Getting a drink or filling a water bottle is something many of us appreciate on a hot day. This includes those of us who navigate the world in wheelchairs or other means of mobility assistance. Like all other American with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance codes, there are standards that apply to the installation of drinking fountains. A few basic space requirements provide easier accessibility to safely get a drink or fill a water bottle at a public drinking fountain. This means that building designs need to provide adequate space for easy access and movement in three dimensions.
In making sure building elements are accessible for all people, designing the space around a drinking fountain is an important part of the planning. Adequate floor space is necessary for guiding a wheelchair around things like wall mounted drinking fountains. According to ADA standards, clear floor space of a minimum of thirty inches from the front edge of the unit and twenty four inches on either side facing the center line of the unit, forty-eight inches, is required for easy access to a drinking fountain. This is an important part of the two dimensional design of the floor space.
Wheelchair accessibility needs to be clear and unobstructed so that the drinking fountain can be accessed without bumping in to something or getting stuck in a space that is too small. Easy and clear access are the key!
The two-dimensional plan must also include the third dimension, height. It may seem obvious, but someone in a seated position may not be able to access a drinking fountain spout installed at the standard height of thirty-eight to forty-three inches. Instead, according to ADA guidelines, an accessible drinking fountain must be installed so that the spout is no more than thirty-six inches from the floor.
One point to remember is that this dimension is given from the finished floor. That means during rough in and finished installation, the thickness of the floor finish must be considered. Be sure to figure in the thickness of tile, vinyl floor covering, finished concrete, or other flooring material when measuring for the installed height of the spout.
The other part of accessibility in three dimensional design is depth for knee space. Width and depth of clear space in the floor space are needed in space planning. But barrier-free design must also include the depth needed for someone seated in a wheelchair to fit their knees under the unit, something a standing person would not need to consider. The clear space under the drinking fountain must be a minimum of twenty-seven inches from the floor to the bottom of the apron of the unit. An eight inch minimum depth of clear space under the drinking fountain allows a person using a wheelchair to pull up to the unit and easily access the spout from a seated position.
Depth of the drinking fountain and other clearance standards allow for equal access for those who use on a wheelchair.
Personal independence is important for mental health, well-being, and self-esteem for all of us. Following the ADA standards of design ensures that those who use wheelchairs or other devices for mobility have easy access in public spaces. This includes being able to get a quick drink or fill a water bottle without having to ask for assistance.