Accessible Path of Travel Inspections
Is Your City Requiring an Accessible Path of Travel Inspection and Report for Your Construction Project?
This is a common request in California cities and we have performed many path of travel evaluations to comply with city inspector requirements. We will evaluate: the accessible route from a public way, parking, exterior path of travel, Interior path of travel, restrooms, telephones and drinking fountains that serve the area of alteration.
Definition of an ALTERATION - A change, addition or modification in construction, change in occupancy or use, or structural repair to an existing building or facility. Alterations include, but are not limited to, remodeling, renovation, rehabilitation, reconstruction, historic restoration, resurfacing of circulation paths or vehicular ways, changes or rearrangement of the structural parts or elements, and changes or rearrangement in the plan configuration of walls and full-height partitions.
It's pretty straight forward that when you make an alteration to your facility, the area of new construction is required to meet the current State and Federal standards. What many people don't know is that when you make an alteration, you are also required to remove barriers to accessibility on the path of travel to that area of alteration. If the overall construction costs are below the valuation threshold ($186,172.00), the city will require you to allocate an additional 20% of the overall construction costs toward path of travel upgrades. If the alteration exceeds the valuation threshold, the city will determine the amount required for barrier removal.
EXAMPLE:
Lets say you are remodeling your lobby and the construction costs are $100,000. In this scenario, you have a public entrance, parking lot, and restroom that serves the lobby. If there are any barriers to accessibility in any of those areas serving that lobby (area of alteration), you will be required to spend $20,000 on path of travel upgrades.
HOW WILL THIS AFFECT ME?
This requirement affects both tenants and property owners that are altering their facilities. A tenant improvement on the 5th floor can trigger barrier removal all the way in the parking lot. California cities are really enforcing this requirement and often refusing to sign off on final construction until the facility has been surveyed by a CASp. For this reason, we recommend hiring a CASp prior to construction so that you can create a plan and budget for barrier removal. For more information, please call 619-736-8585.