The ADA Law applies to parking booths with regard to Title I, Fairness In Employment. Many operators have found that disabled persons make excellent cashiers.
When designing/specifying a barrier free cashier booth (accessible for people with disabilities), you need to take into consideration the avenue of approach to the booth. If you have sufficient clearance behind the booth, a swing door located in the rear is a good choice (see drawing of PAR-KUT Model 75HC). If there is other equipment in the way, or if you cannot make the island wide enough, a side access is required. To accommodate side access, you can: Eliminate the standard 4″ base from the booth altogether, design a depressed area for the booth to set down into, or provide a curb cut or a ramp to the door.
The object of eliminating/reducing the 4″ base or depressing the booth entirely is to arrive at a minimum threshold height. Threshold heights should not exceed 1/2″. If the structural base is eliminated, we suggest keeping the 12 gauge galvanized steel tread plate floor for stability and strength. Another main point in the barrier free work environment is a 60″ clear turn- around space within the booth. Also, light switches and temperature controls should be conveniently located (no more than 54″ AFF).
Side access: A 4′ x 8′ booth might be considered barrier free if it has two doors (with 32″ minimum opening) directly across from each other. This would enable a disabled person to enter the booth through one door, go half way through the other door, back to the rear of the booth and then pull up to the work station (a “T” turn). However, most code officials frown on any type of sliding door unless they are power operated. (Check with the local building department first.)
For multiple booth locations, compliance with the spirit of the ADA law says that one booth should be a barrier free work environment. If there is only one booth at the parking lot or garage, the conservative approach states that it should be barrier free also. Additional booths need not be barrier free, but the door opening should be at least 32″ to allow for a disabled supervisor to check on the employees.
Par-Kut also offers barrier free attendant booths with restrooms (Model 146R-HR, for example). In addition, we can include the barrier free design in the PARVUE glass to glass corner style. Bullet resistant shelter and round end style CURVUE booths can be modified for disabled person accessibility.
Please call, fax or write to Par-Kut for further information.
