ADA Elevator Compliance Audit for Schools & Public Buildings

Covers all state and local government buildings, including public schools (K-12), public universities, government offices, courthouses, libraries, community centers, and public transit stations. Enforced by the Department of Justice (DOJ) Civil Rights Division and, for schools specifically, by the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) within the Department of Education.

Covers privately owned buildings open to the public, including private schools, charter schools (in most jurisdictions), religious schools receiving federal funds, shopping centers, hotels, hospitals, and commercial offices. Enforced by DOJ and through private lawsuits.

Does your building have an elevator where one is required?

Under ADA Standards Section 206.2.3, an elevator is required in any public building with three or more stories OR where any story exceeds 3,000 square feet. There is a limited exemption for two-story buildings under 3,000 sq ft per floor, but this exemption does not apply to shopping centers, health care facilities, or transit stations. Most school buildings exceed the 3,000 sq ft threshold on every floor, which means the exemption rarely applies. If your building is two stories and each floor is under 3,000 sq ft, you may mark this N/A, but verify with your district facilities office first.

Does the elevator car measure at least 51 inches deep by 68 inches wide (interior clear floor)?

ADA Standards Section 407.4.1 sets minimum car dimensions. The standard minimum is 51 inches deep by 68 inches wide for cars with center-opening doors, or 54 inches deep by 36 inches wide for cars with side-opening doors. These dimensions ensure a wheelchair user can enter, turn, and reach the control panel. In schools, the standard 51x68 car is by far the most common configuration. If your building has a stretcher-capable elevator (required in some jurisdictions for buildings above a certain height), the car must measure at least 54 inches wide by 80 inches deep.

Is the elevator door opening at least 36 inches wide when fully open?

ADA Standards Section 407.4.1 requires a minimum clear door width of 36 inches. This is the same minimum clear width required for accessible doorways throughout the building. Power wheelchairs are typically 24-27 inches wide, but users need clearance on both sides to avoid scraping knuckles or catching armrests on the door frame. A door opening below 36 inches is a hard barrier -- it physically prevents entry for many wheelchair users.

Do the doors remain fully open for at least 3 seconds, and can the open time be extended to 20 seconds when a hall call button is held?

ADA Standards Section 407.3.5 requires elevator doors to remain fully open for a minimum of 3 seconds measured from the time the doors are fully open. The minimum time before doors begin closing after a hall call is T = D/1.5 ft/s, where D is the distance from the hall button to the centerline of the door. For school settings, the 20-second extended hold is particularly important because students using mobility devices, walkers, or crutches may need additional time. Doors must also reopen without contact if an obstruction is detected.

Are all car operating buttons no higher than 48 inches (side reach) or 54 inches (front reach) from the car floor?

ADA Standards Section 407.4.6 requires that floor buttons, door open/close, emergency stop, and alarm controls all fall within reach range. The side-reach maximum is 48 inches; the forward-reach maximum is 54 inches. In practice, the highest button on the panel should be no more than 48 inches from the floor, because a wheelchair user approaching the panel from the side (the most common approach in a standard car) cannot reach higher. Emergency controls must be grouped at the bottom of the panel.

Do ALL buttons in the car have both Grade 2 Braille and raised (tactile) characters?

ADA Standards Section 407.4.7 requires every car control button to be identified by both Braille and raised characters. Characters must be uppercase, sans-serif, and raised at least 1/32 inch from the surface. Braille must be Grade 2 and positioned directly below the corresponding raised character. The main entry floor must be identified with a tactile star. This applies to floor buttons, door open/close, emergency alarm, emergency stop, and phone/intercom buttons -- every single one.

Does the elevator provide both a visual floor display and an audible announcement at each stop?

ADA Standards Section 407.4.8 requires elevators to have both visual and audible floor indicators. The visual display must show characters at least 1/2 inch high. The audible component must automatically announce the floor at each stop. A simple chime or tone is not sufficient for elevators serving more than two floors -- a verbal announcement is required. This dual-format requirement ensures that both visually impaired and hearing-impaired students can navigate independently.

Do hall lanterns at each floor indicate the direction of travel with both a visual signal and an audible tone (one for up, two for down)?

ADA Standards Section 407.2.2 requires hall lanterns to be visible from the hall call button area and to indicate which car is answering a call and its direction. Lanterns must be mounted at least 72 inches above the floor and measure at least 2-1/2 inches in their smallest visible dimension. The audible signal convention is one tone for up and two tones for down, or a verbal announcement of direction. In school lobbies with multiple elevators, this is essential for a visually impaired student to know which car to board.

Is the emergency phone or intercom operable from a seated position (no higher than 48 inches) without requiring tight grasping or twisting?

ADA Standards Section 407.4.9 requires two-way emergency communication in every elevator car. The highest operable part must be no more than 48 inches above the floor. The system must not rely on voice communication alone -- it must include a visual indicator confirming the emergency message was received (for hearing-impaired users). Controls must be operable with one hand and must not require tight grasping, pinching, or twisting of the wrist. In a school, this is a life-safety issue: a student with a disability trapped in an elevator must be able to call for help without assistance.

Are floor designation signs installed on BOTH door jambs, centered at 60 inches above the floor, with raised characters and Braille?

ADA Standards Section 407.2.3 requires floor designation signs on both jambs of every hoistway entrance. Characters must be at least 2 inches high, raised at least 1/32 inch, and accompanied by Grade 2 Braille. Signs must be centered at 60 inches above the finished floor. The main entry level must include a tactile star. Both-jamb placement ensures the signage is locatable regardless of which direction a visually impaired person approaches from.

Does the elevator car consistently level within 1/2 inch of the landing floor when doors are fully open?

ADA Standards Section 407.4.2 requires the car floor to be within 1/2 inch of the landing floor when doors are fully open. A gap or step greater than 1/2 inch can trap wheelchair caster wheels, cause tipping, or prevent boarding. Poor leveling also creates a tripping hazard for students using walkers, canes, or who have balance difficulties. Leveling accuracy degrades over time as elevator components wear, so this should be checked periodically -- not just at installation.

Does the elevator have a two-way communication system (not just an alarm bell) that connects to a monitored location?

ADA Standards Section 407.4.9.1 requires a two-way communication system, not merely an alarm bell or buzzer. The system must connect to a point that is staffed at all times the building is occupied. An alarm bell that rings in an empty hallway does not satisfy this requirement. In schools, this typically means the system must connect to the main office, security desk, or a 24/7 monitoring service. The communication device must also include a visual signal confirming that the call has been received, so a hearing-impaired student knows help is on the way.