1150A Site Impracticality Tests — 2025 California Building Code

Covered multifamily dwellings in buildings without an elevator, located on sites with difficult terrain conditions or unusual characteristics, may employ the site impracticality tests in this division for determining the accessibility and adaptability provi- sions required by this chapter.

Except as provided for in Section 1102A.3.1, the provisions of this section do not apply to multistory dwelling units in nonelevator buildings.

Provisions to Test Nos. 1 and 2. Where a building elevator is provided only as means of creating an accessible route to covered multi- family dwelling units on a ground floor, the building is not considered to be an elevator building for purposes of this code; hence, only the ground floor dwelling units would be covered.

TEST NO. 1—INDIVIDUAL BUILDING TEST

It is not required by this code to provide an accessible route when the terrain of the site is such that both of the following apply:

1. The slopes of the undisturbed site measured between the planned entrance and all vehicular or pedestrian arrival points within 50 feet (15 240 mm) of the planned entrance exceed 15 percent; and

2. The slopes of the planned finished grade measured between the entrance and all vehicular or pedestrian arrival points within 50 feet (15 240 mm) of the planned entrance also exceed 15 percent.

If there are no vehicular or pedestrian arrival points within 50 feet (15 240 mm) of the planned entrance, the slope for the purposes of Test No. 1 will be measured to the closest vehicular or pedestrian arrival point.

For purposes of these requirements, vehicular or pedestrian arrival points include public or resident parking areas, public trans- portation stops, passenger loading zones and public streets or sidewalks. To determine site impracticality, the slope would be measured at ground level from the point of the planned entrance on a straight line to (1) each vehicular or pedestrian arrival point that is within 50 feet (15 240 mm) of the planned entrance, or (2) if there are no vehicular or pedestrian arrival points within the speci- fied area, the vehicular or pedestrian arrival point closest to the planned entrance. In the case of sidewalks, the closest point to the entrance will be where a public sidewalk entering the site intersects with the walk to the entrance. In the case of resident parking areas, the closest point to the planned entrance will be measured from the entry point to the parking area that is located closest to the planned entrance.

TEST NO. 2—SITE ANALYSIS TEST

For a site having multiple buildings, or a site with a single building with multiple entrances, it is not required to provide an accessible route to all ground floor units under the following conditions:

1. Calculate the percentage of the total buildable area of the undisturbed site with a natural grade less than 10-percent slope. The analysis of the existing slope (before grading) shall be done on a topographic survey with 2-foot (610 mm) contour intervals

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HOUSING ACCESSIBILITY

with slope determination made between each successive interval. The accuracy of the slope analysis shall be certified by a licensed engineer, landscape architect, architect or surveyor. 2. Determine the requirement of providing an accessible route to planned multifamily dwellings based on the topography of the existing natural terrain. The minimum percentage of ground floor units required on an accessible route shall equal the percent- age of the total buildable area (not restricted-use areas) of the undisturbed site with an existing natural grade of less than 10- percent slope. In no case shall less than 20 percent of the ground floor dwelling units be on an accessible route and comply with the provisions of Division IV. 3. In addition to the percentage established in paragraph (2), all additional ground floor units in a building or ground floor units served by a particular entrance, that fall within an 8.33-percent slope between their planned entrances and an arrival point shall be on an accessible route and comply with the provisions of Division IV. 4. All additional ground floor units in a building, or ground floor units served by a particular entrance, not on an accessible route shall comply with the features listed in Section 1150A.2.

TEST NO. 3—UNUSUAL CHARACTERISTICS TEST

Unusual characteristics include sites located in a state or federally designated floodplain or coastal high-hazard areas and sites subject to other similar requirements of law or code that require the lowest floor or the lowest structural member of the lowest floor to be designed to a specified level at or above the base flood elevation. An accessible route to a building entrance is impractical due to unusual characteristics of the site when:

1. The original site characteristics result in a difference in finished grade elevation exceeding 30 inches (762 mm) and 10 percent measured between an entrance and all vehicular or pedestrian arrival points within 50 feet (15 240 mm) of the planned entrance; or

2. If there are no vehicular or pedestrian arrival points within 50 feet (15 240 mm) of the planned entrance, the unusual character- istics result in a difference in finished grade elevation exceeding 30 inches (762 mm) and 10 percent measured between an entrance and the closest vehicular or pedestrian arrival point.

All other ground floor dwelling units in nonelevator buildings shall be made to comply with the following requirements:

1. Grab bar reinforcement: see Section 1134A.

2. Thirty-two inch (813 mm) clear door interior opening width: see Section 1132A.3.

3. Lever hardware: see Section 1132A.8.

4. Door signal devices: see Section 1132A.10. 5. Clear space by doors: see Chapters 10 and 11A. 6. Minimum 15-inch (381 mm) water closet seat height: see Section 1134A.7, Item 3. 7. Electrical receptacle outlet height: see Section 1136A. 8. Lighting and environmental control height: see Section 1136A. 9. Faucet controls: see Section 1134A.8, Item 7.

10. Water closet, bathtub and lavatory minimum space requirements: see Section 1134A.

11. Removable cabinets under the kitchen sink counter area: see Section 1133A.3.

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Division VII – FIGURES

Diagrams illustrate the specific requirements of these regulations and are intended only as an aid for building design and construction. Diagrams are not to scale.

FIGURE 11A-1A—INTERNATIONAL ACCESSIBILITY SYMBOL

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FIGURE 11A-1B—HEADROOM CLEARANCE AND OVERHANGING OBSTRUCTION

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FIGURE 11A-1C—WIDTH OF ACCESSIBLE ROUTE AT TURNS

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FIGURE 11A-1D—WHEELCHAIR TURNING SPACE

FIGURE 11A-1E—WHEELCHAIR PASSAGE WIDTH

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FIGURE 11A-1F—CHANGE IN LEVEL

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FIGURE 11A-1G—MINIMUM CLEAR FLOOR SPACE FOR WHEELCHAIRS

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FIGURE 11A-1H—MINIMUM CLEAR FLOOR SPACE IN ALCOVES

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FIGURE 11A-1I—FORWARD REACH

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FIGURE 11A-1J—SIDE REACH

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FIGURE 11A-1K—MINIMUM CLEARANCES FOR SEATING AND TABLE

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FIGURE 11A-1L—INTERIOR ACCESSIBLE ROUTE (CORRIDOR) OVER 200 FEET; OCCUPANT LOAD 10 OR MORE

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FIGURE 11A-2A—DOUBLE PARKING STALLS

FIGURE 11A-2B—SINGLE AND VAN ACCESSIBLE PARKING STALLS

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FIGURE 11A-2C—DIAGONAL PARKING STALLS

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FIGURE 11A-3A—CURB DETAILS

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FIGURE 11A-3B—CURB DETAIL

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FIGURE 11A-3C—CURB DETAIL

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FIGURE 11A-3D—CURB DETAIL

FIGURE 11A-3E—CURB DETAIL

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FIGURE 11A-3F—CURB DETAIL - SIDEWALK LESS THAN 60 ″ WIDE

FIGURE 11A-3G—CURB DETAIL

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FIGURE 11A-3H—CURB DETAIL

FIGURE 11A-3I—CURB DETAIL

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FIGURE 11A-3J—CURB DETAIL

FIGURE 11A-3K—CURB DETAIL

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FIGURE 11A-3L—CURB SECTIONS

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FIGURE 11A-5A—RAMPS AND SIDEWALKS

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FIGURE 11A-6A—WARNING STRIPING AND HANDRAIL EXTENSIONS

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FIGURE 11A-6B—HANDRAILS

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FIGURE 11A-6C—RAMP DIMENSIONS

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FIGURE 11A-6D—RAMP LANDING AND DOORWAY

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FIGURE 11A-6E—STAIR HANDRAILS

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FIGURE 11A-7A—MINIMUM DIMENSIONS OF ELEVATOR CARS

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FIGURE 11A-7B—ELEVATOR CONTROL PANEL

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FIGURE 11A-7C—HOISTWAY AND ELEVATOR ENTRANCES

FIGURE 11A-7D—GRAPH OF TIMING EQUATION

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FIGURE 11A-8A—MANEUVERING CLEARANCE AT SWINGING DOORS

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FIGURE 11A-8B—MANEUVERING CLEARANCE AT DOORWAYS, SLIDING DOORS AND FOLDING DOORS

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FIGURE 11A-8C—MANEUVERING CLEARANCES AT RECESSED DOORS

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FIGURE 11A-8G—VESTIBULE

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FIGURE 11A-8H—VESTIBULE

(SERVING OTHER THAN A REQUIRED EXIT STAIRWAY)

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FIGURE 11A-8I—THRESHOLDS

FIGURE 11A-8J—PLATFORM AT SECONDARY EXTERIOR DOOR

FIGURE 11A-8K—RAMP AT SECONDARY EXTERIOR DOOR

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FIGURE 11A-9A—TOILET FACILITIES

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FIGURE 11A-9B—WATER CLOSETS

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FIGURE 11A-9C—GRAB BARS

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FIGURE 11A-9D—KNEE AND TOE SPACE

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FIGURE 11A-9E—CLEAR FLOOR SPACE AT BATHTUBS

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FIGURE 11A-9F—GRAB BARS AT BATHTUBS

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FIGURE 11A-9G—REINFORCEMENT FOR GRAB BARS

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FIGURE 11A-9H—STANDARD ROLL-IN SHOWER

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FIGURE 1A-9I—SHOWER SEATS AND GRAB BARS

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FIGURE 11A-9J—OPEN SHOWER

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FIGURE 11A-9L—SHOWER WITH WATER CLOSET

FIGURE 11A-9M—WING WALL OR CABINET AT WATER CLOSET

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FIGURE 11A-10A—KITCHEN SPECIFICATIONS

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FIGURE 11A-11A—DRINKING FOUNTAINS

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FIGURE 11A-11B—TELEPHONES

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CALIFORNIA BUILDING CODE – MATRIX ADOPTION TABLE

CHAPTER 11B – ACCESSIBILITY TO PUBLIC BUILDINGS, PUBLIC ACCOMMODATIONS, COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS AND PUBLIC HOUSING

(Matrix Adoption Tables are nonregulatory, intended only as an aid to the code user. See Chapter 1 for state agency authority and building applications.

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