One in four adults in the United States has a disability. That’s 61 million people, more than twice the population of the state of Texas. That’s also 61 million people whose business you could lose if you don’t comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
If your mobile office isn’t ADA-compliant, you are likely in violation of the 1990 ADA law, not to mention alienating a large portion of the population. To avoid the risk of a lawsuit and stay on everyone’s good side, make sure your office is accessible to all. To ensure you’re serving each visitor to your mobile office, follow this guide.
Mobile Office ADA Requirements
If your mobile office is open to the public as a business, school or construction site, it needs to be ADA-compliant. The ADA’s Standards for Accessible Design set minimum requirements “for newly designed and constructed or altered state and local government facilities, public accommodations and commercial facilities to be readily accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities.”
The following list includes some of the requirements you’ll need to meet before you can safely open your mobile office to the public. For a thorough checklist and to ensure you’re compliant, review the Standards for Accessible Design or consult your legal team.
1. Entrances
Your mobile office needs to be accessible by anyone with a wheelchair or a scooter. So it’s important that stairs aren’t the only point of entry. If you have multiple entrances to your mobile office, not all have to be accessible. However, you need clear signage to guide the way to the nearest accessible entry. To update your entry to accommodate people with disabilities, you’ll need:
● A ramp with a shallow slope or a lift
● A door with enough maneuvering clearance
● A handle that can be opened with one hand
2. Restrooms
If your mobile office restroom is open to the public, it needs to be ADA-compliant. To update your restroom to be ADA-compliant, you may require:
● Enough space to accommodate turning in a wheelchair or scooter
● Side wall grab bars
● Proper sink height (maximum of 34 inches high)
3. Inside the Office
Inside the office, you’ll need safe routes for a wheelchair or scooter. Double check that you have the following items available:
● Low profile protectors to cover any floor cords
● Enough width for a wheelchair or scooter at all times (minimum 36 inches)
● Handrails where needed
Cost of Compliance vs. A Potential Lawsuit
Sometimes an ADA-compliant mobile office comes with added costs. However, those costs are negligible in the long term when you consider potential lost business or the consequences of an ADA-related lawsuit.
Choose a Supplier that Ensures Your Mobile Office is ADA-Compliant
You could read through the 326-page ADA regulations to understand which apply to your specific use of a mobile office or let us do the work for you. WillScot has more than a half-century of knowledge in compliance and completed all the research for you.
With a single phone call, you’ll be able to get all the accessories, furnishings, and appliances required for your mobile office – including a range of ADA-compliant solutions. To see how we can help, reach out to a representative today.