ADA Compliance
Learn About ADA Compliant Furniture
Overview:
In 2010, the Department of Justice published revised regulations for Titles II and III of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA). Central to these revisions are “Standards for Accessible Design.” You can view these standards here.
According to the Department of Justice, these standards “…set minimum requirements – both scoping and technical -- for newly designed and constructed or altered State and local government facilities, public accommodations, and commercial facilities to be readily accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities.”
When designing a work or learning space with ADA accessibility in mind, one must take into account considerations such as:
- Maneuverability
- Ease of approach
- Ease of manipulation
A successful space will be the result of a holistic strategy that looks at everything from the size of doorways to the flooring to the shape of knobs and handles and much more. Furniture, naturally, is also an important consideration.
ADA Compliant Desks:
When considering workstations for an ADA-compliant work or learning environment, the primary goal is to offer workstations that provide appropriate clearance for a wheelchair, are easy to adjust, and feature desktops that enable occupants to easily reach a keyboard, books, and other materials.
Basic Desk Guidelines:
Following are basic ADA guidelines as they pertain to desks:
- (305.7.1) Forward approach clearance of at least 24” in depth and 36” in width
- (306.2.1) Vertical toe clearance of at least 9” above the floor
- (306.2.5) Horizontal toe clearance of at least 30” in width
- (306.3.1) Vertical knee clearance of at least 27” above the floor
- (306.3.2) Forward knee clearance not exceeding 25” (at 27” above the floor)
- (306.3.3) Forward knee clearance of at least 8” (at 27” above the floor) and 11” (at 9” above the floor)
- (306.3.4) Knee clearance reduction not to exceed 1” in depth for every 6” height (from 27” to 9” above the floor)
- (306.3.5) Horizontal knee clearance of at least 30” in width
- (902.3) Desktop surface height of at least 28” and not to exceed 34”
Additional Desk Considerations:
In section 226.1 of their guide, the ADA suggests that facilities “…Consider work surfaces that are flexible and permit installation at variable heights and clearances.”
Percentage of ADA Compliant Workstations:
Also in section 226.1 of their guide, the ADA says that “…employees are entitled to ‘reasonable accommodations.’ With respect to work surfaces, this means that employers may need to procure or adjust work stations such as desks…and conference tables to accommodate the individual needs of employees with disabilities on an ‘as needed’ basis.”
While “as needed” leaves some room for interpretation, some suggest that at least 5% of available workstations are ADA compliant, and ideally more.
Conclusions
Based on the above criteria, Luxor’s 48” and 60” wide programmable electric standing desks may be an appropriate choice.
Offering ample underside knee and wheelchair clearance, the desks feature three-column legs that provide an extended height adjustment range. This allows the desk to be set anywhere within the ADA’s recommended desktop height range, as well as above or below the range.
In addition, the front-mounted programmable keypad makes it easy to raise and lower the desk with a single push of a button.
Finally, the desktop meets the forward approach clearance requirement, and a user can easily install accessories such as a clamp-on slide-out keyboard tray to further facilitate reach.
This is just one of many Luxor products which could be suitable for an ADA compliant work or learning space. If you are outfitting such a space, our staff of friendly and knowledgeable sales professionals would be happy to walk you through our product line!
To learn more, please call 1-800-323-4656 or email sales@luxorworkspaces.com
For more information on the Americans with Disabilities Act, visit www.ADA.gov.