Accessibility Consulting
Approach
With buildings, both new and existing, being subject to a variety of accessibility requirements, the Safranek Group provides expert accessibility consulting to clients regarding compliance with accessibility provisions. These provisions include ones enforced by municipalities and states as part of their adopted building code. The most common of these building codes are the International Building Code (IBC) and the California Building Code (CBC). In addition to the accessibility requirements found in building codes, often there are additional Federal Statutes for accessibility, such as the Fair Housing Act (FHA) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
For these Federal Statues and any other accessibility requirements, the Safranek Group specializes in assisting clients with determining how to best comply with the applicable regulations. For accessibility consulting, we act as a neutral entity. In this role, we work closely with clients to assist them by seeking compliance with regulatory obligations while also utilizing a risk management approach. This risk management approach provides clients with information, based upon our knowledge of specific, critical, accessibility issues. These distinct issues are ones that commonly appear in accessibility complaints, particularly FHA and ADA complaints. The Safranek Group augments its awareness of these items by using a custom database. It contains information derived from publicly available consent decrees between the United States Department of Justice and plaintiffs. With insight from these sources, we offer clients the opportunity to make informed decisions regarding their risk for issues related to accessibility compliance.
Experience
Innovation
- Paperless drawing reviews; the expense of printing and shipping drawings for reviews is eliminated by using optimized computer software and computer equipment. Direct and timely collaboration is enhanced.
- Flexible report formats including marked up PDF drawings; rather than a one size fits all approach, reports and their corresponding fees can be custom tailored to reflect the amount of information desired by a client. This includes opportunities to forgo written reports altogether and utilize marked up PDF drawings or to eliminate information from report spreadsheets.
- Paperless construction observation reviews; the time and expense of accessibility reviews, on site during the construction phase are greatly reduced by using RediReport™ customized electronic forms that can be emailed directly from the field. Use of simple, text and graphics on the forms, aids its users in quickly assessing compliance with accessibility requirements.
- Custom tools to facilitate field work: to quickly verify accessibility requirements and gather information in the field, the Safranek Group has designed and fabricated multiple, patent pending, custom devices;
- TurnIT™, a Compact Turning Circle Measurement Device (2″ h. x 1″ w. x 10″ l., 8 oz.)
- KaTclear™, a Compact Universal Knee and Toe Clearance Measuring Template (1″ h. x 2″ w. x 21″ l., 14 oz.)
- SwingLevel™, a Suspension System for Stabila Digital Levels
- SwingBoard™, a Hands-Free Suspension System for Clipboards
Accessibility Consulting Expertise
STATE and MUNICIPAL
Accessibility Requirements
- International Building Code (IBC)
- International Existing Building Code (IEBC)
- Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities Standard (ICC / ANSI A117.1)
- California Building Code (CBC)
- California Historic Building Code (CHBC)
- Historic Building Requirements
- State and Municipal (Local) Amendments to the IBC and the CBC
- Texas Accessibility Standards (TAS)
CERTIFICATIONS
International Code Council (ICC)
- Accessibility Inspector / Plans Examiner
State of California, Division of State Architect
- Certified Access Specialist program (CASp)
State of Texas, Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation
- Registered Accessibility Specialist (RAS)
FEDERAL
Accessibility Requirements
- Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA); Titles II and III
- Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) “Safe Harbor” Provisions
- Architectural Barriers Act (ABA)
- Fair Housing Act (FHA)
- Fair Housing Act (FHA) “Safe Harbors”
- Fair Housing Accessibility Guidelines (“The Guidelines”)
- Site Analysis Test as required by FHA to determine site impracticality
- Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards (UFAS)
- Section 504 of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act
Accessibility Consulting Services
- General Accessibility Consulting
- Paperless Drawing Reviews for compliance with applicable accessibility requirements
- On-Site Construction Observation Reviews (including use of electronic RediReport™ forms)
- Accessible Means of Egress Analysis (as required by Building Codes and ADA)
- ADA and FHA surveys for Due Diligence associated with property acquisition and/or financing
- ADA and FHA surveys for property assessment and risk management
- Fair Housing Act Design Manual Site Analysis Tests
- Section 504 Compliance Review for Projects Receiving Federal Assistance
- Accessibility Assessments as part of ASTM E2018 Property Condition Assessments
- Product and Submittal Reviews
- Litigation Support
- Training and Seminars