Enhancing Access to Enhancing Access to Greenhouse Facilities in Greenhouse Facilities in Compliance with ADA Compliance with ADA GuidelinesGuidelinesKent McGuire, Ohio AgrAbility Program Coordinator

Lisa M. Johnson, PhD Student

The Ohio State University Department of Food, Agricultural, and Biological Engineering

Agenda• Introduction• Safety Emphasis• Areas of Focus• Raised beds / Tables / Benches• Conclusion

Introduction

70% of greenhouse space is dedicated to what is being grown•Leaves very little space to work•May not accommodate individuals with a disability

Applying ADA guidelines can •Create independent use•Improve the accessibility•Provide egress in an emergency•Reduce injuries

Introduction to the Americans with Disabilities Act

• Titles of the ADA – Title I – Employment– Title II – Public Services (and public transportation)– Title III – Public Accommodations (and Commercial

Facilities)– Title IV – Telecommunications– Title V – Miscellaneous

Safety Emphasis• Reduce Falls• Reduce overexertion injuries• Maintain proper posture • Minimize over-extending from

reaching• Reduce contact with objects and

equipment• Provide means of egress for

everyone

Added benefit• Increase productivity for individuals

with limitations

Areas of Focus

– Floor and Ground Surfaces– Changes in Surface Levels – Ramps– Handrails– Turning Space– Clearances– Doors, Doorways and Gates– Reach Ranges

Floor and Ground Surfaces• Floor and ground surfaces

shall be stable, firm, and slip resistant.

• Openings in the floor or ground surfaces shall not be larger than ½ inch diameter.

• Consider the dominant direction of travel when preparing or maintaining stable / firm surfaces.

• Consider drainage and watering processes to prevent wet surfaces

Changes in Level• Changes in level of ¼

inch high maximum shall be permitted.

• Changes in level between ¼ inch high minimum and ½ inch high maximum shall be beveled with a slope not steeper than 1:2.

• Changes in level greater than ½ inch high shall be ramped. 1:12 slope

Not in Compliance

Ramps Ramp runs shall have a running slope not steeper than 1:12.

The rise for any ramp shall be thirty inches maximum.

Ramps shall have landings at the top and the bottom of each ramp run.

The landing width shall be at least as wide as the widest ramp run.

The landing clear length shall be 60 inches long minimum.

Ramp runs with a rise greater than six inches shall have handrails.

Handrails

• Top of gripping surfaces shall be between 34” and 38” above the finished floor.

• Clearances between the handrail and adjacent surfaces shall be at least 1.5”.

• Handrail gripping surfaces shall be continuous.

• Handrails shall not rotate.

Turning Space• The turning space shall

be a space of sixty inches diameter minimum. The space shall be permitted to include knee and toe clearance.

Turning Space The turning space shall be a T-shaped space within a

60” square minimum with arms and base of 36” width, minimum. Each arm of the T =12” minimum in each direction Single direction = 24” minimum. Includes knee and toe clearance.

Clearances

• The clear width of the walking surface shall be 36” minimum.

• An accessible route with a clear width less than 60” shall provide passing spaces at intervals of 200 feet maximum.

200’ max

Doors, Doorways and Gates

• Door openings shall provide a clear width of 32” minimum.

• Maneuvering clearances shall extend the full width of the doorway.

• Swinging doors and gates shall have maneuvering clearances.

• Door closers and gate closers shall be adjusted so that from the open position of 90°, the time required to move the door to a position of 12° from the latch is 5 seconds minimum.

Reach Ranges• When a parallel approach to an

element and the high side reach is over an obstruction, the height of the obstruction shall be 34” max and the depth of the obstruction shall be 24” max.

• The high side reach shall be 54” max for a reach depth of 10” max.

• When reach depth exceeds 10”, the high side reach shall be 46” max for a reach depth of 24” maximum.

Reach Ranges• Where a forward reach is

unobstructed, the high forward reach shall be 48” max and the low forward reach shall be 15” min above the finished floor.

• Where a high forward reach is over an obstruction, the high forward reach shall be 48” max where the reach depth is 20” max.

• Where the reach depth exceeds 20” the high forward reach shall be 44” max and the reach depth shall be 25” max.

Raised Beds• Types of Raised Beds

– Raised ground beds– Deep raised beds– Elevated beds

Raised Ground Beds• Height – ½ to 1 foot• Width (one side) – 2 feet• Width (two sides) – 4 feet• Diameter (circular) – 4 feet

Deep Raised Beds

• Height – 2 to 2 ½ ft• Width (one side) – 2 ft• Width (two sides) – 3 to 4 ft• Diameter (circular) – 3 to 4 ft

Elevated Beds

• Height – 2 ½ to 3 feet• Width (one side) – 2 feet• Width (two sides) – 4 feet• Diameter (circular) – 4 feet

Elevated Tables• Height – 2 ½ to 3 feet• Width (one side) – 2 feet• Width (two sides) – 4 feet• Diameter (circular) – 4 feet• Multiple heights

Table / Bench options

• Tier benching• Pyramid benching• Use of multiple heights

ConclusionUtilizing ADA guidelines in Greenhouses can•Create independent use•Improve the accessibility•Provide egress in an emergency•Reduce injuries•Increase productivity

Questions?

Kent McGuireThe Ohio State University

Dept. Of Food, Agriculture & Biological Engineering

590 Woody Hayes Drive

Columbus, Ohio 43210-1057

Email: mcguire.225@osu.edu

Phone: 614-292-0588

Fax: 614-292-9448

Thank You• References:

– Americans with Disabilities Act. 1990. Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, as amended: 2008. United States Access Board, Washington, D.C.: Available at http://www.access-board.gov/about/laws/ada.htm. Accessed 4 June, 2012.

– Americans With Disabilities Act. 2010. 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design, Section

– 35.151 of 28 CFR Part 35 (2010).

– Bureau of Labor Statistics. 2007. Fatal Occupational Injuries by Industry and Event or Exposure; All United States, 2007. Available at http://www.bls.gov/iif/oshcfoi1.htm#2007. Accessed 15 October, 2011.

– Blume, J. 2001. Ortho’s All About Greenhouses.Meredith Books, Des Moines. Iowa.

– Department of Justice. 2012. Revised ADA Regulations Implementing Title II and Title III. Available at http://www.ada.gov/regs2010/ADAregs2010.htm. Accessed 14 June 2012.