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Agenda <br /> Item <br /> State of Oregon Board memo <br /> Building Codes Division January 15, 2014 <br /> To: Building Codes Structures Board <br /> From: Rex Turner <br /> Structural Program Chief <br /> Subject: Revisions to the shower accessibility provisions for assisted living facilities and <br /> residential care facilities in the Oregon Structural Specialty Code(OSSC). <br /> Action requested: <br /> The division requests that the board review and approve a proposed code change that revises the <br /> shower accessibility provisions for assisted living facilities and residential care facilities in the <br /> 2014 OSSC. <br /> Background: <br /> ICC A 117.1 is the adopted standard in Oregon for accessible design and construction.The <br /> division has recently become aware of a significant change in the accessible design requirements <br /> in the currently adopted 2009 edition ICC Al 17.1 affecting roll in showers in assisted living <br /> facilities. <br /> The current standard, as adopted through the 2014 OSSC, incorporates new requirements for a <br /> fold-down seat where none was required previously. In addition, the location of the adjacent <br /> shower head and controls must be on the rear wall.None of these specifications were required <br /> under the 2003 edition A 117.1 nor are they required under the Federal 2010 ADA Standards. <br /> The new requirements are creating considerable difficulties for licensed facilities given their <br /> operating requirements and the manner in which personal care is provided. Having the seat, <br /> controls and shower head oriented in this manner makes it likely that attending staff will have to <br /> deal with inordinate amounts of overspray/splash and excessive moisture may collect on adjacent <br /> floors. Unfortunately,the impact of the added language was unforeseen during the code adoption <br /> process and is now having unintended consequences. By adding the exceptions in the OSSC that <br /> eliminate the requirements for the shower seat and allowing the shower controls to be on the side <br /> wall it will allow the assisted living facilities and residential care facilities to function as <br /> previously permitted. <br />