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An Act

SENATE BILL 98­087


BY SENATORS Hopper, Hernandez, Linkhart, Martinez, Pascoe, Phillips, Reeves, Rupert, Tanner, Weddig, and Wham;

also REPRESENTATIVE Epps.

CONCERNING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE MOST CURRENT VERSION OF THE "AMERICAN NATIONAL STANDARD FOR BUILDINGS AND FACILITIES PROVIDING ACCESSIBILITY AND USABILITY FOR PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED PEOPLE" AS THE CRITERIA FOR STRUCTURAL REQUIREMENTS FOR BUILDINGS.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:

SECTION 1.  9­5­104, Colorado Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

9­5­104.  Design criteria. (1) The following design criteria shall be applicable:

(a)  The collapsible­model wheel chair of tubular metal construction with plastic upholstery for back and seat is most commonly used. The standard model of all manufacturers falls within the following limits, which are used as the basis of consideration:

(I)  Length, forty­two inches;

(II)  Width when open, twenty­five inches;

(III)  Height of seat from floor, nineteen and one­half inches;

(IV)  Height of armrest from floor, twenty­nine inches;

(V)  Height of pusher handles (rear) from floor, thirty­six inches;

(VI)  Width when collapsed, eleven inches.

(b)  The fixed turning radius of a standard wheel chair, wheel to wheel, is eighteen inches. The fixed turning radius, front structure to rear structure, is thirty­one and one­half inches;

(c)  The average turning space required when turning either one hundred eighty or three hundred sixty degrees is sixty by sixty inches;

(d)  A minimum width of sixty inches is required for two individuals in wheel chairs to pass each other;

(e)  In a wheel chair the average unilateral vertical reach is sixty inches and ranges from fifty­four inches to seventy­eight inches;

(f)  The average horizontal working (table) reach is thirty and eight­tenths inches and ranges from twenty­eight and one­half inches to thirty­three and two­tenths inches;

(g)  The bilateral horizontal reach, both arms extended to each side, shoulder high, ranges from fifty­four inches to seventy­one inches and averages sixty­four and one­half inches;

(h)  An individual reaching diagonally, as would be required in using a wall­mounted dial telephone or towel dispenser, would make the average reach on the wall, forty­eight inches from the floor;

(i)  Most individuals ambulating on braces or crutches, or both, or on canes, are able to manipulate within the specifications prescribed for wheel chairs; although doors present quite a problem at times. However, a crutch tip extending laterally from an individual is not obvious to others in heavily trafficked areas and not as obvious or protective as a wheel chair and is, therefore, a source of vulnerability;

(j)  On the average, individuals five feet six inches tall require an average of thirty­one inches between crutch tips in the normally accepted gaits;

(k)  On the average, individuals six feet tall require an average of thirty­two and one­half inches between crutch tips in the normally accepted gaits. DESIGN CRITERIA SHALL COMPLY WITH THE MOST CURRENT VERSION OF THE "AMERICAN NATIONAL STANDARD FOR BUILDINGS AND FACILITIES PROVIDING ACCESSIBILITY AND USABILITY FOR PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED PEOPLE", PROMULGATED BY THE AMERICAN NATIONAL STANDARD INSTITUTE, COMMONLY CITED AS "ANSI A117.1".

SECTION 2.  9­5­112, Colorado Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

9­5­112.  Residential building project requirement.  Before any construction of a residential building project may be started, which project includes seven or more residential units, a contract shall be entered into with the governing body of the municipality, city, town, county, or city and county where said project is to be located. Said contract shall guarantee to the governing body that the specific number of residential units for persons with disabilities, as provided in section 9­5­111, shall be constructed in such a manner as to be easily accessible and adaptable for persons with disabilities and shall require the builder of such project to certify that said accessible and adaptable units will substantially comply with the standards promulgated by the American National Standard Institute, pamphlet number A117.1­1980 MOST CURRENT VERSION OF THE "AMERICAN NATIONAL STANDARD FOR BUILDINGS AND FACILITIES PROVIDING ACCESSIBILITY AND USABILITY FOR PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED PEOPLE", PROMULGATED BY THE AMERICAN NATIONAL STANDARD INSTITUTE, COMMONLY CITED AS "ANSI A117.1".

SECTION 3.  Repeal. 9­5­105, 9­5­106, 9­5­107, 9­5­108, and 9­5­109, Colorado Revised Statutes, are repealed.

SECTION 4.  Safety clause. The general assembly hereby finds, determines, and declares that this act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety.



____________________________ ____________________________

Tom Norton Charles E. Berry

PRESIDENT OF SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE

THE SENATE OF REPRESENTATIVES





____________________________ ____________________________

Patricia K. Dicks Judith M. Rodrigue

ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF CHIEF CLERK OF THE HOUSE

THE SENATE OF REPRESENTATIVES



APPROVED________________________________________




_________________________________________

Roy Romer

GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF COLORADO


Created: 4/15/98 Updated: 4/15/98