BOMA Position
BOMA International continues to work to ensure that new regulations, codes and standards provide increased consistency in accessibility requirements, offer more reasonable and clearer technical requirements, and lead to more consistent interpretation, application and enforcement.
Background
Recognized as the industry leader on accessibility since 1991, BOMA International has provided extensive input in key forums where new accessibility provisions are written. BOMA serves on the ANSI A117.1 Committee that develops the standard that is the basis of many state and local accessibility regulations. Additionally, from 1994-96, BOMA served on the Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG) Review Advisory Committee, a federal group formed by the U. S. Access Board to develop recommendations for the pending revision of the ADAAG.
BOMA’s work on the ANSI/ICC A117.1-1998 Standard has been incorporated by reference into the 2000 and 2003 International Building Code (IBC) and other International Code Council (ICC) codes. The IBC now includes provisions that are consistent with the most recently published ADAAG. BOMA has also published the Guide to ADA and Accessibility Regulations – Complying with Federal Rules and Model Building Code Requirements to assist real estate professionals and the design community in understanding the accessibility provisions in the IBC compared to the current federal ADA law and ADAAG.
In November of 1999, the Access Board offered notice that it would revise the buildings and facilities guidelines covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) and the Architectural Barriers Act of 1968 (ABA). Over 2,500 public comments were received and the Board held several public hearings where other comments were heard. The Access Board published the guidelines in final form in July of 2004, and other federal agencies responsible for ADA and ABA enforcement standards must now modify those enforcement standards. Expect the final revised federal guidelines in late 2007.
Action Requested
BOMA members should be prepared to expedite adoption of the new ADAAG once finalized. At the state and local level, BOMA members should monitor legislative and regulatory activity to ensure that changes to state or local accessibility requirements incorporate the new “state-of-the-art” documents. In particular, BOMA members should support the adoption of the International Codes, specifically the IBC.