DBC Company, Inc. Newsletter
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June 2014
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ADA Standards: All for One and One for All
The state of Michigan is one of the most ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliant
states in the entire country. Because of this, the state tends to generate quite
a large number of ADA-enforcement lawsuits every year. If you own a bus
iness, you
should know if your commercial space (whether owned or rented) meets all legal requirements
for accessibility by disabled people. Unfortunately, you shouldn’t assume that your
property is compliant with building codes, ADA access requirements, or environmental
standards. No matter the age, prestige, or expense of your owned or rented space,
it may not be up to par, and if noticed by the wrong people, can result in a lawsuit.
Buildings that have to comply with accessibility requirements for the disabled include
all public buildings, government facilities and institutions, office buildings,
communal residential buildings, commercial buildings, health facilities, educational
institutes, restaurants, recreational facilities, sports facilities, and religious
buildings. On these types of buildings there are a few items an ADA inspector will
look for, including but not limited to:
-At least one entrance outfitted with a wheelchair ramp (preferably the main entrance
intended for use by the general public)
-Waiting areas, display areas, merchandising departments, service areas, ticket
counters, refreshment stands and coffee shops should all be accessible to wheelchair
users.
-Wheel-chair accessible stall in both gender bathrooms
-Sufficiently sized emergency exits to accommodate wheel-chair users
Perhaps your building was never in compliance and nobody has noticed, or the laws
have become stricter since the property was built and there’s not ‘grandfather’
provision exempting existing structures, that’s where Barrier Free Plus comes in.
Barrier Free Plus, Inc. will consult with you regarding your building’s compliance
and provide suggestions to get you up to code. So don’t wait to find out the hard
way that your building isn’t up to code, and call Barrier Free today to meet with
our ADA qualified Contractors to see where you might need some help.
877-598-9600
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About Barrier Free Plus, Inc.
Barrier Free Plus is a division of DBC Company, Inc., a licensed and insured residential
and commercial building company. Our mission is to provide total commitment to quality
assurance, integrity in building design and customer satisfaction. We are a versatile
company that excels in all facets of building and contracting including barrier
free designs and structures for the handicapped, insurance repairs, remodeling,
and new construction of residential and commercial structures.
DBC Company, Inc./Barrier Free Plus, Inc.
46574 Erb Drive
Macomb, Michigan 48042
877-598-9600
