American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Site Survey Report

Transcription

1 American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Site Survey Report Introduction and Background In early 2013, the Contract Meeting Manager for the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (AAPM&R) asked the Pacific ADA Center (Center) to conduct accessibility site surveys at several venues in San Diego, California. The AAPM&R is considering San Diego as the location for their organization s annual conference in the fall of The Center conducted the site surveys on July 30 and 31, The surveys consisted of accessibility reviews of the following venues: San Diego Marriott Marquis & Marina Hotel, 333 West Harbor Drive, San Diego San Diego Convention Center, 111 West Harbor Drive, San Diego Accessibility Standards Used The referenced accessibility standards were the 2010 Americans with Disabilities Act Standards for Accessible Design (ADA) and the California Code of Regulations Title 24, California Building Code Chapter 11B (CBC). San Diego Marriott Marquis & Marina Hotel Site Arrival Points and Building Entrances The main entrance into the hotel (photo 1) from the street is in excess of 17 % slope and is generally accessible only by car. The entry into the hotel from the passenger loading zone is level at 2%. Hotel staff is usually on hand to open the otherwise accessible doors (compliant opening force, clear width, and reach ranges). The lobby has an open floor plan with accessible counters (check in counter, bell desk, and concierge station). All doors at the main entrance are accessible no signage required as in compliance with ADA section Clearances and grading of the circulation path from the accessible parking spaces to the building entrance is accessible; however a detectible warning strip runs in a significant portion of this path (photos 2, 3 and 4). Page 1 of 5

2 Recommendation- reconfigure detectable warnings so they are not part of the path of travel except at the top of each parking access aisle. Accessible Parking Due to time restrictions only one parking lot was surveyed. Hotel management did not have information on the number of total number of spaces in other parking lots, but the information will be provided. The accessible parking spaces with accompanying access aisles that were assessed are compliant with the more stringent California requirements (CBC section 1129B). No apparent or visible parking lot entrance sign as required in CBC section 1129B.4. Recommendation - add appropriate parking lot entrance signage as required by the CBC. Interior Spaces Lobby The hotel lobby has an open floor plan with accessible counters (check in counter, bell desk, and concierge). No access violations observed. Toilet Rooms Restrooms serving the lobby and meeting rooms had no egregious obstacles to access. One issue identified was a slightly shorter side grab bar in the accessible compartment. This was measured at 52 ½ inches extending from the rear wall, when the requirement is 54 inches minimum (photo 5) (ADA section / CBC section 1115B.4.1 (3.2)). Another example of a barrier can be seen in photo 6, which indicates that the toilet paper dispenser is less than the required 7 to 9 inches in front of the toilet. Recommendation 1 install 54 inch side grab bar. Recommendation 2 reposition toilet paper dispenser. Drinking Fountains and Public Pay Phones There is sufficient and compliant clear floor space and height for drinking fountains and a side approach to the public pay phones. Guest Rooms Two accessible guest rooms were surveyed. One with a roll in shower and one with a transfer tub. Both toilet rooms provided appropriate accessible features and clear floor space. Both of these guest rooms lacked an accessible clothes rod or shelf in the closet (figure 1 or 2). Recommendation install a shelf with a maximum height of 34 inches or a clothes rod at a maximum height of 48 inches. Page 2 of 5

3 Although there is no federal or state requirement regulating the height of a bed in an accessible room, making this transfer can be difficult on high beds. The beds surveyed were 27 inches high. A more useable transfer height would be 17 to 19 inches. Recommendation hotel staff may wish to consider reasonable modification upon request for a lower bed height by providing a lowered bed frame. Accessible rooms are to be disbursed across all classes of rooms to offer a range of amenities (ADA section 224 & Table &.4 / CBC section 1111B.4.1 &.2, Table 11B-3). According to the list of rooms with mobility and communication features (attachment 1), this appears to be the case in both the number required and the disbursement. All mobility accessible rooms are equipped with communication features, which is in excess of the minimum number of rooms to be equipped with communication features. Also available on request are telephone amplification systems and TTY s. Meeting Rooms Job Fair- Marriot Hall The ramp leading to the room / hall where the job fair will be held (photo 7) had a running slope of up to 8.92%. Maximum accessible running slope is 8.33%. This may be difficult for some to maneuver and may not comply with the running slope requirements of either the ADA or CBC (ADA section / CBC 1133B.5) Door opening force into the hall averaged 13 lbs to activate the latch and 7 lbs of force to push open the door. Opening force for interior doors is 5 lbs (ADA section / CBC section 1133B.2.5) Recommendation adjust door opening force to 5 lbs if possible, or prop doors open during sessions. Board Meeting San Diego Room Approach and entry and the interior space of the ballroom were accessible and free of obstructions. The 6 doors leading into the ballroom were in excess of the required 5 lb opening force and averaged 11 lbs of force. Recommendation adjust door opening force to 5 lbs if possible, or prop doors open during sessions. Restaurant/Bar The hotel restaurant provides sufficient dispersion of accessible seating in excess of the required 5%. There is a portion of the bar at an accessible height for a forward approach; however, this portion of the bar is being used as a storage area (photo 8). This is the same for the bar on the pool deck (photo 9). Recommendation ensure accessible counter areas are kept free and clear of obstructions. Pool/Spa There are two pools and two spas available that are in separate areas of the hotel, yet only one pool and one spa has an accessible means of entry (lift). The requirement when an alteration to the pool area has Page 3 of 5

4 been made is to provide at least one independent means of access to each of these altered elements. If the pool/spa areas have not been altered, then having only one of the pools and one of the spas equipped with a lift it may comply with the readily achievable barrier removal standard under the ADA. Recommendation determine requirement to install lifts at inaccessible pool and spa. Convention Center Entrance The route from the hotel to the Convention Center could pose challenges for some individuals regarding directional signage and the ramps leading to the hotel exit (photo 10). There is also a non-compliant ramp (continuous slope with no level landings) leading up to the Convention Center (photo 11) (ADA section / CBC section 1133B.5.4.8). Recommendation 1 - improve existing signage and / or add additional signage indicating where the accessible path diverges from the main route between the hotel and the Convention Center. Recommendation 2 if possible, reconfigure existing ramps to comply with landing requirements. The AAPM&R conference will be using the entrances for exhibit halls D, E and F. Each hall has 10 double leaf doors. One set of doors at each hall is automatic. The doors leading into the Convention Center are all on a clear path and have sufficient clear floor space. The automatic doors have compliant actuators (clear floor space, reach range and operating force). 5 non automatic doors randomly assessed for accessibility indicated that opening force is appropriate, averaging 4 to 5 pounds of force to pull the door open. In the locked position, the doors can be released by a panic or push bar. Activation of these bars requires up to 20 pounds of force. Recommendation adjust the panic bar to an appropriate operating force. Interior Spaces Lobby and Mezzanine The lobby adjoins all three halls and is open and clear. The circulation path connecting the lobby to the mezzanine includes two elevators that are compliant and readily accessible with a door opening of 42 inches, sufficient inside car dimensions, and compliant car control buttons. The buttons are within appropriate reach range (maximum 54 inches) with raised buttons accompanied with tactile symbols and Braille (photo 12). Exhibit Halls There were no access issues confronted in getting in and out of exhibit halls. Toilet Rooms The toilet rooms provided sufficient access in terms of appropriate approach, entry and exit. Most of the elements within the restrooms met the technical standards for compliance. Of note is the lack of clearance for the gripping surface around the grab bar due to the close placement of the toilet paper dispenser Page 4 of 5

5 (photo 14). Per ADA section , the grab bar should have a clearance of 1 ½ inches. Less could render the section of the bar useless. Recommendation reposition the toilet paper dispenser. The rim of an accessible urinal is to be a maximum of 17 inches off the floor (ADA section / CBC section 1115B.4.2). As indicated in photos 15 and 16, the accessible urinals exceed this maximum. Recommendation reposition at least one urinal per restroom to meet the maximum height. Page 5 of 5