Hi, I would like to move a bathroom door (plus surrounding wall) about 5" towards the inside of the room (dry over wet?). I was told by an architect that I would need to make the whole bathroom wheelchair accessible (needs gut renovation) if I move the door. Is this really true? I have read that this will happen if you replace the fixtures, but does "fixtures" include bathroom doors too? A shower... [more]
Hi,
I would like to move a bathroom door (plus surrounding wall) about 5" towards the inside of the room (dry over wet?). I was told by an architect that I would need to make the whole bathroom wheelchair accessible (needs gut renovation) if I move the door. Is this really true? I have read that this will happen if you replace the fixtures, but does "fixtures" include bathroom doors too?
A shower head is coming out from the same wall (on the left side of the door), but I don't need to move that part of the wall. I just want to move the right half of the wall (plus the door) inwards to the room, so that I can fit a new door in the hallway that goes into the bedroom.
Moving the bedroom door will allow space to build a wall-to-wall closet in the bedroom. I was told that if I move the bedroom door (currently 30"), I have to replace the door to one that is 34" wide, which is why I need to move the bathroom door. Is it really true that I need to have a wider door for the bedroom if I move it?
Many thanks
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Response by NYCMatt
almost 13 years ago
Posts: 7523
Member since: May 2009
Answer: Probably yes.
Solution: Be a renegade and do it anyway. It's highly doubtful that the ADA Police will conduct a raid and arrest you.
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Response by ph41
almost 13 years ago
Posts: 3390
Member since: Feb 2008
if your renovations are being filed, (which means there would be city inspections)then you will have to comply.
We moved the location of a closet door which was originally outside of the bedroom to within the bedroom. The new closet door had to be ADA compliant, despite the fact the bedroom door remained at 30", so could not accommodate wheelchair access. Insane, but true.
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Response by NYCMatt
almost 13 years ago
Posts: 7523
Member since: May 2009
Even more insane is insisting on wheelchair compliance renovations for WALK UP buildings.
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Response by pistachio
almost 13 years ago
Posts: 16
Member since: Feb 2010
That's so bizzarre!
So it's all true... hard to believe...
thanks
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Response by ds0420
almost 13 years ago
Posts: 1
Member since: Jul 2011
ph41,
in what case, the reno has to be filed in the DOB? thanks.
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Response by greensdale
almost 13 years ago
Posts: 3804
Member since: Sep 2012
Matt, you seem to have a strong opinion of ADA Police. So to clarify, are these NYC ADA Police, or C0lumbia C0unty ADA Police?
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Response by Teenyteacup725
almost 13 years ago
Posts: 43
Member since: Jun 2012
If I not mistaken even if you have multiple bathrooms they all have to be compliant.
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Response by alanhart
almost 13 years ago
Posts: 12397
Member since: Feb 2007
I hate dentists and all their rules.
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Response by downtown1234
almost 13 years ago
Posts: 349
Member since: Nov 2007
The ADA is a silly piece of legislation. There is absolutely no reason why 100% of buildings need to be ADA compliant when such a very small portion of the public is handicapped. Such a waste of money.
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Response by uptown_joe
almost 13 years ago
Posts: 293
Member since: Dec 2011
I am more sympathetic to these requirements than most posters -- I think because I don't like the inverse idea, which is that everybody gets to decide they don't care because it's too hard, too inconvenient, too costly, the walk-up building will "never" get a lift, the bedroom door will "never" be widened, etc. -- you just do what you want in the short term and disregard others and the long view.
That ends up screwing over the disabled, who of course haven't chosen to need ADA-compliant facilities, and who already face a vast number of 'grandfathered' inaccessible environments.
The idea that the handicapped are a small portion of the population doesn't sway me either -- that's built into the regulations where it's feasible (parking spaces, restroom stalls, hotel rooms), but in many contexts it's not -- including and perhaps especially residential settings.
The rule we have is relatively straightforward, and remember that it applies in lots of other building code contexts. You rarely have any obligation until you renovate, but when you renovate you must build to current standards -- ADA, electrical, plumbing, and so on. This can produce incongruous or paradoxical requirements in the context of small modifications -- but the principle and policy is the best one available.
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Response by alanhart
almost 13 years ago
Posts: 12397
Member since: Feb 2007
We can all fall off our barstools and, at least temporarily, need the accommodations that ADA mandates. We're all at risk of getting extremely old (I'm reminded here of a certain tactless talentless clientless publicist pretender).
Nonetheless, ADA is extreme overkill and needs extreme moderation.
Answer: Probably yes.
Solution: Be a renegade and do it anyway. It's highly doubtful that the ADA Police will conduct a raid and arrest you.
if your renovations are being filed, (which means there would be city inspections)then you will have to comply.
We moved the location of a closet door which was originally outside of the bedroom to within the bedroom. The new closet door had to be ADA compliant, despite the fact the bedroom door remained at 30", so could not accommodate wheelchair access. Insane, but true.
Even more insane is insisting on wheelchair compliance renovations for WALK UP buildings.
That's so bizzarre!
So it's all true... hard to believe...
thanks
ph41,
in what case, the reno has to be filed in the DOB? thanks.
Matt, you seem to have a strong opinion of ADA Police. So to clarify, are these NYC ADA Police, or C0lumbia C0unty ADA Police?
If I not mistaken even if you have multiple bathrooms they all have to be compliant.
I hate dentists and all their rules.
The ADA is a silly piece of legislation. There is absolutely no reason why 100% of buildings need to be ADA compliant when such a very small portion of the public is handicapped. Such a waste of money.
I am more sympathetic to these requirements than most posters -- I think because I don't like the inverse idea, which is that everybody gets to decide they don't care because it's too hard, too inconvenient, too costly, the walk-up building will "never" get a lift, the bedroom door will "never" be widened, etc. -- you just do what you want in the short term and disregard others and the long view.
That ends up screwing over the disabled, who of course haven't chosen to need ADA-compliant facilities, and who already face a vast number of 'grandfathered' inaccessible environments.
The idea that the handicapped are a small portion of the population doesn't sway me either -- that's built into the regulations where it's feasible (parking spaces, restroom stalls, hotel rooms), but in many contexts it's not -- including and perhaps especially residential settings.
The rule we have is relatively straightforward, and remember that it applies in lots of other building code contexts. You rarely have any obligation until you renovate, but when you renovate you must build to current standards -- ADA, electrical, plumbing, and so on. This can produce incongruous or paradoxical requirements in the context of small modifications -- but the principle and policy is the best one available.
We can all fall off our barstools and, at least temporarily, need the accommodations that ADA mandates. We're all at risk of getting extremely old (I'm reminded here of a certain tactless talentless clientless publicist pretender).
Nonetheless, ADA is extreme overkill and needs extreme moderation.