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ADA, Spiked-Heels, & Expansion Joints: Where do you stand?

We are often asked to comment on the suitability of our materials as they relate to Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Standards For Accessible Design.

Sometimes we are asked to comment on our materials' suitability to small-footprint-spiked-heel traffic as it relates to ADA.

First of all, let's separate the two issues.  The behavior of a joint system under high-heel traffic conditions is a separate matter altogether and has no relationship to ADA.

Now let's consider the two issues independently--first in summary and then if you would like further detail, read beyond the summary.

SUMMARY

1) ADA and Expansion Joints:

ADA only applies to joints that cut through an “Accessible Route”.  An Accessible Route is a clearly identified route of access and egress at a structure that must be compliant with ADA standards for accessible design.

This means that if a joint in the middle of a parking deck is 100-feet away from the nearest designated accessible route—then ADA does not apply to the expansion joint or the material installed into the joint opening.

If an expansion joint does traverse a designated Accessible Route, then ADA guidelines apply.  If the joint opening itself is in compliance with the aspect(s) of ADA standards applied interpretively to expansion joints and it is sealed with a joint system then the joint system must comply with ADA in the same interpreted aspects.

That being said, it is not unreasonable to apply the interpreted ADA provisions of elevation changes to expansion joints regardless of their location.  In this regard the systems offered by EMSEAL for this use comply with these interpretations as defined in our conversations with ADA Accessibility Specialists.

2) Small-Footprint-Spiked-Heel Concerns:

As stated before, concerns about a traffic surface or joint sealant’s suitability to high-heel traffic are totally unrelated to ADA. 

The personal preference of a pedestrian to wear small-footprint-high-or-spiked heels is not a disability under ADA or any other law of accommodation.  Pedestrians make their wardrobe selections fully aware of the risks posed by the choice.

Any expansion joint material must, by nature, be able to accommodate movement while maintaining watertightness.  In order to accommodate movement, a material must either be pliant and able to stretch and compress, or can be more rigid but of a geometric design to accommodate movement through an "accordion" motion of folding and unfolding or through a suitable mechanical motion. 

Either way the resulting product leaves a surface that cannot be considered absolute proof against the possibility of pedestrian injury in the same way that no surface intended for walking is absolutely free of hazards.  Mortar or caulk joints in concrete sidewalks, brick, stone or composite pavers, drainage grates, door thresholds, slick or highly polished floors, to name a few all pose possible hazards and must be expected to be treated with suitable judgment by pedestrians in respect of their attire and ability to traverse the surface.

ADA Compliance and Pedestrian Suitability in More detail:

1) ADA COMPLIANCE
In November of 1993 in lengthy conversations with an Accessibility Specialist at the US Architectural & Transportation Barriers Compliance Board, EMSEAL clarified the Board's position with respect to expansion joints in respect of the Accessibility Guidelines for Buildings and Facilities component of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

In April of 1997 in further conversations with same, this understanding was confirmed and it was further verified that no changes have been made to the Act in respect to expansion joints and that in the pending major revision to the guidelines no changes specific to expansion joints are being made.

In January of 2007, a further search of the latest revision to the document "ADA Standards For Accessible Design, July 1, 1994) shows no specific reference to expansion joints.

There being no provision of the guidelines that pertains specifically to expansion joints. The aspects of the guidelines therefore that are applied to expansion joints are: 1) the relationship of expansion joints to "Accessible Routes" 2) the guidelines for elevation changes.

1) "Accessible Routes", "Accessible Parking Spaces" and their Relationship to Expansion Joints

An accessible route is defined in the guidelines as follows:
"A continuous unobstructed path connecting all accessible elements and spaces of a building or facility." "Exterior accessible routes may include parking access aisles, curb ramps, crosswalks at vehicular ways, walks, ramps, and lifts."

An accessible parking space is defined in the guidelines as follows:
"Section 4.6.2 Location. Accessible parking spaces serving a particular building shall be located on the shortest accessible route of travel from adjacent parking to an accessible entrance. In parking facilities that do not serve a particular building, accessible parking shall be located on the shortest accessible route of travel to an accessible pedestrian entrance of the parking facility. In buildings with multiple accessible entrances with adjacent parking, accessible parking spaces shall be dispersed and located closest to the accessible entrances."

As confirmed in the discussion with the Accessibility Specialist, the general assumption is that a parking garage patron with a disability arrives in a vehicle, parks in an "Accessible Parking Space", and in a short pedestrian activity uses the nearby "Accessible Route" to move from the parking deck to an adjacent structure or other destination.

In this typical scenario and in most parking garages, the structural expansion joints are located at intervals in the deck that are in distant enough from the accessibility area that they are never crossed by patrons with disabilities and are therefore not subject to the guidelines.

In this light, it is practical to consider the design of the deck such that the high performance structural expansion joints don't come into play in respect to ADA guidelines.

2) Guidelines for Elevation Changes

In locations where expansion joint do intersect accessible routes and parking spaces, the only provision in the Standards that is applied is that of "Changes in Level" and elevation changes at "Thresholds and Doorways".

Changes in Level:
"4.5.2 Changes in Level. Changes in level up to 1/4 in (6mm) may be vertical and without edge treatment. Changes in level between 1/4 in and 1/2 in (13mm) shall be beveled with a slope no greater than 1:2. Changes in level greater than 1/2 in (13mm) shall be accomplished by means of a ramp that complies with 4.7 or 4.8."

Thresholds and Doorways:
Section 4.13.8 Thresholds and Doorways . Thresholds at doorways shall not exceed 3/4 in (19mm) in height for exterior sliding doors or 1/2 in (13mm) for other types of doors. Raised thresholds and floor level changes at accessible doorways shall be beveled with a slope no greater than 1:2.

While blockout-mounted structural expansion joint systems are usually utilized in the joints remote from accessibility areas, the THERMAFLEX TM (double-cell) and TCR (multi-cell) systems are suitable also in the cases where they do cross accessibility areas because they are in compliance with the above guidelines.


II: PEDESTRIAN SUITABILITY of THERMAFLEX, DSM, MIGUTAN, and other EXPANSION JOINT SYSTEMS
Expansion joint materials must, by nature, be able to accommodate movement while maintaining watertightness. In order to accommodate movement, the materials must either be pliant and able to stretch and compress, or can be more rigid but of a geometric design to accommodate movement through an "accordion" motion of folding and unfolding.

Either way the resulting product leaves a surface that cannot be considered absolute proof against the possibility of pedestrian injury in the same way that no surface intended for walking is absolutely free of hazards.  Mortar or caulk joints in concrete sidewalks, brick, stone or composite pavers, drainage grates, door thresholds, slick or highly polished floors, to name a few all pose possible hazards and must be expected to be treated with suitable judgment by pedestrians in respect of their attire and ability to traverse the surface.

Metal coverplates, while sometimes considered a preferable alternative to softer materials, are generally selected for their ability to span larger joints that cannot be bridged with system installed between the joint faces.  Regardless, they too cannot be considered proof against the possibility of slipping or perhaps even tripping.

10/3/08 - dmc/s

Expansion joints and precompressed joint sealants by EMSEAL

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