip-resistant? Yes No

3. Is the path at least 36 inches wide? Yes No

4. Can all objects protruding into the path be detected by a person with a visual disability using a cane? (Note: In order to be detected using a cane, an object must be within 27 inches of the ground. Objects hanging or mounted overhead must be higher than 80 inches to provide clear head room. It is not necessary to remove objects that protrude less than 4 inches from the wall.) Yes No

5. Do curbs on the pathway have curb cuts at drives, parking, and drop-offs? Yes No

Ramps:

6. Are the slopes of ramps no greater than 1:12? (Note: Slope is given as a ratio of the height to the length. 1:12 means for every 12 inches along the base of the ramp, the height increases one inch. For a 1.12 maximum slope, at least one foot of ramp length is needed for each inch of height.) Yes No

7. Do all ramps longer than 6 feet have railings on both sides? Yes No

8. Are railings sturdy, and between 34 and 38 inches high? Yes No

9. Is the width between railings at least 36 inches? Yes No

10. Are ramps non-slip? Yes No

11. Is there a 5-foot-long level landing at every 30-foot horizontal length of ramp, at the top and bottom of ramps and at switchbacks? Yes No

Parking and Drop-Off Areas:

12. Are an adequate number of accessible parking spaces available (8 feet wide for car plus 5-foot striped access aisle)? For guidance in determining the appropriate number to designate, the table below gives the ADAAG requirements for new construction and alterations (for lots with more than 100 spaces, refer to ADAAG): Total spaces Accessible 1 to 25 1 space 25 to 50 2 spaces 51 to 75 3 spaces 76 to 100 4 spaces (Note: Check your state building code for parking requirements. Sometimes state codes are more stringent.) Yes No

13. Are 16-foot-wide spaces, with 98 inches of vertical clearance, available for lift-equipped vans? (At least one of every 8 accessible spaces must be van-accessible.) Yes No

14. Are the accessible spaces closest to the accessible entrance? Yes No

15. Are accessible spaces marked with the International Symbol of Accessibility? Are there signs reading "Van Accessible" at van spaces? International Symbol of Accessibility: Yes No

16. Is there an enforcement procedure to ensure that accessible parking is used only by those who need it? Yes No

Entrance:

17. If there are stairs at the main entrance, is there also a ramp or lift, or is there an alternative accessible entrance? (Do not use a service entrance as the accessible entrance unless there is no other option.) Yes No

18. Do all inaccessible entrances have signs indicating the location of the nearest accessible entrance? Yes No

19. Can the alternate accessible entrance be used independently? Yes No

20. Does the entrance door have at least 32 inches clear opening (for a double door, at least one 32-inch leaf)? Yes No

21. Is there at least 18 inches of clear wall space on the pull side of the door, next to the handle? (A person using a wheelchair needs this space to get close enough to open the door.) Yes No

22. Is the threshold level (less than 1/4 inch) or beveled, up to 1/2 inch high? Yes No

23. Are doormats 1/2 inch high or less, and secured to the floor at all edges? Yes No

24. Is the door handle no higher than 48 inches and operable with a closed fist? (The "closed fist" test for handles and controls: Try opening the door or operating the control using only one hand, held in a fist. If you can do it, so can a person who has limited use of his or her hands.) Yes No

25. Can doors be opened without too much force (maximum is 5 lbf)? You can use a fish scale to measure the force required to open a door. Attach the hook of the scale to the doorknob or handle. Pull on the ring end of the scale until the door opens, and read off the amount of force required. If you do not have a fish scale, you will need to judge subjectively whether the door is easy enough to open... Yes No

26. If the door has a closer, does it take at least 3 seconds to close? Yes No

Emergency Egress:

27. Is there sufficient lighting for egress pathways such as stairs, corridors, and exit routes? Yes No

B. Priority 2:
Access to Goods and Services Ideally, the layout of the building should allow people with disabilities to obtain goods or services without special assistance. Where it is not possible to provide full accessibility, assistance or alternative services should be available upon request.

Horizontal Circulation:

1. Does the accessible entrance provide direct access to the main floor, lobby, or elevator? Yes No

2. Are all public spaces on an accessible path of travel? Yes No

3. Is the accessible route to all public spaces at least 36 inches wide? Yes No

4. Is there a 5-foot circle or a T-shaped space for a person using a wheelchair to reverse direction? Yes No

Doors:

5. Do doors in public spaces have at least a 32-inch clear opening? Yes No

6. On the pull side of doors, next to the handle, is there at least 18 inches of clear wall space so that a person using a wheelchair can get near to open the door? Yes No

7. Can doors be opened without too much force (5 lbf maximum)? Yes No

8. Are door handles 48 inches high or less and operable with a closed fist? Yes No

9. Are all thresholds level (less than 1/4 inch), or beveled, up to 1/2 inch high? Yes No

Rooms and Spaces:

10. Are all aisles and pathways to all goods and services at least 36 inches wide? Yes No

11. Is there a 5-foot circle or T-shaped space for turning a wheelchair completely? Yes No

12. Is carpeting low-pile, tightly woven, and securely attached along edges? Yes No

13. In routes through public areas, are all obstacles cane-detectable (located within 27 inches of the floor or protruding less than 4 inches from the wall), or are they higher than 80 inches? Yes No

14. Do signs designating permanent rooms and spaces, such as rest room signs, exit signs, and room numbers, comply with the appropriate requirements for accessible signage? Yes No

Controls:

15. Are all controls that are available for use by the public (including electrical, mechanical, window, cabinet, game, and self-service controls) located at an accessible height? (Reach ranges: The maximum height for a side reach is 54 inches; for a forward reach, 48 inches. The minimum reachable height is 15 inches.) Yes No

16. Are they operable with a closed fist? Yes No

Seats, Tables and Counters:

17. Are the aisles between chairs or tables at least 36 inches wide? Yes No

18. Are the spaces for wheelchair seating distributed throughout? Yes No

19. Are the tops of tables or counters between 28 and 34 inches high? Yes No

20. Are knee spaces at accessible tables at least 27 inches high, 30 inches wide, and 19 inches deep? Yes No

Vertical Circulation:

21. Are there ramps or elevators to all levels? Yes No

22. On each level, if there are stairs between the entrance and/or elevator and essential public areas, is there an accessible alternate route? Yes No

Stairs:

23. Do treads have a non-slip surface? Yes No

24. Do stairs have continuous rails on both sides, with extensions beyond the top and bottom stairs? Yes No

Elevators:

25. Are there both visible and verbal or audible door opening/closing and floor indicators (one tone = up, two tones = down)? Yes No

26. Are the call buttons in the hallway no higher than 42 inches? Yes No

27. Do the controls outside and inside the cab have raised and braille lettering? Yes No

28. Is there a sign on the jamb at each floor identifying the floor in raised and braille letters? Yes No

29. Is the emergency intercom usable without voice communication? Yes No

30. Are there braille and raised-letter instructions for the communication system? Yes No

Lifts:

31. Can the lift be used without assistance? If not, is a call button provided? Yes No

32. Is there at least 30 by 48 inches of clear space for a person using a wheelchair to approach to reach the controls and use the lift? Yes No

33. Are controls between 15 and 48 inches high (up to 54 inches if a side approach is possible)? Yes No

C. Priority 3:
Usability of Rest Rooms when rest rooms are open to the public, they should be accessible to people with disabilities. Closing a rest room that is currently open to the public is not an allowable option.

Getting to the Rest Rooms:

1. If rest rooms are available to the public, is at least one rest room (either one for each sex, or unisex) fully accessible? Yes No

2. Are there signs at inaccessible rest rooms that give directions to accessible ones? Yes No

Doorways and Passages:

3. Is there tactile signage identifying rest rooms? (Mount signs on the wall, on the latch side of the door. Avoid using ambiguous symbols in place of text to identify rest rooms.) Yes No

4. Is the doorway at least 32 inches clear? Yes No

5. Are doors equipped with accessible handles (operable with a closed fist), 48 inches high or less? Yes No

6. Can doors be opened easily (5 lbf maximum force)? Yes No

7. Does the entry configuration provide adequate maneuvering space for a person using a wheelchair? (A person using a wheelchair needs 36 inches of clear width for forward movement, and a 5-foot diameter clear space or a T-shaped space to make turns. A minimum distance of 48 inches, clear of the door swing, is needed between the two doors of an entry vestibule.) Yes No

8. Is there a 36-inch-wide path to all fixtures? Yes No

Stalls:

9. Is the stall door operable with a closed fist, inside and out? Yes No

10. Is there a wheelchair-accessible stall that has an area of at least 5 feet by 5 feet, clear of the door swing, OR is there a stall that is less accessible but that provides greater access than a typical stall (either 36 by 69 inches or 48 by 69 inches)? Yes No

11. In the accessible stall, are there grab bars behind and on the side wall nearest to the toilet? Yes No

12. Is the toilet seat 17 to 19 inches high? Yes No

Lavatories:

13. Does one lavatory have a 30-inch-wide by 48-inch-deep clear space in front? (A maximum of 19 inches of the required depth may be under the lavatory.) Yes No

14. Is the lavatory rim no higher than 34 inches? Yes No

15. Is there at least 29 inches from the floor to the bottom of the lavatory apron (excluding pipes)? Yes No

16. Can the faucet be operated with one closed fist? Yes No

17. Are soap and other dispensers and hand dryers 48 inches high or less and usable with one closed fist? Yes No

18. Is the mirror mounted with the bottom edge of the reflecting surface 40 inches high or lower? Yes No

D. Priority 4:
Additional Access When amenities such as public telephones and drinking fountains are provided to the general public, they should also be accessible to people with disabilities.

Drinking Fountains:

1. Is there at least one fountain with clear floor space of at least 30 by 48 inches in front? Yes No

2. Is there one fountain with its spout no higher than 36 inches from the ground, and another with a standard height spout (or a single "high-low" fountain)? Yes No

3. Are controls mounted on the front or on the side near the front edge, and operable with one closed fist? Yes No

4. Does the fountain protrude no more than 4 inches into the circulation space? Yes No

Telephones:

5. If pay or public use phones are provided, is there clear floor space of at least 30 by 48 inches in front of at least one? Yes No

6. Is the highest operable part of the phone no higher than 48 inches (up to 54 inches if a side approach is possible)? Yes No

7. Does the phone protrude no more than 4 inches into the circulation space? Yes No

8. Does the phone have push-button controls? Yes No

9. Is the phone hearing aid compatible? Yes No

10. Is the phone adapted with volume control? Yes No

11. Is the phone with volume control identified with appropriate signage? Yes No

12. Is one of the phones equipped with a telecommunications device for the Deaf? telephone (TT/TTY/TDD)? Yes No

13. Is the location of the TDD identified by accessible signage bearing the International TDD Symbol? Yes No

Help from disability community organizations and advocates:

The One-Stop Access team strongly suggests that your region's disability community leaders be included in the general governance of a One-Stop Center. We have a list of these organizations, on a state-by-state basis, and will provide them to you. Call us for details. This is the list developed by the President's Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities for education and information.

[Top of Page]