ADA Knee and Toe Clearance Requirements for Businesses
What is Knee and Toe Clearance?
ADA knee and toe clearance requirements refers to the space provided under table and other accessible elements that wheelchair users or people with disabilities use. In a public space, it is extremely important to provide proper clearance so your business is accessible and everyone can utilize it equally.
Toe Clearance Requirements
General (306.2.1)
Toe clearance refers to the open space beneath an accessible element, such as a dining table, that extends at least 9 inches above the finished floor.
Maximum Toe Depth (306.2.2)
According to the ADA, toe clearance must extend 25 inches maximum under an element.
Minimum Required Depth (306.2.3)
When toe clearance is required, it must extend 17 inches minimum under the element.
Additional Toe Clearance (306.2.4)
When space extends greater than 6 inches beyond the current knee clearance of 9 inches, the space shall not be considered toe clearance.
Width of Clearance (306.2.5)
Proper ADA toe width clearance is 30 inches.
Knee Clearance Requirements
General (306.3.1)
Knee space refers to the clear area under an accessible element such as a transaction table, that extends from 9 inches above the finished floor up to 27 inches.
Maximum Knee Depth (306.3.2)
The proper knee clearance depth according to the ADA is 25 inches maximum under an element at 9 inches above the ground or floor surface.
Minimum Required Depth (306.3.3)
As shown in the photo, Knee clearances must be 11 inches deep minimum at 9 inches above the finish ground or floor, and 8 inches deep minimum at 27 inches above the finish ground or floor.
Knee Clearance Reduction (306.3.4)
Within the 9 inches to 27 inches that is the knee clearance, the space is permitted to be reduced at a rate of 1 inches in depth for every 6 inches in height.
Width of Space (306.3.5)
Within the clearance knee space shall be 30 inches minimum.
What is Knee and Toe Clearance?
Public spaces and businesses must be accessible to who they serve according to the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act). When businesses are not compliant with ADA knee and toe clearance requirements, they are often slammed with lawsuits and complaints by customers and their enforcing jurisdiction. If you manage a property, own a business or use a website to conduct business, you could be at risk of lawsuits and costly settlements. It is recommended to have your property evaluated by an ADA inspector to understand your properties inaccessibility, and create a plan to work towards better accessibility. Hiring a company like ADA Access Consultants can prevent lawsuits and ensure you can offer services to all your customers.
How Clearance Requirements are Applied
ADA clearance requirements are applied in various ways and are optimized for people in mobility devices and wheelchairs. The most common violation and complaint we see are dining room tables that do not offer clear floor space. But there is no limit to the application of ADA knee and toe clearance requirements. An important part of knee and toe clearance is the bathroom sink clearance. Public spaces like computer labs, folding stations at laundromats, bathroom sinks, check writing tables in banks, and so many more scenarios require adherence to ADA knee and toe requirements. Understanding and applying the corrections to these laws can prevent a lawsuit and costly fines.
Fixing Knee and Toe Clearance Violations
Meeting ADA knee and toe clearance requirements may seem difficult at first but it’s simple when you hire a professional ADA inspection company. We’ll inspect your property for proper ADA knee and toe clearance requirements and provide a detailed report so you understand what is wrong and what needs to be fixed. After making adjustments to your property, you are less likely to be affected by a costly lawsuit or complaint that could affect your business. Protect your company and ensure the highest level of access by hiring an ADA consultation company like us!
