Designing a construction project involves intentional, multifaceted collaboration between clients, architects, engineers, contractors, suppliers, and construction managers. In addition to the excruciating design development process between the parties, the construction project has to meet cost, quality and schedule constraints according to contextual requirements; and most importantly, comply with strict international and local codes, updated almost regularly on a scheduled schedule.
This in itself can often turn out to be the most difficult task for any first-time building owner, as the construction project needs to be compliant with all aspects of architectural, structural and MEPF codes, from IBC, NFPA and more. Architecturally, in addition to elevators and stairs serving as a means of egress during emergencies, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) raises the bar even higher with the Rescue Assistance Area.
The intention behind these design criteria is noble, as it becomes a comprehensive and life-saving measure for people with disabilities. When elevators cannot be used in emergency situations, occupants and end users resort to the last option of stairs. However, this can cause even more safety risks for people with disabilities, as they are unable to descend stairs without the need for assistance due to physical limitations. Hence the need for a Rescue Assistance Area.
Defined Rescue Assistance Area
Rescue Assistance Area – also known as a Refuge Area in the 2018 International Building Code 1009.6 – refers to accessible means of egress for people with disabilities who require a temporary safe place while awaiting instructions and assistance from rescuers.
In accordance with Section 7.5135 of Title 3 of the ADA (in accordance with Section 4.1.3(9) of the ADAAG or Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines), the clause states that:
Rescue assistance areas are generally required on every floor except the ground floor of a multi-story building. An accessible exit route or rescue assistance area is required for each exit required by local fire code. Specific requirements are provided for characteristics such as location, size, stair width, and two-way communications. Rescue areas are not required in buildings with supervised automatic sprinkler systems, nor in alterations.
Clearly, two-way communication is critical to the success of disaster risk mitigation strategies. Building occupants, specifically people with disabilities, must have a means of alerting authorities that they require assistance. Consequently, emergency responders can respond to these self-identified people and confirm that help is underway, giving additional instructions to round them up and collect them at the nearest exit. ADAAG 4.3.11.4 evidently stipulates that:
A method of two-way communication, with visible and audible signals, shall be provided between each rescue assistance area and the main entrance. The fire department or appropriate local authority may approve a location other than the main entrance.
In hindsight, it should be noted that voice communication alone is not sufficient, as it only serves the visually impaired, while clearly compromising safety and discriminating against deaf-mute demographics. When persons with disabilities send a distress call, the turnkey configuration system of the Rescue Assistance Area or the wall station panel in particular, must be activated with visual-auditory 90 dB audible alarm signals for blinds and LED strobe lights for the deaf. mute. This redirects back to the ground floor control panel via 22 gauge wire installed in raceways or conduits.
In these cases, first responders at the point of entry will initially check the status of the disabled person floor by floor, but even then, whoever activates the switch first, this fail-safe loop system will instigate two-way communication, which will then be reset. to standby mode by the central station operator as soon as the emergency is resolved.
Prepare for emergencies with the Rescue Assistance Systems Area.
Chicago Local Code Compliance
Evidently leading the vanguard in establishing a high-quality standard for the adoption of international codes, the City of Chicago strictly requires implementation of the Rescue Assistance Area in compliance with ADAAG 4.3.11. As set forth in Chicago Municipal Code Sections 13-76-076 and 13-196-086 (in reciprocity with ADAAG 4.3.11.5), this detailed provision states that :
Each rescue assistance area will be identified by a sign indicating “Rescue Assistance Area” and displaying the international accessibility symbol.
For more detailed building sign specifications in accordance with ADAAG 4.30.2, letters must be permanent with a width-to-height ratio between 3:5 and 1:1, and a stroke width-to-height ratio between 1:5 and 1 :10.
As mentioned above, the Rescue Assistance Area is mandatory in all multi-story buildings. Case in point, the city of Chicago requires this in existing buildings and new high-rise construction. According to 13-78-010(c) of the Chicago Municipal Code, tall buildings requiring emergency procedures are any new or existing structures above eighty (80) feet above grade level, with occupancy classifications listed below :
- Class A: Residential
- Class C: Assembly
- Class D: Outdoor Mounting Unit
- Class E: Business
- Class F: Commercial
- Class G: Industrial
All of these skyscrapers are categorized by height above ground level, as provided in 13-78-020 of the Chicago Municipal Code:
- Category 1 – Above 780 feet
- Category 2 – Above 540 feet, up to and including 780 feet
- Category 3 – Above 275 feet, up to and including 540 feet
- Category 4 – 80 feet or more, up to and including 275 feet
As we further expand the rigor and strict implementation of the Chicago Municipal Code, the minimum requirements under 13-78-080(c) for the Rescue Assistance Area also include “the creation and posting in all elevators, from top - floor plan of the rise building, showing corridors, staircases, evacuation routes, rescue assistance areas, and elevator lobbies, floor by floor.
Final Recommendation
Given that federal, state and local governments strongly establish the Rescue Assistance Area as an essential requirement, any negligence by parties involved in the design through construction of your construction project will have imminent repercussions. As clearly specified in Title 3, Section 8.4000 of the ADA, the Department of Justice may initiate a civil action in any court in the United States and collect a fine of $50,000 to $100,000 when it has reasonable grounds to believe that such parties were involved in the practice of discrimination.
Instead of compensating monetary damages, utilize our professional electrical knowledge for proactive measures of code proficiency specifically related to the Rescue Assistance Systems Area.
