Purpose

The technical criteria in Chapters 3 through 9, Sections 1002, 1003 and 1006 and Chapter 11 of this standard make sites, facilities, buildings and elements accessible to and usable by people with such physical disabilities as the inability to walk, difficulty walking, reliance on walking aids, blindness and visual impairment, deafness and hearing impairment, incoordination, reaching and manipulation disabilities, lack of stamina, difficulty interpreting and reacting to sensory information, and extremes of physical size. The intent of these sections is to allow a person with a physical disability to independently get to, enter, and use a site, facility, building, or element. 

Section 1004 of this standard provides criteria for Type B units. These criteria are intended to be consistent with the intent of the criteria of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Fair Housing Accessibility Guidelines. The Type B units are intended to supplement, not replace, Accessible units or Type A units as specified in this standard. 

Section 1005 of this standard provides criteria for minimal accessibility features for one and two family dwelling units and townhouses which are not covered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Fair Housing Accessibility Guidelines. 

This standard is intended for adoption by government agencies and by organizations setting model codes to achieve uniformity in the technical design criteria in building codes and other regulations. 

Independence for persons with physical and sensory disabilities is a primary goal of this standard. It is essential that accessibility into and throughout buildings and facilities be part of the initial design process. ICC A117.1 provides details, dimensions and specifications to help building designers develop their plans so that the facility will offer unobstructed entry and ease of use to all users with disabilities. 

The technical specifications in this standard are intended to create elements and spaces that can be used independently by persons with disabilities. The requirements are based on anthropometrics for an average adult male, and may not be appropriate for all applications (see commentary, Section 102). 

The intent is to serve as wide a spectrum of persons with disabilities as possible, based on currently available knowledge and experience. Because needs and capabilities vary from individual to individual, it is not possible to set technical criteria that would permit independent use by all persons with disabilities. For example, not everyone is able to transfer from a wheelchair to a water closet, even though the clearances necessary for such a transfer satisfy this standard. Criteria contained in the standard are based on the best information and research available to the A117.1 Standard Review Committee during the process of review and update. The committee welcomes results of recent research from all interested and affected parties. 

For dwelling units and sleeping units, the Standard provides four distinct sets of criteria: Accessible units, Type A units, Type B units and Type C units. The requirements in Section 1004 for Type B dwelling units and sleeping units are technical criteria that are consistent with the requirements of the Fair Housing Act. For additional information, see the commentary to Chapter 10. 

Understanding and consistency in the application of the criteria throughout the country would be of immeasurable value to the person with a disability, as well as building regulators, designers and owners, and the community in general. Consistency would result in a greater level of comfort for a person with a disability in his or her daily activities. A person with a disability would know what to expect within a facility instead of finding new obstacles to overcome in each situation. There are many accessibility features that benefit not only people with disabilities, but also are a tangible benefit to people without disabilities. 

Applicability.

Sites, facilities, buildings, and elements required to be accessible shall comply with the applicable provisions of Chapters 3 through 9 and Chapter 11. Dwelling units and sleeping units shall comply with the applicable provisions of Chapter 10. 

Criteria are established for individual building spaces and elements. These accessible spaces and elements are intended to combine to provide accessibility throughout a building and related site facilities. General criteria, such as the minimum width of an accessible route, can apply to different building or site elements, including sidewalks, corridors and aisles. Other criteria are provided for specific elements such as drinking fountains, water closets, sinks and lavatories. 

Specifics are provided for Accessible, Type A, Type B and Type C dwelling units and sleeping units in Chapter 10.