ADA Compliant Depositories and Receptacles

Our Depositories, Drop Boxes and Night Safes are ADA Compliant

                The March 15^th 2012 deadline for compliance with the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design is fast approaching and customers can be sure that the date has been marked on our calendars and the calendars of security products companies everywhere for a long time. The best way to serve your customers (and avoid massive fines) is for your business to be compliant with Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Compliance can mean a lot of things for different businesses but if your place of work has drop boxes, night receptacles, depositories or night safes then those devices are now being held to different standards. That means if you’re going to buy one of these products then you need to look for an ADA compliant stamp on that product.

                What is the ADA?

                The Americans with Disabilities Act is a law that was enacted by the U.S. Congress in 1990. It is a wide-ranging civil rights law that prohibits discrimination based on disability. The ADA defines disability as “a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits a major life activity”. Because of this law, disabled people have more options and are protected from bias in public life and the work place. There are ramps for wheelchairs, signs in Braille for the blind, special access for the mentally-handicapped because of the ADA. The section of the law that should concern your business is Title III – Public Accommodations and Commercial Facilities. This states that no individual may be discriminated against because of their disability; so they cannot have full and equal enjoyment of goods, services, accommodations and facilities. All facilities built after 1992 must be compliant with ADA guidelines or existing structures must be altered so they are accessible to the disabled. On September 15, 2010 the Department of Justice issued revised regulations to Title III which took effect on March 11, 2011 and must be already installed by or made by March 15^th 2012.

                What standards and regulations concern depositories, drop boxes and similar receptacles?

                The goals of the standards are to assist handicapped people in using these receptacles with the same level or almost the same level of ease of an able-bodied person. The first way to do this is by addressing the issues of clearance and approach; make sure the path is unobstructed to the receptacle. If the drop box is located in an alcove, then it must be wide enough to allow a wheelchair to get right next to the opening. There is a limit to how far out protrusions can stick out; this is to primarily help blind people.  Another important factor is the reach range.  There are ranges for children, guides to how to approach obstructed and unobstructed reaches, reaches that set high, forward and to the side. One of the most important standards is for the operable parts of the receptacles; which means the opening and closing of the door. A person must be able to open it with only one hand, with no twisting; pinching of the wrist and it should require only a loose grip. The maximum amount of force required to open the door can be no more than five pounds.

Detailed descriptions of the ADA standards and their applications can be found here:

2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design

                K.L. Security and www.safeandvault.com have made sure all our ADA compliant depositories, drop boxes, RentVault™ and night safe models meet the 2010 ADA standards because it’s the right move for our customers and purchasing a compliant model is right for you and your business. It’s up to all parties involved to assist people who need it.

RentVault™ - Secured Apartment Depository