ADA Standards for Accessible Design
The federal technical requirements that make buildings accessible to people with disabilities.
Quick Answer
The 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design are the federal technical requirements issued by the U.S. Department of Justice under the Americans with Disabilities Act. They specify how new construction and alterations of places of public accommodation, commercial facilities, and state and local government facilities must be made accessible to people with disabilities.
The Full Picture
The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 is a civil rights law. The 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design turn it into technical design requirements, covering things such as accessible routes, doors, ramps, restrooms, parking, signage, and reach ranges. They were issued by the Department of Justice and are based on guidelines developed by the U.S. Access Board.
The Standards apply under different titles of the ADA. Title II covers state and local government facilities, and Title III covers places of public accommodation and commercial facilities, such as stores, restaurants, hotels, and offices. Different rules apply to new construction, alterations, and existing facilities, and certain residential and religious entities have exemptions.
ADA requirements overlap with, but are separate from, building code accessibility provisions. The IBC references ICC A117.1 for accessible and usable buildings, and many local codes add requirements. A project can satisfy the local code and still fall short of the ADA Standards, because enforcement differs: building officials enforce the code, while the ADA can be enforced through the Department of Justice and private lawsuits.
Where requirements differ, project teams generally need to meet the more stringent provision. Because of this overlap, accessibility is a common source of review comments and field corrections, such as clearances, slopes, and mounting heights that are hard to fix after construction.
Real Examples
Common Misconceptions
People assume: A building permit approval means the project complies with the ADA.
Actually: Local plan review does not guarantee ADA compliance. The ADA is a federal law with separate enforcement.
People assume: The ADA Standards and the IBC accessibility chapter are the same thing.
Actually: They are separate documents with different authorities and different technical details, although they overlap on many topics.
Does MeltPlan Solve This?
Partially — adjacentMeltPlan Code can help teams research accessibility requirements and identify potential compliance gaps against the code. It does not replace an accessibility specialist or certify ADA compliance, which involves legal determinations.
Check accessibility code requirements →Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between the ADA and the ADA Standards?
The ADA is the 1990 civil rights law. The ADA Standards for Accessible Design are the technical requirements that apply to the design and construction of facilities under that law.
Which buildings must comply with the ADA Standards?
Places of public accommodation, commercial facilities, and state and local government facilities. New construction and alterations must comply, with some exceptions.
Who enforces the ADA?
The Department of Justice enforces it, and private parties can bring lawsuits. Local building officials enforce the building code, not the ADA itself.
How does the ADA relate to ICC A117.1?
ICC A117.1 is the accessibility standard referenced by the IBC. It is a separate document from the ADA Standards, and the two cover similar topics with differences in detail.