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ADA Elevator Regulations

Elevators are mechanical lifts that carry people up and down to the various levels of a building by the push of a button. They come in many sizes and some are single door while others are double door elevators. Interior designs vary from a simple painted wall to marble and mirrors, depending on the expense and prestige of the building. Yet, regardless of style or design, all passenger elevators must adhere to ADA elevator regulations.

  1. What is the ADA

    • In July, 1990, the U.S. congress passed a law to prohibit the discrimination in public places of people with mental or physical disabilities. President George H.W. Bush is noted as saying, "I now lift this pen to sign this Americans with Disabilities Act, and say, 'let the shameful wall of exclusion finally come tumbling down'." The ADA controls the legal guidelines for employees, transportation in public places and all businesses including hotels in relation to enforcing equal rights and proper accommodations for persons with disabilities.

    Elevator Regulations

    • Regulations include making the elevator easily accessible and with doors that open automatically to a floor landing tolerance within half an inch. Both the lobby and individual floor levels must have call buttons with visual signals or verbal enunciators indicating up or down and if there is more than one elevator, visual signs must indicate which elevator is answering the call. They must be in raised and Braille characters at the entrances. All doors must have an automatic protective and reopening device and must have a signal for hall calls to warn passengers of the closing doors. The inside must be appropriately lit with spacing that allows for wheelchair users to move around and reach the buttons. Emergency communications must be easily accessible to all passengers.

    Benefits

    • The regulations enforced in public elevators for businesses, public offices, the work place and shopping centers allows for people of every description to use and operate the elevators proficiently. The act has eliminated the unfair treatment of people with disabilities. It means that persons with disabilities are no longer at the mercy of others to be mobile in elevators.

    Significance

    • Even though the regulations are mandatory for businesses, public offices and stores, their participation sets a powerful and positive influence for the rest of the community. They provide accessible accommodations for people with disabilities and persuade the rest of society of the appropriateness in giving people with disabilities the respect and independence they deserve. The act has encouraged an awareness to everyone, which in turn has strengthened the membership of the communities.

    Exceptions

    • According to 4.10.1 of the ADA, freight elevators are not required to adhere to the general elevator regulations. However, if the freight elevator is the only accessible lift and it is used as a combination freight and passenger elevator, then it must follow all the ADA regulations.

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