When the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was introduced in July 1990, it passed with great bipartisan support and became “the first comprehensive declaration of equality for people with disabilities” in the United States. There are millions of Americans with disabilities, 12.8 percent of the overall population according to the 2017 Disability Statistics Annual Report. For that reason, it was vital for legislators to introduce requirements that help serve those with particular needs both in the workplace and for other public accommodations.
Overall, the ADA standards are important for architects designing any space or component of a building, including entrances at newly constructed or retrofit state and local government buildings, public spaces, and commercial facilities. In order to provide easy access to our built environment, designers must take these standards into account, and door manufacturer Ellison Bronze now provides a singular resource for them to do so. As the inventor of the balanced door and known for providing the highest quality entrances in the industry, Ellison is also an educational resource for architects.
The Ellison Bronze ADA Planning Guide for Entrances and Doors is a four-part downloadable publication that explains the general scoping and technical requirements of ADA-compliant design. Several of the topics included are: minimum number of entrances; height, width, and clearance requirements for a variety of areas and door types; hardware components; signage and communication systems; power-assisted door requirements; and concludes with 15 common questions and answers. The format of the guide—easy-to-read content coupled with charts, graphics, and helpful recommendations—makes it the industry’s go-to reference for the planning and design of commercial entrances.
In general, the specification process is simplified for architects when building product manufacturers have easily accessible resources including technical drawings, BIM objects, and brochures and literature. The ADA Planning Guide can be found directly on the Ellison website in the Resources section—a one-click download for designers and specifiers. It contains all of the information and ADA design requirements included in the latest version of the ADA Standards, consolidated into one valuable document.
“The specification process can be complex and we wanted to provide a resource to streamline it for doors and entrances,” says Roger Overend, president and CEO of Ellison Bronze. “It is a convenient tool covering the basic ADA scope, taking into account the aspects of door design—sizes, clearance requirements, accessible routes, and much more.”
To view the guide and other helpful resources, visit EllisonBronze.com. The ADA Planning Guide is printable for on-site architectural use and viewable on mobile devices.
