Design and Construction Requirements: Architectural Barriers Act | Go Back

 

Design and Construction Requirements
as required under the Architectural Barriers Act

 

What types of buildings and facilities are covered by the Act?

Buildings and facilities newly constructed or altered by or on behalf of the Federal Government.

Buildings and facilities leased in whole or in part by the United States on or after January 1, 1977.

Buildings and facilities financed in whole or in part by a grant or a loan made by the United States after August 12, 1968, if such building or facility is subject to standards of design, construction or alteration issued under authority of the law authorizing such grant or loan or, buildings and facilities to be constructed under authority of the National Capital Transportation Act of 1965, or title III of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Regulation Compact.

Are there specific design standards?

The Act makes it unlawful to fail to design and construct covered buildings and facilities so as to meet the minimum design requirements of the Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards (UFAS), published in the Federal Register on August 7, 1984 (49 FR 31528).

Does this law replace existing local building codes?

The Architectural Barriers Act's accessibility requirements do not supplant or replace State or local laws that impose higher accessibility standards. The governing principal to follow when Federal and State (or local) codes differ is that the more stringent requirements apply.

Who enforces the Architectural Barriers Act?

To ensure compliance with the standards, Congress established the U.S. Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board (ATBCB) in Section 502 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 USC 792).