25 §2702. Standards of construction - Maine Statutes

Title 25: INTERNAL SECURITY AND PUBLIC SAFETY

Part 7: PUBLIC BUILDINGS

Chapter 331: CONSTRUCTION FOR PHYSICALLY DISABLED

§2702. Standards of construction

All buildings affected by this chapter which are constructed, remodeled or enlarged before January 1, 1982, shall be in substantial compliance with standards of construction, including the following. [1981, c. 334, §5 (RPR).]

1. Grading. There shall be grading so that the ground shall attain a level with at least one primary entrance.

[ 1977, c. 80, §2 (RPR) .]

2. Public walk. There shall be at least one public walk to a primary entrance, which shall:

A. Be at least 48 inches wide; [1977, c. 80, §2 (RPR).]

B. Have a gradient not greater than 5%; and [1977, c. 80, §2 (RPR).]

C. Be of continuing common surface, not interrupted by steps or abrupt changes in level. [1977, c. 80, §2 (RPR).]

[ 1977, c. 80, §2 (RPR) .]

3. Ramp. Where a ramp with gradient greater than 5% is necessary or desired, it shall:

A. Not have a slope greater than one foot rise in 12 feet, or 8.33% or 4` 40'; and [1977, c. 80, §2 (RPR).]

B. Have handrails on at least one side and preferably on 2 sides that are 32 inches in height from the surface of the ramp. [1977, c. 80, §2 (RPR).]

[ 1977, c. 80, §2 (RPR) .]

4. Doors. Doors at the primary entrance or entrances at grade levels shall have a clear opening of no less than 32 inches when open and shall be operable by a single effort. The floor on the inside and outside of each doorway shall extend at least one foot beyond each side of the door and be level for a distance of at least 5 feet from the closed portion of the door in the direction the door swings. If doors at a primary entrance are in a series, they shall have a space between them of not less than 84 inches measured from their closed positions and each shall open so that swings do not conflict. Thresholds shall have beveled edges.

Doors that are not intended for normal use, and that are dangerous if a blind person were to enter or exit by them, shall be made identifiable to touch by knurling the handle or knob.

[ 1977, c. 80, §2 (RPR) .]

5. Floors. Floors shall be maintained to assure nonslip surfaces, and on any given story shall be of a common level throughout or be connected by a ramp in accordance with subsection 3.

[ 1977, c. 80, §2 (RPR) .]

6. Elevators. Elevators, when provided in planning, shall be accessible to and usable by physically disabled individuals at all levels used by the general public. They shall allow for wheelchair traffic and shall have control buttons with identifying features for the blind.

Any building on 2 or more levels, constructed after April 1, 1977, having regular occupancy of 100 or more persons, and to which the public-at-large or a substantial group normally has access, shall have at least one elevator usable by physically disabled individuals which shall meet the following requirements.

A. The elevator cab shall have a clear area of not less than 25 square feet with a minimum of 56 inches clear in any one direction. [1977, c. 80, §2 (NEW).]

B. The door shall have a clear opening of not less than 32 inches. [1977, c. 80, §2 (NEW).]

C. No floor or control button shall be located higher than 48 inches above the elevator floor and shall have tactile identification braille beside the buttons for the blind. [1977, c. 80, §2 (NEW).]

D. The elevator shall be adjusted or controlled so that the floor of the elevator, when stopped, conforms to building floor levels with a 1/2 inch tolerance. [1977, c. 80, §2 (NEW).]

E. The period of time between the opening and closing of the elevator door shall not be less than 8 seconds. [1977, c. 80, §2 (NEW).]

Any building on 2 levels and with less than 2 stories, constructed after April 1, 1977, having regular occupancy of 100 or more persons and to which the public-at-large or a substantial group normally has access, shall have either an elevator which shall meet the requirements included in this subsection, or a ramp which shall meet the requirements included in subsection 3.

[ 1979, c. 248, §§ 4, 5 (AMD) .]

7. Stairs. Stairs that might require use by physically disabled persons shall have handrails 32 inches high as measured from the tread at the face of the riser. At least one handrail shall extend at least 18 inches beyond the top step and the bottom step, and such extension shall be on the side of a continuing wall. Steps of stairs shall not have abrupt, square nosing, and should, wherever possible, have risers not to exceed 7 inches.

[ 1979, c. 248, §6 (AMD) .]

8. Restrooms and bathrooms. In accordance with the nature of a building, an appropriate number of restroom facilities shall be accessible and usable by physically disabled individuals. Furthermore, in any building designed and constructed specifically for public housing, the bathroom facilities and all accompanying fixtures shall be arranged to permit access and use by a person in a wheelchair in the following manner:

A. In public housing of 10 to 20 units, at least one unit shall have such bathroom facilities and accompanying fixtures; and [1977, c. 80, §2 (NEW).]

B. Notwithstanding the provisions in paragraph A, for every increment of 20 living units in public housing, at least one unit shall have such bathroom facilities and accompanying fixtures. [1977, c. 80, §2 (NEW).]

Such units shall be constructed on a single level and entrance to the bathroom shall be no less than 32 inches in width. In any municipal, county or state building constructed after April 1, 1977, normally used by the general public, restrooms shall be subject to the following provisions.

A. There shall be at least one toilet stall that meets the following specifications:

(1) It shall have a door which has a clear opening of at least 32 inches and swings out or slides;

(2) It shall have a minimum width of 4 feet and a minimum depth of 5 feet;

(3) It shall have a water closet with a seat 20 inches from the floor; and

(4) It shall have handrails installed on both sides of the stall not less than 42 inches long and 33 inches above and parallel to the floor. At least 24 inches of the handrail shall be located in front of the water closet. Each handrail shall be 1 1/2 inches in outside diameter, have a 1 1/2-inch clearance between rail and wall, and be securely fastened to support 250 pounds. [1977, c. 80, §2 (NEW).]

B. There shall be at least one washbowl with a narrow apron and with 29 inches clearance to the bottom of the apron when mounted. [1977, c. 80, §2 (NEW).]

C. When mirrors and shelves are provided, at least one mirror and one shelf shall be located above the washbowl at a height not to exceed 40 inches above the floor, measured from the top of shelf and bottom of mirror. [1977, c. 80, §2 (NEW).]

D. There shall be at least one wall-mounted urinal in the men's toilet room, the basin opening of which shall be 19 inches from the floor. [1977, c. 80, §2 (NEW).]

E. When towel and other dispensers are provided, at least one of each shall not exceed a height of 48 inches. [1977, c. 80, §2 (NEW).]

[ 1979, c. 248, §7 (AMD) .]

9. Drinking fountains. In accordance with the nature and use of a building, an appropriate number of drinking fountains shall be accessible to and usable by the physically disabled. The drinking fountains or coolers shall be:

A. Wall-mounted and hand-operated to serve both able-bodied and physically disabled persons; and [1979, c. 248, §9 (AMD).]

B. Mounted with spouts and controls at the front with the edge of the water basin not more than 36 inches from the floor. [1977, c. 80, §2 (NEW).]

[ 1979, c. 248, §§ 8, 9 (AMD) .]

10. Telephone. Wherever public telephones are installed, at least one shall be accessible to persons confined to wheelchairs. It shall be so placed that the height of the dial, handset and coin slot do not exceed 56 inches from the floor.

[ 1977, c. 80, §2 (RPR) .]

11. Warning signals. Warning signals for emergencies should provide audible and visual signals simultaneously for the benefit of those persons with either hearing or sight disabilities.

[ 1977, c. 80, §2 (RPR) .]

12.

[ 1977, c. 80, §2 (RP) .]

SECTION HISTORY

1967, c. 367, (NEW). 1975, c. 93, §§2,3 (AMD). 1977, c. 80, §2 (RPR). 1979, c. 248, §§4-9 (AMD). 1981, c. 334, §5 (AMD).