Wheelchair Locations

There are a number of items that need to be addressed to provide wheelchair accessibility:

• Dispersal of wheelchair seating is required.
• Wheelchair spaces must have the same variation in sightlines as other patrons.
• Each wheelchair space must have an adjacent companion seat (may be fixed or removable).
• Companion seats are to be on the same floor surface/elevation and allow the shoulder to shoulder alignment with the wheelchair spaces. To achieve this requirement deeper row spacing is needed and this varies by the design and construction of the seating area.
• Removable chairs can be placed in wheelchair spaces for use when the wheelchair space is not needed.

• Minimum wheelchair space varies depending on the layout of the area.
  • A single wide wheelchair space must be at least 36” wide. A double wheelchair space must be at least 66” wide
  • A forward or rear access wheelchair space must be at least 48” deep. A side access wheelchair space must be at least 60” deep.
• Wheelchair access aisles must not have a slope greater than 1:12
• The rise for any access aisles to wheelchair spaces shall be 30" maximum with a 5’-0” level resting place after every 30” rise of sloped travel.
• Wheelchair spaces must be on a level floor.
  • Exception: slopes not steeper than 1:48 shall be permitted.

The number of Required Wheelchair Spaces (based on ADA Code):

• The capacity of 4 to 25 - 1 space
• 26 to 50 - 2 spaces
• 51 to 150 - 4 spaces
• 151 to 300 – 5 spaces
• 301 to 500 - 6 spaces
• 501 to 5,000 – 6 spaces, plus 1 for each 150, or fraction thereof, between 501 – 5,000
• 5,001 and over – 36 spaces, plus 1 for each 200, or fraction thereof, over 5,000

Note: other codes may require different quantities of wheelchair spaces based on total chair count. Irwin Seating Company needs the code jurisdiction communicated prior to drawing the seating layout.