ADA standards

[Habanero]

Here's the story:

Restaurant wants to serve alcohol on front patio, which requires to gate off area- making the only entrance have a gate. The gate they want is a spring hinge push entrance/pull exit (strike plate on one side). Does anyone know if this would meet ADA standards? I would think it would be hard to maneuver for anyone in a wheelchair, and the gate would take off about 6 inches from the walkway. On the positive side though, our Commission has always expressed concern on this issue and likes to see wider walkways (5 feet) to allow for pedestrian flow in both ways, so I may be saved on an argument with the applicant about it.

Any ideas?

 

[Chet]

I presume its at grade and no steps are involved. I dont know ADA but dont you have to have a push exit? Seems to me there's fire code / safety in addition to ADA that should preempt that gate!

 

[Habanero]

Fire-

That's what I thought, but everyone up here seems to think this isn't an issue because the patio only has a 3' wall. Someone suggested that in an emergency they could jump the wall. Granted, as it is they only have one entrance, but I can't see how a pull exit is going facilitate an easy exit if a fire does break out.

I did just get a message from the applicant, they don't like that I checked with the property owner (they were planning on making the area another outdoor dining area instead of a waiting area but I noticed the property owner didn't sign the app. and asked them about it and they said "absolutely not"). Eek!

 

[Chet]

Ah, I love it when problems solve themselves!

Hey Tex, does it seem like we're the only ones here today?

 

[Habanero]

Yes it does. I think our non Friday Afternoon questions made people leave-

Although perhaps many didn't get Dan's email and weren't able to log on- I know yesterday without Cyburbia I was like a cut-off addict.

*tumbleweed blows through*