ADA Outdoor Picnic Table Requirements

ADA Outdoor Picnic Table Requirements

ADA Outdoor Picnic Table Requirements

 

What Is an ADA Picnic Table?

As a customer of site furnishings, you should be aware of the technical distinctions between commercial ADA picnic tables and wheelchair accessible picnic tables. Sometimes ADA requirements in public spaces are overlooked, but realize it could come at a cost! Not being informed could cost your company’s professional reputation and more importantly, could restrict access to wheelchair users. Non-compliance could also very well result in unwarranted legal actions, such as disability discrimination lawsuits as well as fines and citations if your property is ever inspected.

 

What Does ADA Wheelchair Accessible Mean?

The goal of ADA picnic tables is to guarantee that wheelchair users have enough places to sit. In order for an area to be accessible, it may be necessary to ensure that the right amount of picnic tables are available depending on the size and extent of the public space. Furthermore, accessible picnic tables must be available for everyone’s use, not simply those who are seated in wheelchairs as it is against the law to segregate your ADA tables.

The Americans with Disabilities Act and the United States Department of Justice – Civil Rights Division require that certain criteria be met when making ADA picnic tables. These ADA picnic table regulations, as well as specific measurements and requirements, are outlined in the document. It is not always true that making space for a wheelchair at a picnic table makes it ADA compliant.

 

Number of disabled citizens continues to grow

The following are some statistics on why ADA picnic tables are significant. These figures come from the ADA.gov’s Annual Report 2018 – Disability Statistics and Demographics, which was released in February 2019. According to the report, this is the number of people with disabilities and their percentage over the previous decade:

2008 – 38,560,000 (12.7% of estimated 302,819,000 US population).

2017 – 42,77,000 (13.2% of estimated 324,689,000 US population).

The first is that the number of disabled persons, 42 million, is increasing. And, for two, the proportion of people in the United States who are disabled has increased by .5 percent.

 

Disabled population will continue to grow

Facility managers should pay attention to these figures. Because a new trend is on the horizon. The number of Baby Boomers is expected to decrease in the coming years. There were an estimated 74.1 million boomers in 2016, according to population estimates. As they age, more of them will become disabled. But as we all know, this is an active group . So even if they are physically unable to visit parks, restaurants, theme parks, stadiums, museums, and other places because

 

What Are ADA Picnic Table Requirements?

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires that picnic tables have at least one seat removed or one side of the benches shortened to make it easy for wheelchair users to get to and sit at the table. ADA picnic table requirements can differ by state, so it’s pertinent to research carefully before making a final purchase.

Please see basic guidelines stated on the ADA.gov website below:

 

  • The maximum surface table height is 34 inches, while the minimum above the floor is 28 inches.
  • Knee Clearance between the floor and the underside of the table is to be no less than 27″
  • 30″ by 48″ at each seating space, with at least one fully unobstructed side and an accessible route to get there
  • Leg and knee extension clearance: 19″ from the table’s edge inward
  • 36″ perimeter around the table, measured from the back-most edge of the bench
  • A 36″ minimum distance must be kept between the table and any wall or other obstruction if one exists at a fixed table position.
  • In locations where tables are fixed to a wall or a floor, 5% of the tables should be ADA-compliant; if there are less than 20 tables, then at least one ADA table must be provided
  • TABLES MUST BE PLACED ON A SOLID, STABLE, AND SLIP-PROOF GROUND SURFACE.

 

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