In a recent post, we wrote about ADA accessibility standards for hotel access to elevators, stairways and handrails. Let’s go into a little more detail about hotel door access, bed clearance and room amenities covered by the checklist for ADA compliance. The following rules apply to hotel and lodging rooms that are designated as ADA accessible.
HOTEL ROOM DOORS AND INNER DOORWAYS:
Entrance door
As mentioned in our previous blog, your hotel room doors must be provide at least 32 inches of clear passage for wheel chairs. Additionally, all the hardware (handles, locking mechanisms, bolts, etc.) must be easily operable with one hand and without excessive grasping turning.
Pull-side of interior doors
Any connecting, bathroom or other interior passageway door must have at least 18 inches of clearance space so that anyone in a wheelchair (or other aid to mobility) can approach the door and easily pull it open.
Security latches
Your hotel room security bolt or latch cannot be located any higher than 48 inches from the floor. You must be able to lock and unlock your door using one hand without having to tightly grasp the mechanism.
HOTEL ROOM INTERIORS:
Hotel bed clearances
If your accessible guest room has one bed, there must be at least a three-foot-wide space in each side of the bed for wheelchair access. For double-bed rooms there also must be that three-foot space between them. Likewise, there has to be a three-feet clear passage at the foot of your bed to allow wheelchair access to every part of the room.
Lamps, drapery wands and climate control buttons on HVAC units
ADA compliance rules on hotel room lamps, drapery wands and HVAC units:
- be easy to operate with one hand
- be placed “within 54 inches of the floor for side approach or 48 inches of the floor for forward approach so persons who use wheelchairs can approach and use the controls”
Clothes closets
The height measurements for lamps and draperies (54 inches, side approach; 48 inches, forward approach) apply for the hanging rods and shelves in hotel room clothes closets.
Have you or anyone you know encountered barriers to enjoying public amenities and services? Contact us to how you can become an advocate and help us make your community more ADA compliant.
Image courtesy of Flickr, A Clark Scott