Fair Housing Act
The Fair Housing Act Guidelines are set in place by HUD in 1991. Many multifamily developments are actively gaining compliancy through these standards when building or rehabbing properties to retain accessibility for all. As an urban closet manufacturer, we remain up to date with the latest guidelines and standards, and can help any architect remain in fulfillment of these standards for their building. Accessibility requirements for New Multifamily buildings have to do with buildings with four or more units that we first occupied after March 13, 1991 and that have an elevator. If your building meets these requirements then the following must occur:
Public and common use areas must be accessible to persons with disabilities
All doors and hallways must be wide enough for wheelchairs
All units must have:
An accessible route into and through the unit
Accessible light switches, electrical outlets, thermostats and other environmental controls
Reinforced bathroom walls to allow later installation of grab bars
Kitchens and bathrooms that can be used by people in wheelchairs
If the building with 4 or more units with an elevator was occupied before March 13, 1991, then these standards apply to ground units only.
ADA Guidelines
ADA sets certain standards for making certain those with physical handicaps are able to function in society without facing insurmountable barriers. The part of ADA that pertains to closet access establishes the minimum clear-span opening for each closet category-ex. reach in or walk-in- and limits heights of thresholds so as to make these closets readily accessible to the handicapped.
Magiglide bifold closet doors do not require any floor track to impede occupants with walkers, canes or wheelchairs. Magiglide doors are ADA compliant just as delivered provided the openings are of a minimum width. For the severly handicapped, a barrier free, D-style aluminum pull (5”c/l) is optional.
The closet widths illustrated in the next table are the minimum width between jambs. Because each Magiglide bifold section reduces clear-span by six inches when fully open, the closet opening must be oversized to result in ADA compliance. Pivot doors reduce the clearance by 2.25 inches; however, they project further into rooms than bifolds so they may be less desirable for handicapped units.
