KAPPA DELTA SORORITY HOUSE

 

Issue:  Vertical accessibility to an elevated stage platform.

 

Analysis:  The applicant is requesting a waiver from providing vertical accessibility to a platform used as a stage in the dining area of the sorority house.  According to the applicant, the area is used during the rush process that occurs once per year; otherwise, it is a component of the dining room.  The area is accessible from the existing exit door located on an accessible route from the accessible parking space.  The total project cost is $22,107 and estimates of $22,107 and $23,683 were submitted for the cost to install a lift.  However, during the three previous years, $1,000,000 in alterations were done to the property. 

 

Project Progress:

 

The project is under design.

 

Items to be Waived:  Vertical accessibility to the raised stage as required by Section 553,509, F. S.

 

553.509: Vertical accessibility - Nothing in sections 553.501-553.513 or the guidelines shall be construed to relieve the owner of any building, structure or facility governed by those sections from the duty to provide vertical accessibility to all levels above and below the occupiable grade level, regardless of whether the guidelines require an elevator to be installed in such building, structure or facility, except for:

 

(1) Elevator pits, elevator penthouses, mechanical rooms, piping or equipment catwalks and automobile lubrication and maintenance pits and platforms;

(2) Unoccupiable spaces, such as rooms, enclosed spaces and storage spaces that are not designed for human occupancy, for public accommodations or for work areas; and

(3) Occupiable spaces and rooms that are not open to the public and that house no more than five persons, including, but not limited to equipment control rooms and projection booths.

 

Waiver Criteria:  There is no specific guidance for a waiver of this requirement in the code.  The Commission’s current rule, authorized in Section 553.512, Florida Statutes, provides criteria for granting waivers and allows consideration of unnecessary or extreme hardship to the applicant if the specific requirements were imposed.