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Withdrawn Technical Assistance: Common ADA Problems at Newly Constructed Lodging Facilities

[As of] December 21, 2017, the Department of Justice has withdrawn and, where applicable, removed from ADA.gov [this] technical assistance document. [This] document is outdated and does not fully reflect current law or has been replaced by a more up-to-date document. Withdrawal of a guidance document does not change covered entities’ legal responsibilities, as reflected in the ADA, its implementing regulations, and other binding legal requirements and judicial precedent. The Department will continue to fully and fairly enforce all laws within its jurisdiction, including the ADA.

Note: This document, portion of document or referenced document was published prior to the 2010 ADA Standards, and all or part of this information may only apply to Safe Harbored elements.

Visual Alarms

Common Problem:

Accessible guestrooms and suites (and an additional number of rooms specifically for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing) are not equipped with visual alarms and other visual notification devices.

Result:

People who are deaf or hard of hearing cannot hear fire alarms, ringing telephones, knocking at doors or ringing doorbells. Consequently, when accessible guestrooms and other guestrooms do not have visual fire alarms and visual notification devices, people who are deaf or hard of hearing have no notice of fires or other life-threatening emergencies and have no means of knowing when the telephone is ringing, when someone is knocking on the door, or when someone is ringing the doorbell.

Requirements:

All accessible guestrooms and a specific number of additional guestrooms for use by persons who are deaf or hard of hearing must be equipped with visual fire alarm strobes that are connected to the building's fire alarm system and visual notification devices to alert guests who are deaf or hard of hearing to telephone calls and to persons knocking on the door and/or ringing the doorbell. While visual alarms must be connected to the fire alarm system, notification devices (for doors and telephones) may be provided in kits available at the lodging facility's registration desk. In addition to accessible guestrooms, lodging facilities must provide additional guestrooms for persons who are deaf or hard of hearing following the table on this page. ADA Standards 9.1.3; 9.2.2(8); 9.3; 9.3.2.

Total Guestrooms Guestrooms for Use by Persons Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing*
1 to 25 1
26 to 50 2
51 to 75 3
76 to 100 4
101 to 150 5
151 to 200 6
201 to 300 7
301 to 400 8
401 to 500 9
501 to 1000 2% of all rooms
1001 and over 20 plus 1 for each 100 over 1000
  *Rooms for persons who are deaf or hard of hearing are required in addition to accessible guestrooms.

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