When your parking lot needs to meet the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) Accessible Design Standards, there are a few things to keep in mind. For starters, when you need to provide parking spaces, you have an immediate obligation to remove any accessibility barriers that may exist in your parking facility. It is relatively inexpensive to do ADA striping and therefore quite feasible. Here are some tips to make sure you get it right the first time.
Tip #1: Know your number
In each garage or parking lot, the minimum number of accessible spaces is based on the number of parking spaces provided. Of every six accessible spaces, at least one must be accessible by van.
It’s always a good idea to perform routine maintenance and repaint your parking lot every one to three years. Signage and striping is required and must comply with fire code and ADA striping regulations.
Tip #1: Follow your own state’s parking requirements
Parking restrictions in accordance with ADA requirements are imposed by the state. In other words, you’ll need to inquire about ADA requirements that are specific to your own state. On the other hand, poorly marked no parking areas are a universal problem. Also, many drivers are aware and still choose to park illegally. State laws restrict parking areas for the purpose of public safety. After all, emergency personnel never want to deal with limited access due to illegal parking.
Tip #3: Fire Lane Signs
If you own a building or business, the ADA requires you to display fire lane signs to maintain a designated lane for first responders or fire engines to use during an emergency situation. These types of urgent situations may include firefighting or even another type of emergency.
A fire lane that has a no parking sign indicates that all drivers and customers of your business must not park in an area designated as a Fire Lane. Also, at times when parking is not easy, none of the cars should park blocking these fire lanes, as they must be kept clear at all times. This type of signage is also often required by your local government to ensure the protection and compliance of all public establishments.
Tip#4 Mark your spaces
When marking out your parking spaces, you must provide the access to the parking space required by the ADA. This means that every barrier that blocks access to existing parking lots must be removed. The ADA stipulates that parking spaces leading to a specific building must be constructed on the shortest accessible route from the parking point to the entrance.
Tip #5 Size matters
When striping your parking lot, size does matter. ADA has sizing specifications that you must follow. For example, accessible parking spaces must be a minimum of eight feet wide and must have an access aisle adjacent to it. When it comes to parking spaces for vans, an adjacent eight-foot aisle is required. If car spaces are marked out, there must be a five foot wide access aisle adjacent to the parking space. Use the highest quality paint to ensure the brightest lines possible.