THE SEVEN DESIGN REQUIREMENTS


The Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988 established seven design standards for all newly constructed, multi-family housing of four or more units ready for first occupancy on or after March 13, 1991. Exceptions are if the last building permit was issued prior to January 13, 1990, or if it is determined that the building site makes compliance impracticable.

The design requirements to which new buildings and dwelling units must comply are presented in summary form below. For buildings without elevators, only the ground units must be accessible. Dwelling units are not subject to these requirements only in the rare instance where there are extremes of terrain or unusual characteristics of the site.

REQUIREMENT 1:
Accessible Building Entrance on an Accessible Route: Covered multi-family dwellings must have at least one building entrance on an accessible route, unless it is impractical to do so because of terrain or unusual circumstances of the site. All such dwellings with a building entrance on an accessible route must meet Requirements 2 through 7.

REQUIREMENT 2:
Accessible And Usable Public and Common Use Areas: Public and common use areas must be accessible to and usable by people with disabilities. Examples include the lobby, leasing office, laundry facilities, and swimming pool.

REQUIREMENT 3:
Usable Doors: All doors designed to allow passage into and within all premises must be sufficiently wide (at least 32") to allow passage by persons in wheelchairs.

REQUIREMENT 4:
Accessible Route Into and Through the Covered Dwelling Unit: There must be an accessible route into and through the dwelling units, providing access for persons with disabilities.

REQUIREMENT 5:
Light Switches, Electrical Outlets, Thermostats and Other Environmental Controls in Accessible Locations: Light switches, electrical outlets, thermostats, and other environmental controls must be placed in accessible locations throughout the premises within the dwelling unit.

REQUIREMENT 6:
Reinforced Walls for Grab Bars: Reinforcing in bathroom walls must be placed to allow later installation of grab bars around toilet, tub, shower stall and shower seat.

REQUIREMENT 7:
Usable Kitchens and Bathrooms: Dwelling units must contain usable kitchens and bathrooms such that an individual in a wheelchair can maneuver about the space.

*The above was taken with permission from:
Fact Sheet #1: Provisions Relating to Discrimination Based on Disability, The Center for Universal Design, Center for Accessible Housing, School of Design, North Carolina State University (no date).