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Chapter 11A — HOUSING ACCESSIBILITY

Section 1139A

California Building Code (Title 24, Part 2) · 2022 edition · updated 2026-09-12 · California

Italicized text is a California amendment to the model code, as printed in the official publication.

1139A.1 General.

Drinking fountains and water coolers in common use areas and/or sites shall comply with this sec- tion. A side approach drinking fountain is not acceptable. (See Figure 11A-11A.)

1139A.2 Accessible route.

Drinking fountains and water coolers shall be on an accessible route.

1139A.3 Depth.

Drinking fountains shall be a minimum of 18 inches (457 mm) and a maximum of 19 inches (483 mm) in depth.

1139A.4 Clear floor space.

Drinking fountains shall be pro- vided with 30 inches by 48 inches (762 mm by 1219 mm) clear floor space, centered on the unit. The clear floor space shall be positioned for a forward approach.

1139A.4.1 Knee and toe space. Drinking fountains shall be provided with a clear and unobstructed knee and toe space. Knee and toe space shall comply with Section 1138A.2.

1139A.5 Spout location.

The spout shall be located 15 inches (381 mm) minimum from the vertical support and 5 inches (127 mm) maximum from the front edge of the drinking foun- tain, including bumpers. Spout outlets shall be 36 inches (914 mm) maximum above the finish floor.

1139A.6 Water flow.

The spout shall provide a flow of water at least 4 inches (101.6 mm) high to allow the insertion of a cup or glass under the flow of water. The angle of the water stream shall be measured horizontally relative to the front face of the unit. When spouts are located less than 3 inches (76 mm) from the front of the unit, the angle of the water stream shall be 30 degrees maximum. When spouts are located between 3 inches (76 mm) and 5 inches (127 mm) maximum from the front of the unit, the angle of the water stream shall be 15 degrees maximum.

1139A.7 Controls and operating mechanisms.

The flow of water shall be activated by manually or electronically oper- ated controls. The manually operated controls shall be front mounted or side mounted, located within 6 inches (152 mm) of the front edge of the fountain. The force required to acti- vate controls shall be no greater than 5 pounds (22.2 N).

1139A.8 Location.

Drinking fountains shall be located com- pletely within alcoves, between wing walls or otherwise posi- tioned so as not to encroach into pedestrian ways. The alcove or otherwise protected area in which the drinking fountain is located shall not be less than 32 inches (813 mm) in width and 18 inches (457 mm) in depth. When the depth of the pro- tected area where the drinking fountain is located exceeds 24 inches (610 mm), additional maneuvering clearance shall be provided in accordance with Section 1138A.1.4.2 and Figure 11A-1H.

11A-40 2022 CALIFORNIA BUILDING CODE

Copyright © 2022 by, or licensed to, International Code Council, Inc. (ALL RIGHTS RESERVED); licensed to California Building Standards Commission pursuant to License Agreement. No further reproductions is authorized. Any unauthorized reproduction or distribution is a violation of the federal copyright act and the license agreement, and subject to civil and criminal penalties thereunder.

When provided, wing walls shall project out from the sup- porting wall at least as far as the drinking fountain to within 6 inches (152.4 mm) vertically from the finish floor.

Protruding objects located in alcoves or otherwise posi- tioned so as to limit encroachment into pedestrian ways are permitted to project 4 inches (101.6 mm) into walks, halls, corridors, passageways or aisles. (See Figure 11A-11A.)

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▸Contents — California Building Code (Title 24, Part 2)
California Building Code (Title 24, Part 2)
  1. Chapter 2 — DEFINITIONS AND ABBREVIATIONS
  2. Appendix G — FLOOD-RESISTANT
  3. Appendix L — EARTHQUAKE RECORDING
  4. Appendix M — TSUNAMI-GENERATED
  5. Appendix N — REPLICABLE
  6. Appendix O — PERFORMANCE-BASED
  7. Chapter 1 — SCOPE AND ADMINISTRATION
  8. Chapter 3 — OCCUPANCY CLASSIFICATION AND USE
  9. Chapter 4 — SPECIAL DETAILED REQUIREMENTS BASED ON OCCUPANCY A…
  10. Chapter 5 — GENERAL BUILDING HEIGHTS AND AREAS
  11. Chapter 6 — TYPES OF CONSTRUCTION
  12. Chapter 7 — FIRE AND SMOKE PROTECTION FEATURES
  13. Chapter 7A — MATERIALS AND CONSTRUCTION
  14. Chapter 8 — INTERIOR FINISHES
  15. Chapter 9 — FIRE PROTECTION AND LIFE SAFETY SYSTEMS
  16. Chapter 10 — MEANS OF EGRESS
  17. ▸Chapter 11A — HOUSING ACCESSIBILITY
    Overview
    1. Section 1101A
    2. Section 1102A
    3. Section 1103A
    4. Section 1104A
    5. Section 1105A
    6. Section 1106A
    7. Section 1107A
    8. Section 1108A
    9. Section 1109A
    10. Section 1110A
    11. Section 1111A
    12. Section 1112A
    13. Section 1113A
    14. Section 1114A
    15. Section 1115A
    16. Section 1116A
    17. Section 1117A
    18. Section 1118A
    19. Section 1119A
    20. Section 1120A
    21. Section 1121A
    22. Section 1122A
    23. Section 1123A
    24. Section 1124A
    25. Section 1125A
    26. Section 1126A
    27. Section 1127A
    28. Section 1128A
    29. Section 1129A
    30. Section 1130A
    31. Section 1131A
    32. Section 1132A
    33. Section 1133A
    34. Section 1134A
    35. Section 1135A
    36. Section 1136A
    37. Section 1137A
    38. Section 1138A
    39. Section 1139A
    40. Section 1140A
    41. Section 1141A
    42. Section 1142A
    43. Section 1143A
    44. Section 1144A
    45. Section 1145A
    46. Section 1146A
    47. Section 1147A
    48. Section 1148A
    49. Section 1149A
    50. Section 1150A
  18. Chapter 11B — ACCESSIBILITY TO PUBLIC BUILDINGS, PUBLIC ACCOMM…
  19. Chapter 12 — INTERIOR ENVIRONMENT
  20. Chapter 14 — EXTERIOR WALLS
  21. Chapter 15 — ROOF ASSEMBLIES AND ROOFTOP STRUCTURES
  22. Chapter 16 — STRUCTURAL DESIGN
  23. Chapter 16A — STRUCTURAL DESIGN
  24. Chapter 17 — SPECIAL INSPECTIONS AND TESTS
  25. Chapter 18 — SOILS AND FOUNDATIONS
  26. Chapter 19 — CONCRETE
  27. Chapter 20 — ALUMINUM
  28. Chapter 21 — MASONRY
  29. Chapter 22 — STEEL
  30. Chapter 23 — WOOD
  31. Chapter 24 — GLASS AND GLAZING
  32. Chapter 25 — GYPSUM BOARD, GYPSUM PANEL PRODUCTS AND PLASTER
  33. Chapter 26 — PLASTIC
  34. Chapter 27 — ELECTRICAL
  35. Chapter 28 — MECHANICAL SYSTEMS
  36. Chapter 30 — ELEVATORS AND CONVEYING SYSTEMS
  37. Chapter 31 — SPECIAL CONSTRUCTION
  38. Chapter 31B — PUBLIC POOLS
  39. Chapter 31C — RADIATION
  40. Chapter 31D — FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS
  41. Chapter 31F — MARINE OIL TERMINALS
  42. Chapter 32 — ENCROACHMENTS INTO THE PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY
  43. Chapter 33 — SAFEGUARDS DURING CONSTRUCTION
  44. Chapter 35 — REFERENCED STANDARDS
  45. Appendix A — EMPLOYEE QUALIFICATIONS
  46. Appendix B — BOARD OF APPEALS
  47. Appendix C — GROUP U – AGRICULTURAL BUILDINGS
  48. Appendix D — FIRE DISTRICTS
  49. Appendix F — RODENTPROOFING
  50. Appendix H — SIGNS
  51. Appendix I — PATIO COVERS
  52. Appendix J — GRADING
  53. Appendix K — GROUP R-3 AND GROUP R-3.1 OCCUPANCIES
  54. Appendix P — EMERGENCY HOUSING

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