Wisconsin Administrative Code
Department of Children and Families
DCF 021-99 - Safety and Permanence
Chapter DCF 52 - Residential Care Centers For Children And Youth
Appendix B - Facility accessibility requirements

Universal Citation: WI Admin Code ยง B
Current through February 26, 2024

Facility Accessibility Feature

All residents able to walk without means of support such as canes, crutches or walkers

One or mor e r esidents able to walk only with support of canes, crutches or walkers, or unable to walk

a. Ramped or grade level for at least 2 primary entrances from street, alley or ancillary parking to a primary floor

Not Required

Required1

b. Accessible building entrance to a grade level floor within 30 of finished grade

Permitted

Required1

c. Accessible entrance door must be at least 36 in width

Not Required 2

Required

d. All interior passageway doors on primary floor must have at least a 28 wide clear opening

Permitted 2

Required

e. At least one of the following between interior floor levels: elevator , ramp or life

Not Required

Required3,4

f. Unobstructed interior access to all common-use areas.

Required

Required

g. Unobstructed interior access to bathing and toilet facilities.

Required5

Required5

h. Grab bars for toilet and bath fixtures

Not Required

Required6

i. Compliance with ch. SPS 362 Usable bathrooms

Not Required

Required5

j. Levered handles on all doors, bathroom water fixtures and other devices normally used by residents with manual strength or dexterity limitations

Required7

Required7

k. Accessible to drinking facilities

Required

Required

1 Ramped or grade level entrance or porchlift required if residents are not capable of negotiating stairs.

2 Two-foot 6-inch passage way doors are permitted in existing buildings.

3 An elevator, lift or ramp must meet the applicable DSPS requirements.

4 May be omitted if use of other floors is restricted to ambulatory or semiambulatory residents physically capable of negotiating stairs or if there are no one-of-a-kind, common-use areas located on these floors.

5 Must meet the resident to bathroom facilities ratio requirements in s. DCF 52.53.

6 Not required in rooms used only by ambulatory residents who do not require any means of support through use of canes, crutches, walkers or wheelchairs.

7 Required when other hardware creates a barrier or is difficult to use safely by residents with manual strength or dexterity limitations.

An exterior ramp is a sloping walk or structure having a gradient greater than 1:20 that provides access to or a means of exit from a building. An exterior ramp shall meet the following specifications:

a.Width. A minimum width of 48 inches, of which not more than 4 inches on each side may be occupied by a handrail, and a slip-resistant surface.

b.Gradient. A gradient not greater than a 1:12 slope.

c.Handrails. Graspable handrails as follows:

- A ramp with a gradient greater than 1:20 but less than 1:12 shall have a handrail on at least one side of the ramp.

- A ramp with a gradient of 1:12 shall have handrails on both sides of the ramp.

- A ramp shall have a handrail on a side where the adjacent terrain exceeds a 1:4 downward slope away from the ramp.

d.Handrail height. A handrail mounted so that the top is between 30 inches and 34 inches above the ramp surface.

e.Midrails. If open-sided, having an intermediate parallel rail located at mid-height between a handrail and the ramp surface.

f.Handrail clearance. A clear space of at least 11/2 inches between a handrail and any adjoining wall.

g.Ramp clearance. The floor on each side of an accessible doorway shall be level for a distance of 5 feet from the door, and the ramp shall have a level platform at least 5 feet long where it turns and at least 5 feet of level clearance at the bottom.

h.Rest platform. A ramp longer than 30 feet in length shall have a 5-foot long level platform after each 30-foot length of ramp.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Wisconsin may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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