ADA Locker Compliance: A Step-by-Step Guide

Posted On March 22, 2022March 25, 2023

Do you want to make sure your lockers are compliant with the 2010 ADA Design Standards for Accessible Design? Here’s your review of the required items you need to know about ADA compliance for lockers!

Pro Tip: Be sure to check your local jurisdiction to review the adopted codes for that area to make sure your lockers meet the ADA compliance. Some states like Florida have their own accessibility code. Additionally when reviewing the codes be sure to review all sections referenced in the code. Some chapters and sections will reference others as you will see below.

In accordance with Section 225.2 of the 2010 ADA Standard, for locker rooms with 1 to 200 lockers, at least five percent but no fewer than one must be accessible, and in facilities with more than 201 lockers, ten lockers plus two percent of the total number of units over two hundred must be accessible.

So what does “accessible” mean?

Based on the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design the space must comply with the regulation in section 803 Dressing, fitting and Locker Rooms and section 811 storage. Lets start with section 803 and we will review all sub sections to ensure our lockers are ADA compliant based on the following code sections below.

803 Dressing, Fitting, and Locker Rooms

803.1 General: Dressing, fitting, and locker rooms shall comply with 803.

803.1 General: Partitions and doors should be designed to ensure people using accessible dressing and fitting rooms privacy equivalent to that afforded other users of the facility. Section 903.5 requires dressing room bench seats to be installed so that they are at the same height as a typical wheelchair seat, 17 inches (430 mm) to 19 inches (485 mm). However, wheelchair seats can be lower than dressing room benches for people of short stature or children using wheelchairs, See section 903.5 below.

803.2 Turning Space: Turning space complying with 304 shall be provided within the room.

• 304 Turning Space
  • 304.1 General: Turning space shall comply with 304.
  • 304.2 Floor or Ground Surfaces: Floor or ground surfaces of a turning space shall comply with 302. Changes in level are not permitted.
  • EXCEPTION: Slopes not steeper than 1:48 shall be permitted.
  • 304.3 Size: Turning space shall comply with 304.3.1 or 304.3.2.
  • 304.3.1 Circular Space: The turning space shall be a space of 60 inches (1525 mm) diameter minimum. The space shall be permitted to include knee and toe clearance complying with 306.
  • 304.3.2 T-Shaped Space: The turning space shall be a T-shaped space within a 60 inch (1525 mm) square minimum with arms and base 36 inches (915 mm) wide minimum. Each arm of the T shall be clear of obstructions 12 inches (305 mm) minimum in each direction and the base shall be clear of obstructions 24 inches (610 mm) minimum. The space shall be permitted to include knee and toe clearance complying with 306 only at the end of either the base or one arm.

• 306 Knee and Toe Clearance
  • 306.1 General: Where space beneath an element is included as part of clear floor or ground space or turning space, the space shall comply with 306. Additional space shall not be prohibited beneath an element but shall not be considered as part of the clear floor or ground space or turning space.
    • Advisory 306.1 General. Clearances are measured in relation to the usable clear floor space, not necessarily to the vertical support for an element. When determining clearance under an object for required turning or maneuvering space, care should be taken to ensure the space is clear of any obstructions.
  • 306.2 Toe Clearance:
    • 306.2.1 General. Space under an element between the finish floor or ground and 9 inches (230 mm) above the finish floor or ground shall be considered toe clearance and shall comply with 306.2.
  • 306.2.2 Maximum Depth: Toe clearance shall extend 25 inches (635 mm) maximum under an element.
  • 306.2.3 Minimum Required Depth: Where toe clearance is required at an element as part of a clear floor space, the toe clearance shall extend 17 inches (430 mm) minimum under the element.
  • 306.2.4 Additional Clearance: Space extending greater than 6 inches (150 mm) beyond the available knee clearance at 9 inches (230 mm) above the finish floor or ground shall not be considered toe clearance.
  • 306.2.5 Width: Toe clearance shall be 30 inches (760 mm) wide minimum.

803.3 Door Swing: Doors shall not swing into the room unless a clear floor or ground space complying with 305.3 is provided beyond the arc of the door swing.

• 305.3 Size: The clear floor or ground space shall be 30 inches (760 mm) minimum by 48 inches (1220mm) minimum.

803.4 Benches: A bench complying with 903 shall be provided within the room.

• 903 Benches
  • 903.1 General: Benches shall comply with 903.
  • 903.2 Clear Floor or Ground Space: Clear floor or ground space complying with 305 shall be provided and shall be positioned at the end of the bench seat and parallel to the short axis of the bench.903.3 Size. Benches shall have seats that are 42 inches (1065 mm) long minimum and 20 inches (510 mm) deep minimum and 24 inches (610 mm) deep maximum.
  • 903.4 Back Support: The bench shall provide for back support or shall be affixed to a wall. Back support shall be 42 inches (1065 mm) long minimum and shall extend from a point 2 inches (51 mm) maximum above the seat surface to a point 18 inches (455 mm) minimum above the seat surface. Back support shall be 2½ inches (64 mm) maximum from the rear edge of the seat measured horizontally.
    • Advisory 903.4 Back Support: To assist in transferring to the bench, consider providing grab bars on a wall adjacent to the bench, but not on the seat back. If provided, grab bars cannot obstruct transfer to the bench.
  • 903.5 Height: The top of the bench seat surface shall be 17 inches (430 mm) minimum and 19 inches (485 mm) maximum above the finish floor or ground.
  • 903.6 Structural Strength: Allowable stresses shall not be exceeded for materials used when a vertical or horizontal force of 250 pounds (1112 N) is applied at any point on the seat, fastener, mounting device, or supporting structure.
  • 903.7 Wet Locations: Where installed in wet locations, the surface of the seat shall be slip resistant and shall not accumulate water.

803.5 Coat Hooks and Shelves: Coat hooks provided within the room shall be located within one of the reach ranges specified in 308. Shelves shall be 40 inches (1015 mm) minimum and 48 inches (1220 mm) maximum above the finish floor or ground.

• 308 Reach Ranges
  • 308.1 General: Reach ranges shall comply with 308.
  • 308.2 Forward Reach:
    • 308.2.1 Unobstructed: Where a forward reach is unobstructed, the high forward reach shall be 48 inches (1220 mm) maximum and the low forward reach shall be 15 inches (380 mm) minimum above the finish floor or ground.
    • 308.2.2 Obstructed High Reach: Where a high forward reach is over an obstruction, the clear floor space shall extend beneath the element for a distance not less than the required reach depth over the obstruction. The high forward reach shall be 48 inches (1220 mm) maximum where the reach depth is 20 inches (510 mm) maximum. Where the reach depth exceeds 20 inches (510 mm), the high forward reach shall be 44 inches (1120 mm) maximum and the reach depth shall be 25 inches (635 mm) maximum.
  • 308.3 Side Reach:
    • 308.3.1 Unobstructed: Where a clear floor or ground space allows a parallel approach to an element and the side reach is unobstructed, the high side reach shall be 48 inches (1220 mm) maximum and the low side reach shall be 15 inches (380 mm) minimum above the finish floor or ground.
      • EXCEPTIONS: 1. An obstruction shall be permitted between the clear floor or ground space and the element where the depth of the obstruction is 10 inches (255 mm) maximum. 2. Operable parts of fuel dispensers shall be permitted to be 54 inches (1370 mm) maximum measured from the surface of the vehicular way where fuel dispensers are installed on existing curbs.

811 Storage

811.1 General: Storage shall comply with 811.

811.2 Clear Floor or Ground Space: A clear floor or ground space complying with 305 shall be provided. 305.3 Size: – REFERENCE ABOVE

811.3 Height: Storage elements shall comply with at least one of the reach ranges specified in 308. 308 Reach Ranges – REFERENCE ABOVE

811.4 Operable Parts: Operable parts shall comply with 309.

• 309 Operable Parts
  • 309.1 General: Operable parts shall comply with 309.
  • 309.2 Clear Floor Space: A clear floor or ground space complying with 305 shall be provided.
    • 305 Clear Floor or Ground Space
      • 305.1 General: Clear floor or ground space shall comply with 305.
      • 305.2 Floor or Ground Surfaces: Floor or ground surfaces of a clear floor or ground space shall comply with 302. Changes in level are not permitted.
      • EXCEPTION: Slopes not steeper than 1:48 shall be permitted.
      • 305.3 Size: The clear floor or ground space shall be 30 inches (760 mm) minimum by 48 inches (1220 mm) minimum.
      • 305.4 Knee and Toe Clearance: Unless otherwise specified, clear floor or ground space shall be permitted to include knee and toe clearance complying with 306. 306 Knee and Toe Clearance – REFERENCE ABOVE.
      • 305.5 Position: Unless otherwise specified, clear floor or ground space shall be positioned for either forward or parallel approach to an element.
      • 305.6 Approach: One full unobstructed side of the clear floor or ground space shall adjoin an accessible route or adjoin another clear floor or ground space.
      • 305.7 Maneuvering Clearance: Where a clear floor or ground space is located in an alcove or otherwise confined on all or part of three sides, additional maneuvering clearance shall be provided in accordance with 305.7.1 and 305.7.2.
      • 305.7.1 Forward Approach: Alcoves shall be 36 inches (915 mm)wide minimum where the depth exceeds 24 inches (610 mm).
      • 305.7.2 Parallel Approach: Alcoves shall be 60 inches (1525 mm) wide minimum where the depth exceeds 15 inches (380 mm).

• 309.3 Height: Operable parts shall be placed within one or more of the reach ranges specified in 308. 308 Reach Ranges – REFERENCE ABOVE
• 309.4 Operation: Operable parts shall be operable with one hand and shall not require tight grasping, pinching, or twisting of the wrist. The force required to activate operable parts shall be 5 pounds (22.2 N) maximum.
  • EXCEPTION: Gas pump nozzles shall not be required to provide operable parts that have an activating force of 5 pounds (22.2 N) maximum.

Compiling The Pieces

Now it is time to take all of your code research and check your design to make sure you meet all of the requirements for your locker to be indicated as ADA compliant. Remember that if one part of the design does not comply you will have to change your design again until you meet all of the required code sections. After you have designed a few spaces many of these code references will become second nature and you will be able to make changes in your head as you design.

That’s a Wrap

So as you can see based on the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design many pieces are involved to make sure something as simple as a locker is ADA compliant. Just these two sections 803 Dressing, fitting and Locker Rooms and 811 storage took us to many other referenced sections in the code that provided us with the building blocks to create a locker that will be accessible to anyone.

I hope that you found this information helpful and I hope that it will help you to as you design spaces or renovate existing ones allowing for anyone to enjoy what you have created.

Thanks for joining me and I look forward to seeing you on the next topic here at www.readtheplans.com

Matthew Von Dohre, AIA, sUAS

If you would like to see more from Read The Plan check out our posts about Architecture Documents and Building Systems or Building Blueprints – The Creation and Burden.