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Michael Ellars, AIA, APX, CSI, CCCA, CDT, LEED AP, ADAC, CASp
michaelellars.com
Michael Ellars, AIA, APX, CSI, CCCA, CDT, LEED AP, ADAC, CASp
11B-202.4 Path of travel requirements in alterations, additions and structural repairs. …
Exceptions: …
The term “primary function” is part of implementing regulations for the ADA Standards but is not defined or used elsewhere by the CBC. Rather than creating a new definition in Chapter 2, DSA elected to add a clarifying comment to the sole occurrence of the term.
11B-228.3 Electric vehicle charging stations
11B-228.3.2 Minimum number. EVCS complying with Section 11B-812 shall be provided in accordance with Section 11B-228.3.2 for each combination of charging level and EV connector type integral to the EV charger. Each combination of charging level (such as: AC Level 1, AC Level 2, DC Fast Charge) and EV connector type shall be considered as a facility. Where EVCS are provided in more than one facility on a site, the number of EVCS complying with Section 11B-228.3.2 provided on the site shall be calculated according to the number required for each facility. In public housing facilities, EVCS provided for common use of residents shall comply with Section 11B-228.3.2. Where an EV charger can simultaneously charge more than one vehicle, the number of EV chargers provided shall be considered equivalent to the number of electric vehicles that can be simultaneously charged.
Exceptions: …
Note: Electric vehicle charging provided in newly constructed facilities are also subject to the California Green Building Standards Code.
Based on DSA interpretation of federal and state accessibility requirements, this revision defines each “level” of charging capacity as a separate “facility” for purposes of providing accessible electric vehicle charging stations (EVCS). This is a significant broadening of accessible EVCS requirements that will have disproportionate impact on facilities that have added newer chargers over time or that provide various levels of charging capacity as a matter of inclusivity.
11B-208 Parking spaces
11B-208.1 General. Where parking spaces are provided, parking spaces shall be provided in accordance with Section 11B-208. For the purposes of this section, electric vehicle charging stations are not parking spaces; see Section 11B-228.
Exceptions:
This change allows a resident to both charge and park their electric vehicle in a singled assigned space. Without this change, the building code would prohibit permanent or assigned parking in the electric vehicle charging space, which is not considered parking for the purposes of accessibility.
11B-205 Operable parts
11B-205.1 General. Operable parts on accessible elements, accessible routes, and in accessible rooms and spaces shall comply with Section 11B-309.
Exceptions: …
Figure 11B-205.1 Ex. 9
Electrical Receptacles at Corner Worksurfaces
This revision (and a similar one in Division 8) resolves a conflict between Sections 210.52(C)(1) through (C)(5) of the 2019 California Electrical Code and Chapter 11B of the CBC with regards to the placement of electrical outlets at corner worksurfaces. The electrical code limits the maximum spacing of such outlets to 48 inches, but this limit prevents either outlet from complying with accessible reach ranges for all outlets as required by Chapter 11B. This revision allows for one of the two outlets adjacent to a corner to be omitted from the accessibility requirements.
11B-211 Drinking fountains and bottle-filling stations
11B-211.4 Bottle-filling stations. Where bottle-filling stations are provided, they shall comply with Section 11B-602.10.
Exception: In detention and corectional facilities, bottle-filling stations only serving holding or housing cells not required to comply with Section 11B-232 shall not be required to comply with Section 11B-211.4.
While bottle-filling stations have been part of the California Plumbing Code for at least one code edition, Chapter 11B did not provide any scoping or technical requirements for accessible bottle-filling stations.
11B-226.4 Baby changing tables diaper changing station. Baby changing tables diaper changing stations shall comply with Sections 11B-309 and 11B-902. Baby changing tables diaper changing stations when deployed shall not obstruct the required width of an accessible route except as allowed by Section 11B-307.2. Baby changing tables diaper changing stations shall not be located in toilet compartments complying with Section 11B-604.8 within a multiple accommodation toilet facility.
This change (and similar ones elsewhere in this code cycle) aligns the building code terminology with related legislative language, in particular Government Code §50535 and Health & Safety Code §118506.
The following revisions represent a more complete explanation of the existing pedestrian-vehicular separation requirement in previous versions of Section 11B-247.1.2.5, now codified as new Section 11B-250 with expanded and new requirements for pedestrian circulation in vehicular areas. There are also several exceptions, including a “safe harbor” exception that maintains the status quo for existing facilities that were designed and constructed prior to this code change.
11B-247.1 Detectable warnings.
11B-247.1.2 Where required. …
11B-247.1.2.5 Hazardous vehicular areas Blended transitions. If a walk crosses or adjoins a vehicular way, and the walking surfaces are not separated by curbs, railings or other elements between the pedestrian areas and vehicular areas, the boundary between the areas shall be defined by a continous detectable warning Blended transitions shall have detectable warnings complying with Sections 11B-705.1.1 and 11B-705.1.2.5
The use of “blended transitions” in lieu of “hazardous vehicular areas” is more consistent with the United States Access Board’s Proposed Accessibility Guidelines for Pedestrian Facilities in the Public Right-of-Way (PROWAG). The specific separation requirements formerly in this section have been relocated to and expanded within new Section 11B-250.
11B-250 Circulation paths
11B-250.1 General. Circulation paths contiguous to vehicular traffic shall be physically separated from vehicular traffic. Vehicular traffic includes travel through parking facilities, into and out of parking spaces, into and out of electric vehicle charging spaces, and along roadways, driveways and drive aisles. Physical separation shall be provided with ciruclation paths raised 4 inches (102 mm) minimum above the area where vehicular traffic occurs.
The short version is that circulation paths must be elevated at least 4 inches above adjacent vehicular areas, subject to the six enumerated exceptions below. Could this vertical separation trigger the edge protection requirements of Section 11B-303.5? DSA has verbally indicated that it does not, but there is sufficient ambiguity given the lack of a specific exception that caution is warranted.
Exceptions:
Compliance with this section is not required where curb ramps, blended transitions, and cut-through medians with detectable warnings are provided.
Within the public right-of-way, no separation is required where sidewalks and walks cross driveways without stop signs, stop lights, or yield signs.
Circualation paths may cross driveways or drive aisles without providing physical separation. Furthermore, detectable warnings are not allowed to be placed along the sides of these crosswalks. Raised separation is not required where such crosswalks immediately connect to access aisles serving vehicular areas, but physical separation is still required, for example through the use of blended transitions with detectable warnings, consistent with Exception 1.
Existing facilities may use detectable warnings to provide separation.
Separation is not required between access aisles and the vehicle spaces they serve. Note that this implies that access aisles are considered circulation paths, which is not necessarily consistent with their definitions as part of accessible parking spaces, accessible electric vehicle charging stations, and accessible passenger drop-off and loading zones. Note that Exception 6 discusses a similar exception related to the vehicle spaces for electric vehicle charging stations.
Separation from the vehicle space of an electric vehicle charging space is not required along the accessible route for the charging equipment serving the electric vehicle charging space, but only if specific criteria for placement and orientation of the charging equipment and control clear floor spaces are followed.
Further tweaks to this new Section 11B-250 should be anticipated at future code cycles.
11B-224.8 Social service center establishments. Group homes, halfway houses, shelters, or similar social service center establishments that provide either temporary sleeping accommodations or residential dwelling units subject to this section shall comply with Sections 11B-224.1 through 11B-224.6 and Section 11B-233.3.
Transient lodging standards in Sections 11B-224.1 through 11B-224.6 do not apply to social service center establishments under the 2010 ADA Standards or Section 504 regulations promulgated by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development. The remaining reference to Section 11B-233.3 (as amended herein) provides a greater level of access.
A series of revisions change earlier references for adaptable units from “Chapter 11A, Division IV” to “Sections 11B-809.6 through 11B-809.12” as a completion of removing public housing requirements from Chapter 11A that began in prior editions of the code (e.g., the 2019 Triennial Edition).
11B-203 General exceptions
Residential facilities. In residential facilities, common use areas that do not serve residential dwelling units required to provide mobility features complying with Sections 11B-809.2 through 11B-809.4 and or adaptable features complying with Chapter 11A, Division IV Sections 11B-809.6 through 11B-809.12 shall not be required to comply with these requirements or to be on an accessible route.
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11B-206 Accessible routes
11B-206.2.3 Multistory buildng and facilities. At least one accessible route shall connect each story and mezzanine in multistory buildings and facilities.
Exceptions: …
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11B-206.7.6 Guest rooms and residential dwelling units. Platform lifts shall be permitted to connect levels within transient lodging guest rooms required to provide mobility features complying with Section 11B-806.2 or residential dwelling units required to provide mobility features complying with Sections 11B-809.2 through 11B-809.4 and or adaptable features complying with Chapter 11A, Division IV Sections 11B-809.6 through 11B-809.12.
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11B-208.2.3.3 Parking for guests, employees, and other non-residents. Where parking spaces are provided for persons other than residents, parking shall be provided in accordance with Table 11B-208.2.
Note: When assigned parking is provided, Chapter 11A indicates designated accessible parking for the adaptable residential dwelling units shall be provided on requests of residents with disabilities on the same terms and with the full range of choices (e.g., off-street parking, carport or garage) that are available to other residents.
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11B-208.3.2 Residential facilities. In residential facilities containing residential dwelling units required to provide mobility features complying with Sections 11B-809.2 through 11B-809.4, and adaptable features complying with Chapter 11A, Division IV Sections 11B-809.6 through 11B-809.12, parking spaces provided in accordance with Section 11B-208.2.3.1 shall be located on the shortest accessible route to the residential dwelling unit entrance they serve. Spaces provided in accordance with Section 11B-208.2.3.2 shall be dispersed throughout all types of parking provided for the residential dwelling units.
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11B-228.2 Mail boxes. Where mail boxes are provided in an interior location, at least 5 percent, but no fewer than one, of each type shall comply with Section 11B-309. In residential facilities, where mail boxes are provided for each residential dwelling unit, mail boxes complying with Section 11B-309 shall be provided for each residential dwelling unit required to provide mobility features complying with Sections 11B-809.2 through 11B-809.4 and adaptable features complying with Chapter 11A, Division IV Sections 11B-809.6 through 11B-809.12.
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11B-233.3.1.2 Residential dwelling units with adaptable features. In facilities with residential dwelling units, adaptable residential dwelling units complying with Chapter 11A, Division IV – Dwelling Unit Features Sections 11B-809.6 through 11B-809.12 shall be provided as required by Sections 11B-233.3.1.2.1 through 11B-233.3.1.2.6. Adaptable residential dwelling units shall be on an accessible route as required by Section 11B-206.
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11B-233.3.1.2.4 Multistory residential dwelling units in buildings with one or more elevators. In elevator buildings, facilities with multistory residential dwelling units shall comply with the following: …
11B-233.3.1.2.5 Multistory residential dwelling units in buildings with no elevator. In non-elevator buildings, a minimum of 10 percent but not less than one of the ground floor multistory residential dwelling units shall be calculated using the total number of multistory residential dwelling units in buildings on a site and shall comply with the following: …
11B-233.3 Public housing facilities. Public housing facilities with residential dwelling units shall comply with Section 11B-233.3.
Note: Senior citizen housing may also be subject to Civil Code, Division 1. Part 2. Sections 51.2, 51.3 and 51.4.
This note was added to alert design professionals to provisions of the Civil Code that are often overlooked when designing senior citizen housing.
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11B-233.1.2.6 Public housing facility site impracticality. …
This section is re-written in its entirety, but it is not reprinted here due to space constraints.
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11B-233.3.2 Residential dwelling units for sale. Residential dwelling units designed and constructed or altered by public entitites that will be offered for sale to individuals shall provide accessible features to the extent required by this chapter.
Exception: Existing residential dwellings or residential dwelling units acquired by public entities that will be offered for resale to individuals without additions or alterations shall not be required to comply with this chapter.
This exception is deleted because it is redundant: if no additions or alterations are made, then there is no “trigger” for the building code to be applied.
11B-233.3.2.1 Buyer identified residential dwelling units for sale. The requirements of Section 11B-233.3.2 also apply to housing programs that are operated by public entities where design and construction of particular residential dwelling units take place only after a specific buyer has been identified. In such programs, the covered entity must provide the units that comply with the requirements for accessible features to those pre-identified buyers with disabilities who have requested such a unit.
This language is from 28 CFR Part 35, Section 35.151(j)(2).
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11B-233.3.4.2 Alterations to individual residential dwelling units. In public housing facilities with individual residential dwelling units, where a bathroom or a kitchen is substantially altered, and at least one other room is altered, the requirements of Section 11B-233.3.1 shall apply to the altered residential dwelling units …
This now-redundant use of “public housing facility” under Section 11B-233 was missed during the previous code cycle when other such references were removed.