| Fire Stations |
A fire station is an interesting "work area" scenario because the people who work there are expected to be able bodied. Therefore, in Texas they created an exception for the common areas that are only used by a fire fighter.
68.104. Elements, Spaces and Accessible Routes at Fire Stations.
At fire stations, common use spaces and elements accessed exclusively by fire-fighting personnel or other emergency responders are only required to be adaptable. Additionally, at multi-level fire stations, levels accessed exclusively by fire-fighting personnel are not required to be served by an accessible route. Public spaces and elements within these facilities must comply with all applicable technical standards.
Areas such as their dorms, their restrooms, even their kitchen (depending on who is using it) would be exempted from complying, but must be made adaptable. Adaptable means that the space is designed and constructed in a way that if in the future it necesitates for it to be accessible, it can be modified into an accessible space without too much trouble.
Areas that are used by other fire station employees (dispatchers, cooks etc.) that are not fire fighters are not exempted and their common areas must be made accessible.
A fire station must designate those areas on the drawings and in writing so it will become part of the record file.
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| Inspector's Corner: Exceptions |
For the most part, an employee work area (areas where that are part of their job description) are exempted from being accessible except for the ability to approach, enter and exit the space
4.1.1(3)* Areas Used Only by Employees as Work Areas.
"Areas that are used only as work areas shall be designed and constructed so that individuals with disabilities can approach, enter, and exit the areas. These standards do not require that any areas used only as work areas be constructed to permit maneuvering within the work area or be constructed or equipped (i.e., with racks or shelves) to be accessible."
In an inspection of a plasma center, the facility had lab coat storage which was provided for the employees. Storage is typically required to be at a reach range (either 54" or 48") depending on the approach. If the storage closet is only used to store a uniform that will be placed over clothing, then it does not have to be on a specific reach range.
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