Condominiums and the FHA and ADA - Part 3 of 3

Condominiums prior to 1990 had design and construction requirements from the Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988 and building code.  After 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 was added.  It took some time to get this all straightened out, and along the way building code throughout the country was combined into one, called the International Building Code (IBC).

The design and construction requirements of both the ICC/ANSI A117.1 of building code and the ADA Accessibility Guidelines of the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board were reworked so the numbering system and the verbiage were the same, or almost the same; say 95% the same.  Today when we look for condominium compliance in the design and construction we use:

1.      ADA & ABA Accessibility Guidelines; Final Rule

36 CFR Parts 1190 and 1191

Federal Register / Vol. 69, No 141 / July 23, 2004

2.      2009 International Building Code

3.      International Code Council and American National Standards Institute – ICC/ANSI A117.1 – 2009

In many areas the requirements are the same.  Where the requirements are different we will always use the most stringent.  I am always asked if this makes our work easier...dreamer!

NO, it's harder, but what does make it easier is that in many areas we find greater definition.  Condominium compliance has always been a challenge in the building design and construction.  I don't see that changing in the future.

Any questions or comments on the above?  You can post them here or on our FaceBook page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Access-Technologies-Services-Inc/268659564730.  You can also reach us at hfalstad@accessts.net or call us at (702) 649-7575.

Hank


The above are opinions of Hank Falstad, AIA, Managing Senior Associate of Access Technologies Services, Inc. (ACCESS).  See our web site for additional information:  www.accessts.net.