With local municipalities requiring designers and developers to comply with stricter codes and regulations than ever before, builders today look for clarity and ease when designing compliant outdoor amenities.
In this blog, we’ll discuss the requirements for making your outdoor kitchen ADA-compliant and some of the options you have for installing amenities that follow local building codes.
ADA Requirements for Kitchens
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was passed in the United States in 1990. The legislation requires reasonable accommodations for individuals with various disabilities.
Since its passage, the US government has developed the ADA Standards for Accessible Design as a document to regulate facilities “to be readily accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities.”
Sections 212, 606, and 804 of the ADA kitchen requirements were last updated in 2010.
Kitchen Pass-Through Requirements
Depending on the shape of your outdoor kitchen, the required pass-through space varies.
A “pass-through” refers to the space between the kitchen amenities. If your kitchen has two or more entry points, this space must only be 40 inches wide.
If it is a U-shaped kitchen with one entrance, this space must be at least 60 inches wide.
This spacing ensures individuals in a wheelchair can move through the kitchen and turn around without hindrance.
Kitchen Work Surface Requirements
At least one part of your kitchen must have a work surface that is at least 30 inches wide, no more than 34 inches above the ground, and with at least 48 inches of free space behind it.
Underneath this surface, there needs to be a space for a person who uses a wheelchair to fit under. This space must have room for both their knees and toes.
Additionally, the bottom of this work surface must not be sharp or abrasive.
Kitchen Grill Requirements
The kitchen work surface needs an open area of at least 48 inches behind the grill. For grills with hoods, the opening handle needs to be accessible within a window of 15-48 inches off the ground. Additionally, the handle must be easy to grasp and not require more than 5 pounds of force to lift open.
ElectriChef, The Perfect Grill for an ADA-Compliant Kitchen
Since ElectriChef grills use no fossil fuel and only need to be plugged in, they’re a great and simple way to design an outdoor kitchen that not only complies with local no-flame ordinances but is also ADA-compliant.
For height requirements, installing an ElectriChef grill is as simple as having the outlet near the surface where the grill will be placed. To determine how much room you have to work with, simply add the height of our built-in or tabletop grill to the surface it will be on. You can request specs here.
If you want a pedestal-based grill featured in your outdoor kitchen, we can shorten the base upon your request.
To comply with ADA regulation 308 on reach ranges, ElectriChef now offers specialized grill handles that can be added to your order for 24" and 32" models so that anyone in a wheelchair can easily open our grill hoods. ** Can you link directly to section 308, not just the table of content page
At ElectriChef, we believe in uncompromised grilling for all! No one should be limited in their grilling experience, regardless of whether they’re bound to a wheelchair or their city doesn’t allow open flames.
Request specs and scope for an electric grill for your next project.
