In today’s world, creating spaces that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also accessible to everyone is of utmost importance. Since the early 1990s our public buildings have worked to make reasonable accommodations for people with physical disabilities.
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a civil rights law that ensures people with disabilities have the same opportunities and access as everyone else. The ADA was signed into law in 1990 by President George H.W. Bush.
The act consists of guidelines for everything from how much space there should be in a handicap bathroom stall to how high a light switch can be.
This act also includes several aspects that touch directly on our lighting industry.
What is ADA Lighting?
ADA lighting refers to the guidelines and standards set forth by the Americans with Disabilities Act concerning the illumination of spaces to ensure they are accessible to individuals with disabilities.
Based on studies from the CDC, 26% of American adults are living with a disability of some sort — approximately 14% with mobility issues, seven percent with a disability that prevents them from living independently, and five percent with a vision impairment — making sure public areas accommodate all individuals is crucial.
ADA lighting standards make it easier for visually impaired adults and children move around the world, but they also apply to individuals with mobility issues, including those who use wheelchairs or crutches. They take into consideration how much a fixture sticks out from a wall and how far off the ground each light source and switch must be. These standards also tackle issues faced by people who have cognitive or dexterity issues or trouble with fine motor skills — regardless of whether their condition is temporary or permanent.
And these requirements are nothing to ignore. Businesses found to be in violation of these requirements can face expensive fines as well as damage to their reputation.
ADA REQUIREMENTS FOR WALL SCONCES AND WALL PACKS
The ADA includes specific regulations regarding how far objects can protrude from walls or columns of a building and how high they should be mounted. They have these for specific reasons. For example, individuals with a visual impairment, especially those who use a cane, tend to travel close to walls, so ADA-compliant wall sconces and wall packs need to protrude only so far so that they don’t interfere with anyone who walks by or passes through in a mobility device, such as a wheelchair.
ADA sconce projection, or depth, refers to how much the fixture is allowed to stick out from a wall, partition, or column. This sconce projection is also guided by what is called the cane sweep area. Up to 27 inches off the ground is considered the “cane sweep,” referring to the space needed for a person who is visually impaired to detect what’s ahead with their cane. Anything that protrudes in the cane sweep area has no limitations for how far it projects outward because the cane will collide with it to alert the person of the obstacle, and anyone without vision impairments should be able to clearly see it.
Similarly, any fixtures located in the topmost part of a room — which is 80 inches and above — have no restrictions since they are well above adequate headroom and pose no threat of injury.
However, most lighting sconces and wall packs will not be fixed close to the ground or way above guests’ heads. Most likely, your lighting sconces will be between 27 and 80 inches above the finished floor. Any fixtures protruding between 27 and 80 inches from the ground do have a restriction: they cannot protrude more than 4 inches from the wall, column or partition.
The ADA regulations regarding protruding objects apply to sconces and wall packs in any location, including hallways and corridors as well as hotel rooms and lobbies. As mentioned, these regulations are in place to prevent guests being injured by bumping into protruding objects.
If the sconce lighting you’re considering to install protrudes more than 4 inches, you’ll want to place it 80 inches or higher from the finished ground so that it meets ADA guidelines by surpassing the minimum headroom clearance, thus not being in a space where someone could bump their head. Depending on the type of wall light you chose, it can also be placed near the ground as long as it isn’t attached higher than 27 inches.
ADA REQUIREMENTS FOR TABLE LAMPS, READING LAMPS AND FLOOR LAMPS
The ADA also has specific lighting requirements for table lamps and reading lamps.
These include accessibility to the fixtures and their switches. It also includes requirements that these can be turned on and off with a single hand without the need to twist the wrist.
Likewise, floor lamps must meet certain height and accessibility requirements.
To find out the details on all ADA Building Compliance regulations go to: https://www.access-board.gov/files/ada/adaag-2002.pdf
As we continue to advocate for inclusivity in our communities, understanding and implementing ADA lighting principles will play a pivotal role in making our world a more welcoming place for everyone. Whether you’re a designer, business owner, or simply someone interested in accessibility, embracing ADA lighting can lead to significant improvements in both safety and user experience.
