Bathroom Renovation - Accessibility Requirements
Does LL58/87 (physical disabilities accessibility) apply to a bathroom conversion in a 4-unit walk-up building? There are no units on the ground floor, the first apartment is above grade. We would like to legally convert a storage room into a bathroom without moving any walls, the existing spaces are too small to be ADA compliant….
Does LL58/87 (physical disabilities accessibility) apply to a bathroom conversion in a 4-unit walk-up building? There are no units on the ground floor, the first apartment is above grade. We would like to legally convert a storage room into a bathroom without moving any walls, the existing spaces are too small to be ADA compliant. Thanks.
It is in general a complex issue but in a non-elevator building you have a good chance of getting away with it.
If the unit is an existing non handicap unit not located on the first floor then you will have no need to go down to MOPD and you will get an aproval as is. If there are no residences and you are changing the use then you will need to provide handicap for the first floor only so in non-elevator you will get away with it as is.
If you will be doing under 2008 code then you are the moron so I don’t think that is relevant at all.
There may be some other issues when section 292 applies but in general it will not be relevant.
The presentation is also not relevant to old buildings unless you do alteration under 2008 code.
Thanks everyone. Your comments are helpful. Clearly its a complex topic!
http://www.nyc.gov/html/dob/downloads/pdf/accessibility_presentation.pdf
Please see this link. This is a DOB presentation made to NYC AIA. This should set the record straight.
I believe the new (model) code has this taken into consideration. If you make the 2nd floor units ADA compliant (or adaptable- not sure which) then your upper units can have non-compliant bathrooms. only because it is a walk-up with no elevator.
http://www.nyc.gov/html/dob/download/pdf/cc_chapter11_sbs.pdf
Unfortunatly, yes. When I first started working in NYC, I went down to DOB for the same type of issue and DOB just does not care to see common sense. You meet the letter of the law or do not do it. They do not care if there is no way for a h/c person to get to the apt. They worry about people ageing in place and so you have the law. You can file with the Mayor’s Office to not require complance. Never had anyone want to bother, so I have never done it. I was told years ago by DOB that even if it gets turned down, then DOB has the ability to then approve it. You might stand a chance if there is one bathroom that complies, but the way the law is any new bathroom or major change would need to comply.
Jock deBoer, AIA
deBoer Architects