INTERPRETIVE OPINION
Pursuant to ¤103-50, Hawaii
Revised Statutes (HRS), all buildings and facilities constructed by, or on
behalf of the State or any county, shall conform to the Americans with
Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG) and amendments. In accordance to HRS ¤103-50 and
Chapter 11-217, Hawaii Administrative Rules, the Disability and Communication
Access Board has authority to issue interpretive opinions to HRS ¤103-50 design
standards.
Docket: DCAB
2006-04: Can a fixed, non-folding seat, of a
dimension not to obstruct the clear effective minimum roll-in shower dimension
with a seat height of 17Ó-19Ó above the finished floor, be used and located at
the end of the shower stall in lieu of a folding shower seat?
Summary: The current ADAAG states that shower seats within a
30Ó x 60Ó minimum roll-in shower shall be folding. The U.S. Access Board,
explained that the intent behind requiring a shower seat to be folding, was to
maintain a clear 30Ó x 60Ó space for a wheelchair within the minimum sized
roll-in shower. The current ADAAG
does not address the use of a fixed, non-folding, shower seat when the shower
seat does not overlap the 30Ó x 60Ó clear space within a shower that is larger
than the 30Ó x 60Ó minimum size roll-in shower.
The current
ADAAG requires shower seats to span the full depth of the stall to allow
someone to transfer onto the shower seat. The current ADAAG requires the depth
of the a shower seat to be a maximum of 23 inches from the main seat wall and
that shower seats comply with section 4.26.3 Structural Strength.
This
interpretive opinion addresses the need to maintain a minimum 30Ó x 60Ó clear
space at all times within roll-in showers and the ability to transfer onto a
fixed shower seat.
Ruling: For
buildings or facilities subject to HRS ¤103-50,
ADAAG
Section 4.21.3 Seat
A fixed, non-folding shower seat, with a
seat height of 17Ó-19Ó above the finished floor, can be used and located at the
end of a roll-in shower stall in lieu of a folding shower seat provided that a
clear dimension of 30Ó by 60Ó is maintained within the shower, beyond the fixed
seat. The fixed shower seat shall
span the full depth of the shower stall.
The depth of the seat shall be 23Ó maximum from the main seat wall. The structural strength of the seat
shall comply with ADAAG 4.26.3.
[Rul:
9/27/2006] (Auth and Imp: HRS ¤103-50)
If you have any questions or
comments regarding this ruling, please call us at 586-8121.
DISABILITY AND COMMUNICATION
ACCESS BOARD
919 Ala Moana Blvd. Honolulu, HI
96814
Phone: (808) 586-8121 (V/TTY)
Fax: (808) 586-8129