Chapter 11B Accessibility to Public Buildings

California Amendments by DSA-AC

Chapter 11B – Accessibility to Public Buildings

Division of the State Architect – Access Compliance

11B-213.2 Toilet rooms and bathing rooms

Repealed Exception #5 to eliminate duplicative language with the exception in Section 11B-603.6.

11B-224 Transient lodging guest rooms, housing at a place of education and social service center establishment

Amended scoping requirements for Section 11B-224 applicable to transient lodging facilities and housing at a place of education. To distinguish the requirements for each, DSA removed “dormitories” as an example of “similar transient lodging facilities” and included “housing at a place of education.”

11B-228.3 Electric vehicle charging stations
11B-228.3.2 Minimum number

Provided clarity in the exceptions by separating the types of drivers and vehicles that are exempted, i.e. general public/individual EV driver or fleet vehicles.

11B-233.3.1.2.6 Public housing facility site impracticality
11B-233.3.1.2.6.5 Additional requirements

Added new introductory language relative to buildings without elevators and where site impracticality test numbers one, two, or three reduce the required number of residential dwelling units with adaptable features and requirements for the remaining dwellings units.

11B-603.6 Guest room toilet and bathing rooms

Clarified this requirement is only applicable to transient lodging facilities, and not to housing at a place of education. The requirements for bathrooms in residential dwelling units with adaptable features in housing at a place of education are required to comply with the Fair Housing Act, which provides greater accessibility to bathrooms in units that are not required to provide mobility features.

11B-705.1.2.5 Blended transitions

Amended to clarify detectable warnings at blended transitions shall be 36 inches in depth (previously width) and extend the entirety of the transition separating the walk or sidewalk from the vehicular way.

11B-806.2.3.1 Personal lift device floor space

Amended technical requirements for personal lift device clear floor space to clarify the requirement is applicable to transient lodging where the underside of the bed may be blocked.

11B-806.2.4.1 Vanity countertop space

Added “bathrooms” to types of facilities in transient lodging and housing at a place of education where this requirement applies.

11B-809.1 General

Clarified references for residential units with mobility features and updated referenced section numbers. Added a reference pointer to residential units with adaptable features.

11B-809.1.1 Door signal devices

Added requirements for signal devices on the primary entry door to a residential dwelling unit with mobility features in buildings with three or more dwelling units for consistency with requirements for public housing units with adaptable features.

11B-809.1.2 Viewing devices

Added requirements for a lower viewing device at the primary entry door to a residential dwelling unit with mobility features, if a viewing device is provided in other units at a standing height.

11B-809.1.3 Washing machines and clothes dryers

Added the requirement that washing machines and clothes dryers in units with mobility features shall be front loading and equivalent type as provided in comparable dwelling units without mobility features.

11B-809.6 Residential dwelling units with adaptable features

Removed the reference to “multifamily” from the residential dwelling units with adaptable features. The term defines the unit and not a multifamily building.

11B-809.8 Doors

Amended for clarity and to remove conflicts with Section 11B-404.2. Moved existing exceptions to Section 11B-809.8.3.1.

11B-809.8.1 Door thresholds

Amended to clarify primary entry doors, required exit doors, and interior doors intended for user passage shall have thresholds of no more than ½” high (to comply with 11B-404.2.5).

11B-809.8.2 Door opening force

Added a pointer for door opening force to Section 11B-404.2.9 with an added exception.

11B-809.8.3 Door maneuvering clearance

Added language that clearances at doors shall extend the full width of the doorway including the required latch side or hinge side clearance.

11B-809.8.3.1 Floor or ground surface

Added language to indicate floors or ground surfaces required maneuvering clearances shall not have slopes exceeding 1:48. Provided clarity for interior doors within residential dwelling units with adaptable features. Moved existing exceptions from Section 11B-809.8 to Section 11B-809.8.3.1.

11B-809.10 Bathrooms and powder rooms

Amended to change all references from “toilet and bathing rooms” to “bathrooms” for residential dwelling units with adaptable features.

11B-809.10.6.1 Size

Amended to clarify the reference is only to shower size requirements. This section previously incorrectly included all requirements for fully accessible showers.

11B-809.10.6.3 Clearance

Amended to increase the clear floor space from a width of 30 inches to 36 inches at showers in residential dwelling units with adaptable features. Added a referenced figure to illustrate the position of the clear floor space relative to the control wall of the shower.

11B-902.2 Overlap

Added a new section clarifying that the clear floor space at dining surfaces shall not overlap the accessible route.