Accessibility for Multi-Family Housing (Apartments)

Transcription

1 Accessibility for Multi-Family Housing (Apartments) By Chris Schexnayder Course Number: 5001 Credit Hours: 1 Course Description This one hour course is intended to educate the reader on the fundamentals of accessibility requirements for multi-family (apartments) developments. Learning Objectives After completing this course you will have a better understanding of: Which accessibility regulations and/or building codes apply to multi-family construction; The basic fundamental requirements of applicable codes and regulations, and; The design and construction of multi-family projects in accordance with accessibility regulations and avoidance of costly errors.

2 Course Material I. Basic Requirements A. Subject Buildings B. Exemptions II. Exterior (Site) Requirements A. Parking B. Connecting Routes III. Common Use Amenities A. Basic Requirements B. Employee Work Areas IV. Dwelling Units A. Type A (ANSI) Dwelling Units B. Type B (FHA) Dwelling Units Introduction The Fair Housing Act which requires equality in housing was passed in It wasn t until 1991 that construction guidelines were actually published for builders to follow. The original construction guidelines are called the Fair Housing Accessibility Guidelines and contain of 7 requirements. They are as follows: Requirement 1 Accessible building entrance on an accessible route Requirement 2 Accessible and usable public and common use areas Requirement 3 Usable doors Requirement 4 Accessible route into and within the dwelling unit Requirement 5 Light switches, electrical outlets, thermostats and other environmental controls in accessible locations Requirement 6 Reinforced walls for grab bars Requirement 7 Usable kitchens and bathrooms This course will incorporate the seven requirements but is organized according to the author s real world experience and hopefully presented in a manner that is easier to understand than most building codes or regulations. It was not long after the first construction guidelines for FHA compliance were published before The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) realized that more guidance was needed. Barrier Free Environments of California was contracted by HUD 2

3 to develop a more comprehensive set of construction guidelines for Fair Housing compliance. Hence the Fair Housing Act Design Manual was first published in 1996, but without any diagrams. The revised edition complete with diagrams was published in This manual is an excellent source for compliance with the Fair Housing Act construction requirements. The most current construction guidelines published by the federal government for compliance with Fair Housing construction requirements for multi-family were issued in Building codes or guidelines, like any technology, get outdated. Fortunately this is a problem with a solution. When developing the requirements for fair housing a provision for safe harbor was included. The Safe Harbor clause of the Fair Housing Act allows for other HUD approved codes to be used as safe harbors for design and construction of multi-family projects. To date, the only approved Safe Harbors other than the aforementioned HUD documents are different releases of the building code and ANSI A It is this author s opinion that the wise approach to multi-family construction is to identify a safe harbor before design of a project ever begins and to utilize the same building code that is currently in force in the jurisdiction where the project is being constructed. For example, if a municipality has adopted 2006 International Building Code, which references 2003 ANSI A117.1, then it makes sense to use these codes as safe harbor since the owner has to comply with them anyway to meet local requirements. Why would you want to design and construct a project to a code that is over 11 years old, when more current technology is available and approved by HUD? There are counter arguments of course, such as older codes are simpler and less complicated, but that is like using an old operating system for your computer. It may be simpler but it is outdated and does not work with other newer technology. Before we move on let me state that this course is just covers the basics. It is not intended to be comprehensive. The only way you are going to get a comprehensive understanding of fair housing and building code requirements for multi-family housing is to read the actual documents and to apply them in the field. They are long and boring and at times difficult to comprehend. By studying and grasping the material presented in this course you will have a broad working knowledge of accessibility requirements for apartment homes and you will know where to go for the more detailed information. I will say that gaining a good understanding of this subject is like flying an airplane, you can t do it by reading a book alone. Let s begin! 3

4 Chapter 1 - Basic Requirements A. Subject Buildings What is considered a covered dwelling unit? Buildings that consist of 4 or more single story dwelling units are covered buildings under the Fair Housing Act as well as the International Building Code. Dwelling units within covered buildings are considered covered dwelling units - that is, they are covered under the Act. If, for example a project consists of three apartments per building, and there are no buildings in the project that have 4 or more dwelling units, then the entire project is not covered. Any building on a project that has 4 or more single story dwelling units in the same building is covered, and therefore all common use amenities such as clubhouse, pool, etc. are also covered. If there are no covered buildings on a project, then the common use amenities on a site are not covered under the Act either. Elevator buildings in general require compliance at all floors served by an elevator. If a project consists of 4 levels of one story apartments and each level is served by an elevator, then one hundred percent of the units must comply with the Act. B. Exemptions Two story apartments or townhomes are exempt from compliance, unless the two story unit is located in a building served by an elevator. If that is the case then the level of the two story unit served by the elevator must comply with Requirements 3 through 7 and have a usable bathroom on the accessible level. Certain dwelling units and or buildings may be exempt from compliance due to site constraints even if there are 4 or more units per building. There are different methods allowed to determine exemption due to site conditions, both in the Fair Housing Guidelines and the Building Code. Exemptions typically have to do with existing site constraints that prohibit full compliance. The rules for site exemptions are complex and we will not go into detail in this course. Each project is different and can present unique complexities. It is wise to consult with a design professional or a qualified accessibility consultant to determine if parts of a project meet exemption criteria. Chapter 1 of the Fair Housing Design Manual gives excellent examples of different types of projects along with helpful diagrams. 4

5 Chapter 2 Exterior Requirements A. Parking Accessible parking is required at the public parking provided at the Clubhouse. This number is determined by a chart provided in both the Americans with Disabilities Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG) and the International Building Code (IBC). The number of accessible parking spaces is determined by the total number of parking spaces provided. Usually, one accessible parking space at the Clubhouse is sufficient since this covers up to 25 parking spaces. The requirement for van accessible spaces is one for every eight accessible parking spaces according to the ADAAG and one for every six accessible spaces per IBC. If there is just one accessible space required it must be van accessible. Accessible parking spaces include the vehicle parking area plus the adjacent access aisle or loading space. Van accessible spaces are 16 overall in width, which includes the parking space and the access aisle. Standard accessible spaces are 13 wide overall. The requirement for accessible resident parking under the FHA and the IBC is 2% of the total parking serving the covered dwelling units. As noted earlier, what units are considered covered varies depending on the particulars of a project. In a typical project without an elevator, ground level units are considered the covered units. Parking requirements under the building code determine how many total parking spaces are required and that is determined by how many apartments are provided and what occupancy types are available (i.e. one bedroom, two bedroom, etc). The number of overall parking required is not an accessibility requirement but does factor into the number accessible resident spaces. To determine the number of accessible resident parking spaces you need to know how many parking spaces are provided for the covered dwelling units. Calculation of accessible parking for apartment buildings is often simplified by architects and engineers by providing 2% of the overall parking provided for the residents. This may result in more than is actually required. Fair Housing also requires a sufficient number of visitor parking spaces. No clear guidelines are provided as to what a sufficient number is but care should be taken to ensure accessible visitor parking is provided in each general area where visitor parking is provided. The Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards (UFAS), which applies to federal and federally funded projects, stipulates 2% of the visitor parking be accessible. Under the FHA and IBC at least one of each type of parking provided shall be accessible. Examples of different types of parking include surface, carport and garage spaces. Usually most of the accessible parking spaces are provided as surface spaces (uncovered), but again, at least one of each type is required. 5

6 The IBC requires 2% of the total number of dwelling units to be Type A dwelling units. Type A dwelling units provide a higher level of accessibility than a regular FHA/Type B dwelling unit. We will discuss more about Type A unit requirements later in this course. The IBC does not require that each Type A dwelling unit have its own accessible parking space, although this is the common assumption and most projects do provide an accessible parking space near each Type A unit. Accessible parking spaces which happen to be near a Type A unit can count towards the 2% required accessible spaces. Fair Housing exempts parking garages that provide direct access to a dwelling unit from the garage; however, if direct access garages are provided for some of dwelling units, at least one of the Type A units should provide an attached accessible garage. The safest approach for calculating the number of accessible parking spaces within the multi-family site would be to follow the common practice of providing 2% of the overall resident parking as accessible parking spaces and disperse these among Type A, surface (uncovered), visitor, covered and garage. Both the accessible parking space and the adjacent access aisle or loading zone are required to be level which by definition is ¼ per foot,1:48 or 2% slope. Accessible parking spaces that are too steep is one of the most common violations found in new construction whether it be commercial or apartments. Each space is required to be identified with signage. Mounting heights of signs differs between codes, so it is best to follow ANSI A117.1 which requires the bottom of the parking sign to be 60 minimum above the parking surface. Such a location will meet all the codes. Care should be taken to disperse the accessible parking spaces evenly and to place them as near to building entrances as possible. B. Connecting Routes within a Site Covered dwelling units are required to be connected by an accessible pedestrian route to all common use buildings or elements on a site. Common use can be defined simply as a space or element that is used by multiple users that is, it is not for private individual use only. Typical examples of common use buildings/elements include the clubhouse, pools, recreation areas, mail kiosks, dumpsters, pet disposal stations, storage units, etc. There is an exemption which allows for a vehicle route from accessible parking spaces to common use elements. Basically, vehicular access is allowed when the finished grading between a covered dwelling unit or units and common use elements exceeds 8.3%. An accessible route between individual apartment building is not required but is recommended. It is often provided by default since the buildings are required to be connected to common areas. The key thing to keep in mind when designing and constructing accessible routes is slope. Usually connecting routes are made of concrete 6

7 or asphalt, but other materials can be utilized such as decomposed granite, provided it meets all the applicable accessibility requirements such as slope, slip resistance, and a relatively even surface. Loose or uneven materials are prohibited as part of an accessible route. Ideally every effort should be made to keep running slopes that is, slopes in the direction of travel, to 5% (1:20) or lower. This avoids the complexity of installing ramps. Ramps are parts of an accessible route that measure between 5% and 8.3% slope. Slopes exceeding 8.3% are prohibited except in some rare circumstances where existing conditions might dictate steeper slopes. Ramps that are over 6 in length require 5 level (2% max. slope) landings at the top and bottom of every run, handrails and edge protection where drop offs occur. Many builders find ramps unsightly which is one reason to keep slopes 5% or under. Cross slope is the slope that is perpendicular to the path of travel or usually side to side on a sidewalk. Cross slope issues can also occur where the accessible route crosses a driveway. Maximum cross slope allowed along an accessible route is 2% or 1:48, the same as for accessible parking spaces. After hours access to Clubhouse Business and Fitness Centers must be on an accessible route IBC requires 60% of building entrances to be accessible. The requirement used to be 50% and where there were an odd number you were expected to round up. Now, when an even number of entrances are provided for a building, a majority of accessible entrances must be provided. For example, when a building has 4 public entrances, 3 must be accessible. This is huge difference between newer and older codes since providing an accessible route to a majority of entrances can often present additional difficulties for the designer and expense for owner. Admittedly there are grey areas within all standards. Grey areas are requirements which are not clearly defined for all applications and often left open to interpretation. One grey area has to do with the 60% entrance requirement as it applies to apartment buildings. Apartments come in all shapes and sizes of course, but the most common construction seems to be a building which has two breezeways, one towards each end of a building. Often these breezeways open to both sides of the building. This type of construction provides 4 breezeway entrances to each building. If each one is considered a public entrance, then 3 of the 4 breezeway entrances must be connected by an accessible route to accessible parking and common areas within a project. It has been common practice to be satisfied with one accessible route to one end of a breezeway when site constraints or design criteria require steps at the other end. As mentioned, strict adherence to the 60% rule requires 3 out of the 4 breezeway entrances to be on an accessible route. It is best practice to strive for 60% entrances minimum however conditions may not always allow for compliance. As noted earlier, all covered dwelling units must be on an accessible route unless they qualify for the exemptions provided for in both the FHA and IBC. 7

8 All doors and gates have maneuvering clearance requirements which vary depending on what direction they are approached and the hardware provided such as latching mechanisms and automatic closers. This is applicable to gates in security fences and dumpsters as well. The maneuvering clearance area also varies depending whether a user is approaching from the push or pull side. There is text as well as diagrams in the ADAAG and ANSI which clearly depict the different maneuvering clearance requirements. What this boils down to is more concrete or wider areas at gates to ensure proper maneuvering clearances are provided. In addition, the entire maneuvering clearance area at a gate or door must not exceed 2% maximum slope in all directions. This requirement is intended to provide wheelchair users and persons with other disabilities a level surface when they stop and position themselves to open a gate or door. Chapter 3 Common Use Spaces As defined earlier, the term Common Use is pretty much as the term implies it is a space or element that is not restricted to one individual but rather a common space available to a group of people. This term can be applied to resident use areas such as Clubhouse amenities, as well as employee areas such as breakrooms. A. Basic Requirements There is often a considerable overlap between resident, employee and public spaces in a typical apartment complex. Resident spaces are those spaces mainly restricted for resident use such as the Fitness Room, and of course the apartments. Public spaces are those that would be accessible to a potential renter inquiring about a property such as the leasing office area. Employee works areas, which we will address more in the next section, are usually areas restricted mainly to employees of the business in this case an apartment complex. The topic of this section is restricted to resident common use areas. Any space or element which is available to residents of a multi-family project must be fully accessible and comply with all applicable accessibility requirements. This course will not go into detail as to the particular accessibility requirements for a particular space such as toilet rooms. In toilet rooms alone there are a multitude of individual 8

9 requirements. Currently all toilet rooms have to be accessible. Clubhouse kitchens need to be accessible which include an accessible sink (if provided) with knee clearance underneath. If a range or cooktop is provided, then an accessible work station is also required. Pools need to be accessible including any pool equipment such as life safety equipment. Both the International Building Code and the Fair Housing Act point to the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) A for the particular technical accessibility requirements for elements and spaces within common use areas. Accessibility to mailboxes can be troublesome and another grey area as noted earlier. The FHA Design Manual is pretty clear that only the mailboxes serving covered dwelling units need to be on an accessible route and be within the designated reach ranges. However, there have been Department of Justice lawsuits in which the opinion of the presiding official was that 100% of mailboxes have to be accessible. Most projects are not designed this way, unless the all dwelling units are served by an elevator which would require 100% of the dwelling units to be covered and therefore the same percentage would apply to mailboxes. Garden style apartments are usually designed so that all mail drop slots, parcel boxes and mailboxes serving the covered (typically ground floor) dwelling units are at 48 or lower. 48 is the maximum reach range allowed under current building code accessibility requirements. Current practice is to number mailboxes differently than the apartments for security purposes. In such a layout, a number of boxes equivalent to the number of covered dwelling units must be provided within accessible reach ranges and be assignable to residents occupying a covered dwelling unit upon request. When it comes to dumpsters the requirement is that a sufficient number be accessible. As noted earlier, sufficient guidance is not really provided as to what a sufficient number is. Here one has to apply a certain amount of common sense. It would be acceptable, for example, if two dumpsters where provided in the same general vicinity to have one inaccessible. Remember, dumpster gates have to provide level maneuvering clearances as described above. Currently, the sufficient number requirement also applies to recreation areas such as pools, sand volleyball courts, playgrounds, picnic areas, barbecue grills, etc. Playgrounds currently only require an accessible route to the edge of the playground surface but there are some pending guidelines which will go beyond that and require certain features of playgrounds to be accessible. Talk with the provider of your playground equipment and make an effort to meet the new guidelines rather than the minimum requirements of today. Even though the sufficient number requirement is in place for recreation areas, there should be a valid reason for not providing accessible routes to multiple features such as pools. A case could be made that providing only one accessible pool, for 9

10 instance, is discriminating against people with disabilities since pools are generally separated in different parts of the complex. B. Employee Work Areas Employee work areas within a multi-family project are required to be accessible to a certain extent under the Americans with Disabilities Act as well as the International Building Code. Employee work areas are not covered under the Fair Housing Act unless these areas are also open to the residents of the complex. For example, a manager s office might sometimes be used by residents to meet with property management. In that sense, the manager s office is covered under fair housing guidelines. The Fair Housing Act is designed to provide persons with disabilities equal housing opportunities. It is not designed to deal with the work environment. It is important to distinguish between employee work areas and employee common use areas as the requirements differ. All common use employee areas such as breakrooms and staff toilet rooms must be fully accessible. Areas used only as employee work areas have to be designed so that a wheelchair user can approach, enter and exit the space. None of the equipment within a specified work area is required to be accessible such as work stations in an office. Maintenance offices as well as toilet rooms within such an area are required to be accessible to the extent noted so far. The argument often heard against this requirement is that it is not possible for maintenance staff to perform their tasks if they are disabled, so therefore no one with a disability would ever be hired for such a position. Why design a maintenance area to be accessible? I warn able bodied people to be very cautious about assuming what persons with disabilities are and are not capable of doing. Put yourself in their position and ask whether or not you would want someone else defining your capabilities. Even though there is some sense to the argument mentioned above, there is nothing in any of the current guidelines that exempts maintenance work spaces from being on accessible route. Scenarios where it may be useful to have these spaces be accessible include temporary disabilities by maintenance staff as well as permanent disabilities by management. A person using a wheelchair is certainly capable of managing an apartment complex and might have good reason to visit the maintenance office. 10

11 Chapter 4 Dwelling Units A. Type A Dwelling Units Type A dwelling units are often referred to as ANSI units or HC units the HC standing for handicapped. Type A units are a requirement of the International Building Code, not the Fair Housing Act. Handicapped in relation to persons with disabilities is a politically incorrect term. Referring to someone with a disability as impaired such as having a visual, physical or hearing impairment is socially acceptable, at least for today. Years ago no one really gave thought to the word handicapped as implying anything negative. I recently viewed an episode of a television show called Extreme Makeover where the TV crew does a complete makeover of homes for people in need. This particular makeover was for a family with two special needs children. One of the crew was quoted as saying These people are not people with dis-abilities, they are people with different abilities. Let me take a moment briefly to explain the International Building Code. This code is written by the International Code Council (ICC). The ICC is a non-governmental business that writes building codes. They have quite a interesting history in regards to how they have evolved and have had several name changes over the years. You can learn more about them by visiting their website at Governing bodies such as municipalities have to adopt a code before it becomes effective. Most municipalities adopt a version of the International Building Code (IBC). Chapter 11 of the 2006 IBC is where most of the accessibility requirements can be found. There are some other accessibility requirements spread out through the IBC such as fire egress found in Chapter 10. Accessibility codes are broken down into two main categories scoping and technical. The scoping sections give you the general requirements such as how many, percentages, what is covered, what is exempt, etc. The technical sections give dimensional and mechanical criteria needed to design and construct something to meet compliance. The technical requirements for accessibility are published in a document called American National Standards Institute (ANSI) A Within Chapter 11 of the IBC you will find the scoping requirements for R-2, a category which includes multi-family apartments. Within the R-2 section of the IBC there is a call for 2% of the total number of dwelling units to comply with Type A requirements which can be found in the current 2003 ANSI, Chapter 10. This requirement applies to all R-2 developments with more than 20 units. Type A units must be dispersed among the different classes of units such as 1, 2 and 3 bedroom units. It does not matter if a project is covered under the FHA act as described earlier. Type A dwelling unit requirements 11

12 are separate from FHA requirements. The next section will deal with Type B units which are the IBC s equivalent of the Fair Housing units. Type A units are somewhere between a fully accessible unit and a Fair Housing Unit. They provide a higher level of accessibility than a regular Fair Housing or Type B unit. For example, all doors into and within a Type A unit have to provide maneuvering clearances. We talked about maneuvering clearances earlier in this presentation. Maneuvering clearances provide greater clearance at doors in order to make passage for wheelchair users easier, but may also benefit others such as a person using a walker. Another requirement for Type A units is to have lower sinks, kitchen work stations and lavatories. A common feature of both Type A and Fair Housing/Type B units is removable cabinets. Removable cabinets allow developers to provide a product that can be rented to anyone and easily adapted for someone as needed. A common misconception seems to be that grab bars are required in Type A units but in fact the only requirement is for blocking in the walls to accommodate grab bars. Able bodied persons may find grab bars undesirable so that is why they are not required initially. Other features that make a Type A unit unique are required turning radiuses, lower shelving, and lever hardware throughout. While FHA/Type B units allow for a dropped patio, patios within Type A units must provide an accessible threshold which provides easy access. I have never seen a sliding door threshold that meets the accessibility requirements for Type A units so therefore they should be avoided in these type units. More specific requirements for Type A units can be found in Chapter 10 of ANSI A B. FHA (Type B) Dwelling Units As mentioned, FHA dwelling units as defined in the Fair Housing Design and Construction Requirements and the Fair Housing Act Design Manual are basically the same as the Type B units required under Chapter 11 of the IBC. The scoping and technical requirements of the IBC and ANSI are basically the same as Fair Housing. There are some differences, which we will not go into detail, but this is a good reason to understand the Safe Harbor alternatives that were discussed at the beginning of this document. If a project is designed and built in accordance with a particular safe harbor, then the differences are not important. As long as the project complies with the chosen safe harbor, then the project is indeed safe. I will give one example of the differences 12

13 between the two codes. Fair Housing requires the clear floor space for kitchen appliances to be centered on the appliance. In ANSI, the clear floor space for a dishwasher is required to be offset, not centered on the appliance. This makes sense from a user standpoint when the door to the dishwasher is open. If a project is claiming safe harbor under ANSI, then the requirement for the clear floor space to be centered on this particular appliance does not apply. When fair housing guidelines were being developed, the housing developers were concerned that these requirements would produce units that were un-rentable to anyone other than the disabled community, therefore hurting their bottom line. Home builders must have had a vision of units that were very commercial looking and fully accessible such as a hospital room. Compromises were reached, and the typical FHA/Type B unit is undistinguishable from a regular unit, at least to the untrained eye. FHA/Type B units are often referred to as adaptable units because they can contain such adaptable features such as removable base cabinets and blocking for future grab bars. Requirements for FHA/Type B units are less stringent than Type A units. For example, sinks and bathroom vanities in FHA/Type B units allow for a parallel approach where Type A units have to be designed for a forward approach. There is no requirement for kitchen counter heights in FHA/Type B units. Doors within these units can have regular door knobs and closet shelves do not have to be within accessible reach ranges. Common requirements between FHA/Type B units and Type A units include mounting heights for switches, outlets and other controls such as thermostats. Also common to both is the clear width requirement at doors of 32 nominal width. Actual clear width under FHA may be as little as 31 5/8, while under ANSI it has to be 31 ¾. A minor difference of 1/8 but nonetheless a difference. Entry thresholds under the FHA can allow for a higher change in level, but most projects are designed to meet the more stringent requirement of ANSI which allows for a ½ maximum threshold with a beveled edge. Both Type A and FHA/Type B units have to be on an accessible route to common amenities. There are exemptions for Type A and FHA/Type B units which can be found in the International Building Code and the Fair Housing Guidelines. These exemptions are complicated and can relate to specifics of a project such as existing site constraints. Consult with an expert in these codes prior to making any determinations concerning the applicability of these exemptions. Summary As stated earlier, this course was meant to provide an overall understanding of the basic requirements for accessibility in multi-family apartment projects. If you are not already 13

14 intimately familiar with these guidelines and requirements, you probably can deduct from reading this material that this is no simple matter. It can be very complex and you are best advised to seek advice from an expert. Developers who think they are saving money by not using an accessibility consultant are penny wise and pound foolish. The cost of hiring a consultant should easily pay for itself. Architects can specialize in multi-family design and be very knowledgeable but they have to know many different codes and it is difficult for them to gain expertise in them all. That is why it is wise to consider hiring a qualified accessibility consultant from the beginning and keep them involved throughout a project. Thank you for taking the time to read this material. If you care to comment on this material I welcome your input. You can reach me via my website below. Chris Schexnayder President, Accessibility Design Associates, Inc. References Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG) (1992) Fair Housing Act Design and Construction Requirements (1991) Fair Housing Act Design Manual (1998) American National Standards Institute A Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities International Building Code (IBC) Useful Resources U.S. Department of Justice 14

15 U.S. Access Board U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Fair Housing Fair Housing First (Fair Housing Technical Support) International Code Council 15

16 You must log in to to take the following test online and receive your Certificate of Completion. Find this course in your My Account page and click on Take the test. Test Questions 1. The Fair Housing Act was passed in: a b c d Requirement 7 of the Fair Housing Accessibility Guidelines deals with: a. Accessible routes between common amenities b. Parking c. Kitchens and bathrooms in covered dwelling units d. Controls and operating mechanisms 3. Which of the following are designated by HUD as safe harbors for compliance with the Fair Housing Act. a. Fair Housing Accessibility Guidelines b. Fair Housing Design Manual c IBC, 1998 ANSI d IBC, 2003 ANSI e. All of the above 4. Two story townhomes and condos that are not served by an elevator are exempt from Fair Housing compliance. a. True b. False 16

17 5. Under Fair Housing, the number of accessible parking spaces required for resident parking of an apartment complex equals: a. 2% of the total number of parking spaces provided b. 2% of the number of parking spaces serving covered dwelling units c. 2% of each type of parking provided d. None of the above 6. The maximum slope allowed in an accessible parking space and adjacent access aisle (loading zone) is: a. 5% b. 2% c. 3.3% d. 8.3% 7. Under Fair Housing guidelines, different apartment buildings on the same site are required to be connected to each other by an accessible route. a. True b. False 8. When finished grading between dwelling units and common amenities such as a mail kiosk exceeds, then vehicular access between such units is acceptable. a. 5% b. 8.3% c. 2% d. None of the above. An accessible route is always required between apartment buildings and common use amenities. 9. Maintenance offices located on an apartment complex are not required to be on an accessible route. a. True b. False 17

18 10. Type A dwelling units are a requirement under the Fair Housing Act. a. True b. False 11. Removable cabinets are an acceptable option in Fair Housing, Type B and Type A units. a. True b. False 12. Grab bars are required upon initial construction for which of the following unit types. a. Type B b. Fair Housing c. Type A d. None of the above 13. Type B units as required under the IBC are intended to be the equivalent of a Fair Housing covered dwelling unit. a. True b. False 18