Van Accessible Parking Space

It should be real easy to get ADA compliant for the hospital van accessible parking space.  For starters that van accessible parking space that serves that hospital entrance is required to be located on the shortest accessible route from parking space to entrance.

Most hospitals will have more than one entrance so the ADA requirement is to have a van accessible parking space at each hospital entrance.  The van accessible parking space is required to be level, that means less than 2.0% in both directions for that entire van space which is 8 to 9 feet in width and 18 to 20 feet in length.  The van access aisle which is about the same size as the van parking space must also be level. 

Now this van access aisle must adjoin an accessible route.  The accessible route cannot be in the vehicular way, so that route must head toward the front of the van accessible access aisle along an accessible route to the hospital entrance door.  The cross slope in that accessible route must be level, which means not over 2.0% as measured by a smart level.  The direction of travel slope must be less than 5.0%.  In new construction, ACCESS will tell the Civil Engineer to design that slope at 4.0%.  When the direction of travel slope exceeds 5.1%, then by definition we have a ramp and hand railing are required.

In front of the door is a landing by definition that is 5 feet in depth and this door landing area is required to be level, meaning less than 2.0% in both directions.  I am asked can this accessible route cross a vehicular way, and the answer is yes.  It cannot run parallel with the vehicular way.

Give us your questions or thoughts on the above article.  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.  We look forward to hearing from you.

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.