When constructing or renovating a building, it is very important to be aware of ADA requirements. These requirements are quite specific and ensure that physically disabled people are able to access all parts of the building. Keeping ADA building requirements in mind when planning the construction or remodeling will help you to get a permit faster and avoid having to redo a large portion of the work. Following is a quick overview of important ADA requirements regarding elevators.

Specific Requirements

Every building that is over three stories in height must have at least one elevator. Large buildings may have a service elevator; if this building is only for employees, then it does not necessarily have to meet ADA requirements regarding wheelchair space. However, all other elevators in the building must have a 54″ depth by 80″ width. In short, there should be enough space for a wheelchair-bound individual to enter, maneuver to reach the controls, and then exit the elevator.

The call buttons must be either raised or flush, and they have to be at least three quarters of an inch in diameter. Furthermore, the buttons both inside and outside of the elevator must be within the reach of a person who is in a wheelchair or power scooter. All public buildings are also required to have raised and Braille floor designations on both jambs.

The elevator must stay open automatically for at least three seconds and the two-way communication device in the elevator cannot be more than 48″ from the floor. There must also be both a visual and audible signal indicating that the elevator has reached a designated floor. This signal must also indicate which elevator is answering the call.

Staying abreast of all the ADA building requirements can be a challenge. However, there are companies that can help you review building plans and make sure that the elevators and other aspects of the building are ADA compliant. Burnham Nationwide specializes in providing services of this nature and can ensure that the plans for the construction or renovation of a building meet all ADA requirements.

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Meeting the ADA building requirements in a bathroom can be difficult for a building manager, business owner, or homeowner. It can be a rather overwhelming task to ascertain which requirements need to be met in which bathrooms and how to best meet those requirements. As part of the Burnham special experience, clients are guided toward the requirements that they need to follow, as well as given ideas about how to best meet those requirements.

The ADA requirements deal with everything from grab bars in toilet stalls and shower stalls to the correct placement of mirrors. However, none of the requirements are cut and dry. They all include numerous exceptions to the rules, which are necessary to know but can also be difficult to understand. For instance, one of the ADA building requirements mandates that the grab bar on the side wall of a toilet stall be a minimum of 42 inches in length, a maximum of 12 inches from the back wall, and extend a minimum of 54 inches from the rear wall. The guidelines concerning grab bars along the rear wall of the toilet stall are just as specific. However, there are exceptions for the length of the rear bar in cases where the wall space does not have room for the minimum length due to recessed nearby fixtures. The guidelines concerning grab bars in showers are just as specific, and there are an additional set of guidelines that govern seats and controls in showers and baths.

On the other hand, if your bathroom is only going to be used by a single occupant and is only accessed through a personal office area, it is not a requirement to follow all of these rules. However, the requirements do state that the walls in the showers must be made strong enough to accommodate the addition of grab bars in the future. Even mirrors must be hung a certain distance from the ground.

When creating a bathroom in a public facility, it is important to follow the ADA building requirements. However, without the right consultant to guide you, the process may be cumbersome and tricky. The staff at Burnham is available to answer all of your questions and help you with this process.

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Meeting the ADA building requirements during construction is only the first step in creating a building that is accessible for everyone. Facility managers and city employees must continue to work hard to keep their facilities and walkways accessible at all times. They must ensure that their elevators, lifts, toilets, entrances, and other accessible features remain in working order at all times. Those who live in cold climates also face the unique challenge of keeping their ramps, walkways, and parking spaces free of snow and ice so that they too remain clear for the public.

ADA building requirements that cover keeping these features in accessible condition are outlined by the Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG). However, their maintenance is overseen by the Department of Justice (DOJ). The DOJ permits access or service to be interrupted for occasional maintenance and repair, but they stipulate that snow and ice must be removed as quickly as possible to ensure continued access. If access must be interrupted for an extended period of time, the facility must make amendments to help people access their facilities in different ways.

In the case of interrupted access to a walkway or path, city officials can identify other routes for mobility impaired pedestrians to take. If the lift to a library is not working due to ice or other issues, the employees at that facility should help their mobility impaired patrons retrieve library materials. If snow or ice is limiting access to the programs and amenities in a certain building, the building’s managers need to remove it as soon as possible. If they cannot get rid of the snow or ice quickly, they should make alternative arrangements for their patrons.

Snow removal is an unavoidable part of living in a cold or snowy climate. However, it can be minimized by taking certain steps. For instance, when designing trails or walkways, developers should pay close attention to the technical provisions of the surface. They should consider the path’s slope, its cross slope, its treads, the available passing space, and any obstacles that may occur on the path.

The type of material that is used on the walkways is also important. ADA building requirements include regulations about which types of surfaces make a walkway useable for those in wheelchairs or those with other mobility impairments. These surface coverings differ depending upon whether the surface is indoors, outdoors, on a ramp, or on a walkway. The surface must have a friction coefficient that falls within an acceptable range. Some surface materials that do not provide enough resistance from slipping may be coated with other materials that make the surface more slip resistant. Developers should also closely examine the different needs of different types of walkways. For instance, the rolling resistance that is necessary on a ramp may require the ramp to be coated with a different material than a nearby flat path.

Selecting the best surface materials is essential, regardless of the climate where you live. However, people who live in snowy climates also have to address snow removal in their designs. Traditionally, this task was the work of city employees or facility staff members. Now, however, certain types of technology can be implemented into these walkways to make the snow and ice melt more quickly.

Project developers or contractors can integrate snow melting systems into their surfaces. These melting systems can include radiant heat, solar-thermal systems, geo-thermal heating systems, and permeable pavement options. If integrated correctly, these elements will encourage the snow and ice to melt quickly to make these areas accessible faster. Some of these options can earn a project LEED points. To discuss the best ways to integrate these elements into your project, you can discuss your options with a consultant from Burnham Nationwide. As part of the Burnham special experience, they can help you to analyze the long term cost benefits of including snow melting systems under pathways as opposed to paying excessive snow removal costs.

Systems that melt snow can even be included retroactively in most projects. However, it is substantially cheaper to include these elements into the initial stages of the project. Thus, if you are in the infancy stages of your project, you should consider the benefits of including these types of systems immediately.

ADA building requirements are an important part of making places accessible for everybody. However, it is also essential to maintain the accessibility of these areas. This is particularly challenging in snowy climates. Building managers and city officials must ensure that they implement snow clearing programs. However, they can minimize the cost of these snow removal teams when they integrate snow melting elements into their projects.

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ADA building requirements were drafted to help prevent the discrimination of those with physical and/or mental disabilities. The guidelines were originally established as part of the Americans with Disabilities Act, a landmark piece of civil rights legislation that was signed into law over twenty years ago. Since the inception of that legislation, the guidelines have been modified. Most of the modifications, especially in Los Angeles, have been based on technological advancements in engineering and design that allow buildings to be made even safer and even more accessible for people with disabilities.

No one can dispute the fact that the ADA building requirements are helpful to an often marginalized sector of the American public. However, they can also be extremely difficult and tiresome to keep track of. Builders who are working on projects in Los Angeles may feel overwhelmed by the burden of keeping track of each and every requirement. They may not want to wade through page after page of legal terminology. To help them with this feat, the California state government has set up a website devoted to disability access information. On this page, builders can see exactly what the requirements are, and they can even read the full text of each law.

As they browse the website, they will see that these guidelines address every aspect of a project, including making routes accessible for people with disabilities. This can address things as diverse as floor surfaces that can effect the walking sticks of the visually impaired to ramps and door widths for those who must use a wheelchair. Contractors must also pay close attention to general elements of each building site. For instance, they must include features like handrails and adequate handicap accessible parking spots. Even plumbing is affected by the guidelines, and projects must make sure to include the required number of handicap toilets, drinking fountains, and grab bars in every applicable area including pools, saunas and more. Areas that provide notifications and communications to citizens must also strive to offer that same information to the visually impaired and to people with auditory disabilities. For instance, fire alarms must now include a visual element so that all people are alerted in the event of a fire.

Even with the help of a detailed website, keeping track of all the ADA building requirements can feel like a second job. Luckily, when this seems too overwhelming, there are people who can help. The team at Burnham Nationwide has professionals who can work with developers and contractors to ensure that their project is built with the necessary ADA guidelines in place.

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Before starting their project, contractors must apply for San Diego building permits. In order to have their permit application approved as quickly as possible, it is imperative that the contractor knows and follows all of the San Diego building codes. Obviously, the role of these codes is to ensure that buildings are made in a way that makes them safe for human habitation or use. However, wading through pages and pages of regulations, remembering every last detail, and knowing when to apply for variances can be an extremely difficult process.

At Burnham Nationwide, we pride ourselves on having a well-trained staff of professional consultants who work with our clients every step of the way to ensure that their applications are processed as quickly and as smoothly as possible. We keep apprised of all changes to the San Diego building codes as well as the effective state and county codes. Over the years that we have been doing business in California, we have developed close relationships with city officials and other government employees so that we are one of the first to know about any upcoming changes to the codes. When you become our client, you reap the benefits of those close relationships. You also gain the advantage of our years of experience with applying and getting approved for San Diego building permits.

As you know, these codes cover every aspect of the project from electrical and plumbing work to mechanical and architectural issues. In addition, there are laws added periodically that address matters as diverse as green efforts that require outlets for electric cars, to codes that fall under the rubric of the Americans with Disabilities Act to make commercial structures more accessible for everyone. Our clients get to choose how deeply they want us involved in their project. Some clients only need us to review their applications to identify any potential mistakes that may cause the approval to get delayed. Other clients want us to work with them from project inception through the permit application process to final city inspections. Regardless of your preferences or needs, we have a consultant to assist you. We look forward to working along with you on your next San Diego building permits!

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By Leah Riley, ICC Accessibility Inspector/Senior Code Consultant

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was passed into law on July 26th, 1990. This was lauded as the first real declaration of equality for people with disabilities. The ADA prohibits discrimination and ensures equal opportunity for persons with disabilities in employment, state and local government services, public accommodations, commercial facilities, and transportation.

To a person with a disability, the passage of the ADA opened doors that had been closed for a long time and acknowledged that a person with a disability had the right, just like anyone else, to participate fully in all programs and services available. While I am not a person with a disability, the passage of this law also impacted my life in ways that I never expected. Through some general awareness of the ADA, I have become directly involved in the enforcement of accessibility codes and laws. It has given me an opportunity to learn the laws, advocate on behalf of people with disabilities as well as educate and consult with architects designing spaces referencing these requirements.

Everyone can see the impact of the ADA as well as state and local accessibility codes, if they pay attention to the details. There are curb ramps at corners that also have detectable warnings. There are accessible parking spaces, entrances to buildings and toilet rooms. In addition to mobility disabilities, requirements also are included for blind, visually impaired and hearing-impaired persons. The ADA also has many other specific requirements that not only allow for access, but potentially benefit non-disabled persons. Elements such as a curb cut or ramp are helpful to a person using a stroller or cart. A push-button door operator or lever door hardware can easily be used by a person with their hands full.

The ADA and the corresponding Accessibility Guidelines set standards for not only new construction and alteration projects, but also existing buildings. It requires building owners to assess their condition and, where feasible, remove barriers in order to bring these to a usable level of accessibility for a person with a disability.

While the ADA requires compliance at a time of construction, design of large and small business and even government agencies to this day have neglected to include all required accessibility components. Unless a state of local municipality reviews drawings and inspects projects sufficiently, accessibility enforcement is challenging as the ADA is designed to be reactive. This has resulted in many lawsuits, which ultimately require compliance that should have been provided in the first place. In the past, some large hotel chains were required to provide upgrades at a significant additional cost because they failed to follow the accessibility code. After 20 years, it is surprising that compliance is not always being met.

The information regarding accessibility codes and laws is easy to find, especially with Internet access. The Access Board (an independent Federal agency devoted to accessibility for people with disabilities) posts requirements, bulletins and commentary to assist in understanding and complying with the code. The Design Professional must take responsibility to review, understand and design to meet compliance just like with exiting, occupancy and any other code requirement .

The Access Board has been actively involved in updating the ADA/ABA and Accessibility Guidelines.  This has been drafted since 2004 and is finally gaining momentum towards passage into law.  This may happen as soon as Fall of 2010.  Hopefully, 20 years later, the much needed updates to modernize the code and include elements such as Recreation and Children’s Facilities requirements will actually happen.  The passage of this should bring to light the fact that although 20 years have passed, there is still a ways to go.  There will be a number of new changes to learn and understand.  Per the 2000 census there are over 49 million persons with disabilities in the United States.  With the aging population, this number will continue to increase.

Think about it for a minute…what does the ADA mean to you, your family, your future?  What will you do to celebrate?

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About the Author:

Leah Riley, ICC Accessibility Inspector/ Senior Code Consultant Burnham Nationwide, Inc./The Code Group.  Ms. Riley has over sixteen years of experience in interpreting and providing consulting services for a number of local, national and international building and accessibility codes.  She has gained recognition throughout the construction industry as one of the foremost experts in ADA interpretation through her years of service for the City of Chicago Mayor’s Office for Peoples with Disabilities.

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By Christopher E. Chwedyk, CSI, AIA

A funny thing happened on the way to an impending battle between opposing Green Building codes and standards: the two main opponents joined forces.

In January of this year, after a tumultuous, four-year development process that included the disbanding and reorganization of the committee charged with its creation, the long-awaited ASHRAE Standard 189.1-2009, Standard for the Design of High-Performance Green Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings, the first ever code-enforceable green building standard in the nation was approved and published.  Developed by American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES), and modeled on LEED, the standard addresses site sustainability, water use efficiency, energy efficiency, indoor environmental quality (IEQ), and the building’s impact on the atmosphere, materials and resources.  These five subject areas, as well as requirements for construction and high-performance operation, are each addressed in separate sections.  Requirements for construction and operation plans – including the commissioning process, building acceptance testing, measurement and verification, and reporting of energy use, water use and indoor air quality – are also specified to assist building owners in achieving high performance operation.  By some measures, Standard 189.1 could lead to site energy savings of between 10 and 34 percent over the ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2007, based on the minimum prescriptive recommendations of the new standard – and possibly even higher.

Hot on their heels, in a remarkably swift nine-month development process, the International Code Council (ICC) released its own International Green Construction Code (IgCC) on March 15th.  Developed in partnership with The American Institute of Architects (AIA) and ASTM International, the IgCC had been anticipated to compete directly with Standard 189.  Instead, all six associations stood together to support IgCC’s launch at the press conference launching the public-comment version.  Rather than challenging Standard 189, IgCC has now included it as an alternate compliance path as a first step to greater integration, connecting it to ICC’s vast code network that reaches all 50 states and 22,000 local jurisdictions.

ICC began developing its green code last Summer, after realizing that some jurisdictions that would normally use their codes were pretty much stuck making up Green codes on their own, because they had no model code language to work from.  While the IgCC’s effort was playing catch-up with Standard 189 and, apparently, aiming to compete with it, many of the same technical experts were actually involved with both efforts.  Concern had developed that this parallel effort was leading up to an unnecessary choice for jurisdictions: either pick the ASHRAE standard or pick IgCC.

Remembering that the ICC was initially formed more than fifteen years ago as a result of mounting concerns about what competing codes do from a regulatory perspective, this is not a surprising move on their part.  Inconsistency in codes from one community to another has long complicated the work of designers and contractors, and competing options could easily have bogged down the entire Green code adoption process in many state and local jurisdictions.  Years of fighting have been avoided as a result in this pact.

The relationship between the two publications will likely be not unlike that of the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) and ASHRAE Standard 90.1, Energy Standard for Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings, which date as far back as the 1980′s when they were known as the Model Energy Code (MEC) and Standard 90A.  Both were and still are separate, stand-alone publications.  When ASHRAE 90A became 90.1, it was, for a time, the leading standard for energy requirements in the U.S. and was frequently adopted by reference in state and local jurisdictions.  With the advent of the International Codes, however, it became much more likely to see the IECC be adopted – as part of the “International Code Family” that includes and works with the ICC building, fire, property maintenance codes.  With 90.1 included as an alternative compliance method within the IECC, both publications have thrived.

Version 1.0 of IgCC is currently available on the ICC website for download and possible adoption by state and local governments, after coming out of a committee process that included open public meetings and hearings.  At the same time, ICC is just starting a public comment process, with a first round of comments open until May 14, 2010.  Public hearings are scheduled for August, and the planned release of version 2 is in November 2010.  That version will stand until the 2012 code updates are released, at which point ICC will promote and manage the evolution of the IgCC alongside its other International Codes.

While Standard 189 is now an option within the IgCC, there are significant differences between the two.  However, the public comment process will provide an opportunity to increase their alignment.  ASHRAE will actually be submitting certain sections of the 189 for consideration by IgCC, according to one source.  Over time, all parties expect the two documents to influence and grow together.

A third influential green code, California’s Green Building Standards Code, or “Calgreen,” is not officially part of this union, but state officials have pointed to the use of Calgreen as one of the reference doc’s for the IgCC.  Dave Walls, executive director of the California Building Standards Commission, participated on the IgCC committee.  According to Owens, informal conversations may be underway about including Calgreen in the alignment effort.

State and local jurisdictions still have the option of adopting part or all of Standard 189, or the IgCC into their codes and regulations.  However, Standard 189 covers areas that can affect a communities’ zoning regulations in addition to their building codes, so adopting it wholesale would take some cross-departmental collaboration.  Regardless of the complexities, the partnership with IgCC gives Standard 189 a huge boost in the code adoption process, and it can be expected that Green codes will move forward nationwide much more quickly than anyone previously thought.

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About the Author:

Christopher E.  Chwedyk, AIA, CSI is a licensed architect, Director and Chief Code Consultant of The Code Group at Burnham Nationwide in Chicago.  He was previously the principal of Gage-Babcock and Associates; a firm specialized in fire protection engineering.  With 33 years of experience in the architectural field, Mr. Chwedyk has performed numerous code compliance plan reviews for the City of Chicago and other municipalities.  An adjunct faculty member of Harper College since 1998, Chris teaches courses on building codes and construction drawings.

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By Leah Riley
Senior Code Consultant with The Code Group/Burnham Nationwide

You would not think that designing a simple kitchenette/pantry in an office space would be a challenge, but in those municipalities that reference ANSI A 117.1, 2003, these requirements can be daunting. IBC 1109.4 notes that where kitchens and kitchenettes are provided in accessible spaces or rooms, they shall be accessible in accordance with ICC A117.1.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) currently requires a kitchenette to be accessible only when serving the public or in specific uses. However, in cities such as Chicago, as well as, those enforcing the International Building Code (IBC) 2006 which references ICC ANSI 2003, a kitchenette/pantry is required to be accessible regardless of where it is located and who is using it, even if in an office or retail employee space. The proposed ADA Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG) also includes these requirements, but it will not be enforceable until passed.

ANSI Section 804 specifies requirements such as the minimum clearance between counters; heights of work surfaces and sinks as well as appliance and storage reach ranges. The following is a summary of these requirements:

Minimum Clearances: Depending on the layout of the kitchenette, it shall be designed to provide the minimum clearances between counters, cabinets and appliances. Pass thru kitchens where counters, appliances or cabinets are on two opposing sides shall provide a minimum clear width of 40 inches and there shall be two entries. U-Shaped kitchens that are enclosed on three sides shall provide clearances of 60 inches between all opposing cabinets, counter tops, appliances or walls.

Work Surfaces: All work surfaces shall provide for a clear floor space that allows a forward approach and a height between 28 inches minimum and 34 inches above the floor. However, an exception notes that in kitchens that do not provide a cook-top or conventional range, an accessible work surface is not required.

Sink: All sinks shall meet compliance with Section 606 with the sink set no greater than 34 inches above the floor with a bowl depth no greater than 6-1/2 inches. The hardware must be lever or equal and the piping under the sink must be insulated or enclosed. All operable parts including towel and soap dispensers and dryers must be within reach range. Clear floor space, positioned for a forward, approach shall be provided. However, an exception allows for a parallel approach at a kitchen sink where a cook top or conventional range is not provided.

Storage: It is important to note that at least 50 percent of shelf space in cabinets shall be accessible. All accessible storage shall be within reach range of 15 inches and 48 inches per Section 305. The height is measured to the top of the shelf surface. A 30-inch by 48-inch clear floor space shall be provided in front of the accessible storage area.

Appliances: Any appliance within the kitchenette/pantry shall be accessible providing a clear floor space and having elements (storage areas or controls and operating mechanisms within reach range).  For the refrigerator/freezer, a portion of each element shall be accessible. The best means to achieve this is to provide a side by side or model with the freezer on the bottom. The other option is to go with a smaller unit where the bottom of the freezer shelf is no greater than 48 inches above the floor. If a microwave or range/oven is provided, it shall be located where all the controls and operating mechanisms are within reach range. If there is a vending machine, an accessible model shall be provided.

While taking a quick look at these requirements, they do not seem too unreasonable until you have to figure out how to place 50% of the shelving within reach range. Adding a shelf to the base cabinet is the most logical location for meeting compliance. However, the area under the counter is often occupied with sink piping and a water heater. A dishwasher and trash and recycling bins or other elements are often also located here. This leaves very limited storage areas below. Therefore, the bulk of the pantry storage is provided above the sink. Note that the counter itself can’t be included towards meeting these requirements unless there are shelves sitting on it. Also, if storage is provided under the sink, even though a forward approach may not be needed, the piping should be protected.

In order to provide sufficient counter space for a microwave, coffee pot and other appliances, the upper shelving is typically set at above 50 inches and not within reach range. To determine the amount of accessible shelving required, the percentage of shelving available between 15 and 48 inches above the floor mush be calculated. As the depth of the lower cabinets is usually deeper than the upper cabinets, this extra area could also be included within the calculation. Therefore, the best method would be to measure the shelves based on square feet.

Sometimes adaptations, such as providing two shelves between 15 inches and the counter top within cabinets, as well as reducing the number of shelves in the upper cabinets may be needed in order to meet compliance. While this does not seem logical from a usage perspective, the current accessibility code drives this design.

We are not aware of how this is being enforced in other areas, but in Chicago, this is the accessibility correction comment often noted when a pantry is provided. It is also one of the top issues raised when Business or Retail use projects participating in the Self-Certification process are audited. Architects who were issued this correction or were audited indicate that this was the first time they have heard of requirements for accessible storage at the pantry, even though the code has been in effect for some time.

For this reason, it is recommended to check your local code requirements to determine whether or not IBC 2006 and/or ANSI A117.1, 3002 are the referenced standards. If so, your plans should clearly provide details confirming that Kitchenette/Pantry meets full compliance.

About the Author:
Leah Riley is a Senior Code Consultant with The Code Group/Burnham Nationwide, with over sixteen years of experience in interpreting and providing consulting services for a number of local, national and international building and accessibility codes.  Ms. Riley has gained recognition throughout the construction industry as one of the foremost experts in ADA interpretation through her years of service for the City of Chicago Mayor’s Office for Peoples with Disabilities.

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It is often questioned when a door from a room or space can be sliding or must swing and when it must swing in the direction of egress.  Per the Chicago Building Code (CBC) 10(13-160-250), all doors required as exit doors shall swing in the direction of exit travel.  This section requires all doors, except those in residential units serving one dwelling unit only, to swing.  This section also allows certain doors to not swing in the direction of exit travel, such as such as those to corridors from rooms having a capacity not exceeding 50 persons and in Business Units, doors to corridors from offices having a capacity not exceeding 100 persons.

Sliding doors are permitted in the path of egress as long as they have a break-away function. Sliding doors are also permitted per a posted Chicago Department of Buildings Interpretation for the following:

1)    Within a dwelling unit for the bedroom, bathroom, closet doors or similar uses. The required exit for a dwelling unit can also be of sliding type when the unit entry door is an exterior door or where fire rating is not required for the unit entry door.

2)    The primary entrance to a tenant space within a multi-tenant office or mercantile occupancy building that is used as a showroom or for sales, is permitted to be a sliding door when the clear entrance opening is at least 44 inches wide. A note shall be added on plans that are submitted for approval that the “sliding doors shall remain open during occupancy”.

3)    A sliding door is permitted from a room or space used as an individual office with an occupancy load of 10 persons or less or a maximum of 300 sf.  A sliding door can’t be used for a Conference Room or Meeting Room.

Any other locations using a sliding doors will most likely not be permitted per the Chicago DOB.

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By the time we see it, it may be outdated again – I am not talking about the newest shoe trend, I am talking about  the proposition fro a  revised Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and corresponding Accessibility Guidelines.  There was hope that this would be passed by President Bush prior to leaving office.  This never happened.  Now, with President Obama in charge, the Department of Justice withdrew the final draft rules in response to a memorandum from the Chief of Staff directing Executive Branch agencies to defer publication of any new regulations until the rules are reviewed and approved by the newly appointed officials.

No final action will be taken until these new officials have had the opportunity to review the rule-making record.  These officials will have the full range of rule-making options available to them.  Until then, the existing ADA Regulations shall be followed.

In Chicago, we are already one step ahead complying with many of the proposed requirements, but beware; sometimes compliance with the Chicago Building Code does not always meet compliance with the current ADA.

So maybe sometime later in 2009 we will see the passed ADA requirements but, our best guess is that these will already be out of fashion…

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