One of the most important things to keep in mind when working on any construction project is compliance with the American with Disabilities Act (ADA). Not only are you legally required to be compliant with ADA regulations, but doing so showcases a commitment to accessibility and inclusivity. It’s the right thing to do! For businesses and any other property owners, perhaps the most critical aspect of this compliance is ensuring that any parking areas meet all requirements. If you want to make sure your parking project remains compliant with ADA requirements, focus on proper flatwork and curbing to get the job done. That’s what we do here at Potrykus Construction, so in today’s blog we’re going to dive into how exactly we go about it.
What are the foundations of an ADA-compliant parking lot?
Let’s kick things off by highlighting the foundations of building an ADA-compliant parking lot. These compliance requirements ensure that individuals with disabilities have easy access to buildings and services without having to endure unnecessary obstacles. Before getting into your flatwork and curbing, the following three criteria are crucial to comply with the regulations.
- Accessible Parking Spaces
- Accessible Routes
- Proper Signage
These are the three key ingredients to building an ADA-compliant parking lot. You need to have a sufficient number of designated accessible parking spaces, including access aisles. You need to provide stable pathways that connect parking spaces to building entrances, making sure that they’re as slip-resistant as possible and avoiding any abrupt changes in elevation. And you need to provide proper signage for these accessible parking spaces and routes, to identify their purpose.
Focusing on Flatwork
In construction, flatwork refers to any horizontal concrete surface. This includes everything from sidewalks and driveways to patios and warehouse floors, and even includes sloped surfaces like ramps as long as they’re built on a horizontal surface. When building an ADA-compliant parking lot, you’ll need to focus on proper flatwork to make your space as accessible as possible.
For example, the maximum slope allowed for an accessible parking space is just 2%. This ensures that vehicles can safely park on the spot without fear of rolling or shifting in a given direction. Pathways and ramps need to retain a similar slope, so that they can accommodate wheelchairs and mobility aids as safely as possible.
You’ll also want to make sure that each and every surface is built as high-quality as possible. Any cracks or uneven surfaces can create hazards, such as pooling water or tripping risks. If you focus on laying high-quality flatwork, these risks and hazards are eliminated and you’ll have a compliant parking lot.
Concentrating on Curbing
Curbing, on the other hand, refers to the raised edges or barriers that separate different aspects of your parking lot — such as the sidewalk pathway from the parking surface itself. Concentrating on quality curbing is just as important as making your flatwork as smooth as possible. Not only will it make your project look better, but it can ensure compliance with ADA requirements by helping to define spaces, managing water drainage and providing visual guidance.
Curb ramps are one of the most essential aspects of any parking project, as they bridge the gap between the parking area and the sidewalk. These are the small little sloped aspects of any sidewalk that allow you to easily push your cart up or down, or in terms of ADA-compliance, your wheelchair or mobility aid. These ramps must not exceed a slope of 8.33% and must remain consistent throughout its entirety. Furthermore, you need to provide detectable warning surfaces such as colored strips or textured bumps.
Partner with Potrykus Construction for your Parking Project
Now that we’ve laid out the ins and outs of ADA-compliant parking construction, we hope you’ve come to understand that we take compliance very seriously. We strive to meet and even exceed these expectations and standards at every opportunity, so if you’re looking for a partner on your new parking project, we hope you’ll choose Potrykus Construction. Be sure to get in touch with us if you have any questions or would like to begin discussing your project!