**FACILITIES DIVISION**

**Policy Guidance Memorandum**

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| **DATE: November 20, 2003**                                           |
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| **SUBJECT: IMPLEMENTATION OF ACCESSIBILITY REQUIREMENTS ON**          |
|                                                                       |
| **AFM-MANAGED PROJECTS**                                              |
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| **NUMBER: PGM-04-003**                                                |
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  **EFFECTIVE DATE: Immediately Until Replaced or Superseded**

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**[Purpose]{.underline}**

> This Policy Guidance Memorandum provides information and guidance
> regarding implementation of accessibility requirements on AFM-managed
> projects.

**[References]{.underline}**

> The Architectural Barriers Act (ABA) of 1968
>
> The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990
>
> Policies and Procedures 242.1, ARS Facilities Design Standards

**[Definitions]{.underline}**

> [Accessible]{.underline} - Describes a site, building, facility, or
> portion thereof that can be approached, entered, and used by
> individuals with disabilities pursuant to the ABA, as amended (42
> U.S.C. 4151 et seq.).
>
> [Access Board]{.underline} - The U.S. Architectural and Transportation
> Barriers Compliance Board created pursuant to the ABA.
>
> [Alteration]{.underline} - Means repairing, improving, remodeling,
> extending, or otherwise changing a building.
>
> [People with Disabilities]{.underline} - An individual who has a
> physical impairment which results in a functional limitation in access
> to and use of a building or facility.
>
> [Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards (UFAS)]{.underline} - Are
> accessibility design guidelines developed under the ABA for facilities
> designed, built, or altered with Federal funds.
>
> [The Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines
> (ADAAG)]{.underline} - Are accessibility design guidelines developed
> under the ADA for the construction and alteration of facilities in the
> private sector (places of public accommodation and commercial
> facilities) and the public sector (State and local Government
> facilities).

**[Background]{.underline}**

> The ABA (Public Law (PL) 90-480), enacted in 1968, requires that
> facilities designed, built, altered or leased with certain Federal
> funds be accessible to people with disabilities in accordance with the
> Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards (UFAS). The ABA is enforced by
> the U.S. Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board
> (Access Board).
>
> In 1990, Congress passed the ADA (PL 101-336), which expanded
> accessibility requirements beyond Federal Government buildings to
> State and local Government buildings as well as the private sector.
> The ADA requires that buildings and facilities be accessible to and
> usable by people with disabilities, in accordance with the ADAAG
> published by the Access Board in 1991.

**[Policy]{.underline}**

> All major new construction and major modernization projects managed by
> the Facilities Division (FD), AFM, will be designed, constructed, and
> altered per UFAS. Design compliance with the requirements of the ADAAG
> is also encouraged where those requirements are more stringent than
> UFAS.
>
> Appropriate access requirements for each project will be determined
> based on facility-specific needs considering research program
> accessibility, constraints, and tenant needs. It is FD policy that
> only one accessible laboratory or work station be provided per floor
> and located on an accessible route. Accessibility items such as
> minimum
>
> 36-inch doors, lever faucet handles on sink, UFAS compliant
> audio/visual fire alarms and 36-inch wide access/egress passage(s)
> within spaces will be routinely included when and where possible.
>
> Due to the unreasonable impact to space and configuration requirements
> and related costs in specialized research laboratories and animal
> facilities (i.e., biocontainment laboratories and animal spaces, pilot
> plants, etc.), these specialized spaces will be designed to provide
> reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities, as
> required on a case-by-case basis considering ADA and as determined by
> the project=s Research Program Representative (RPR).

**[General Guidance for the Implementation of Accessibility Requirements
on AFM-Managed Projects]{.underline}**

> Include accessibility provisions in all new construction and
> renovation projects. Ensure Program of Requirements (POR) discusses
> approach to meeting the most stringent minimum requirements of UFAS or
> ADAAG.
>
> For all projects managed by AFM, evaluate facilities and determine if
> there are physical barriers that may prevent individuals with
> disabilities from using such facilities. Implement accessibility
> improvement project opportunities to the extent possible.
>
> Discuss minimum UFAS or ADAAG accessibility requirements during the
> RPR/customer orientation, POR development, design submission reviews,
> and 50 percent Design Board reviews. Ensure customer identifies any
> accessibility needs in excess of UFAS or ADAAG standards.

**[Point of Contact]{.underline}**

> For further information, please contact the Facilities Engineering
> Branch on 301-504-1193.

PATRICK G. BARRY

Director

Facilities Division