Drinking Fountains in Children's Environments
Everyone knows by now that drinking fountains must not only be accessible to and usable by persons who use wheelchairs, but also to persons with difficulty bending and stooping. This is why both “high” and “low” units are specified in ADAAG and TAS.
Currently, 50% of drinking fountains must be the “low” variety for persons using wheelchairs (meaning they must have a spout that is 36″ maximum AFF and 27″ minimum knee clearance for cantilevered units). Of the remaining 50%, one unit must be at a height accessible to persons with difficulty bending or stooping. TDLR has stated that 42″ AFF is the approved height for compliance with TAS for the “high” unit (for adults).
[Note* The upcoming revised federal ADA/ABA guidelines (ADAAG-R) require that 50% be "low", and 50% be "high", with the spout height being from 38" to 43" AFF for compliance with the "high" unit. The new guidelines also no longer allow floor-mounted drinking fountains for persons using wheelchairs ("low" units), so all accessible "low" drinking fountains must be cantilevered and have adequate knee clearance (at least 27" AFF) for forward approach.]
Children’s Environments
According to TDLR, facilities used primarly by children (such as school, daycare and similar facilities) are not exempt from the requirements for the standard height (or “high”) drinking fountains (found at TAS 4.1.3(10)). While there are no explicit dimensions noted in TAS for the location of the spout in “high” drinking fountains used primarily by children, TDLR accepts 34″ AFF as the accessible spout height for “high” units based on TAS 4.1.1(1)(b)(ii). Since they don’t specify whether this is for elementary or middle school-age children, I interpret their guidance to apply to both age groups.
Of course, one may always apply for a variance from this requirement if they want to specify a different height.
Filed under: Accessibility