VOLUNTEER SUPPORT CENTER

Issue: Vertical accessibility to a mezzanine in an office/warehouse.

Analysis: The applicant is requesting a waiver from providing vertical accessibility to a new, $54,000 mezzanine in an office/warehouse facility. The existing building is used or storage of supplies, equipment and associated office support in the first floor office. The new mezzanine will provide an additional open office area supporting the storage function. Estimates of $59,180 and $51,000 were submitted as documentation that installation of a LULA would be disproportionate to the cost of construction. According to the applicant, all activities in the mezzanine office are replicated in the accessible first floor facility.

Project Progress:

The project is in plan review.

Items to be Waived:

Vertical accessibility to the mezzanine, as required by Section 553.509, Florida Statutes.

553.509 shall be construed to relieve the owner of any building, structure or facility governed by those sections from the duty to provide vertical accessibility to all levels above and below the occupiable grade level regardless of whether the guidelines require an elevator to be installed in such building, structure or facility, except for:

(1) Elevator pits, elevator penthouses, mechanical rooms, piping or equipment catwalks and automobile lubrication and maintenance pits and platforms;

(2) Unoccupiable spaces, such as rooms, enclosed spaces and storage spaces that are not designed for human occupancy, for public accommodations or for work areas; and

(3) Occupiable spaces and rooms that are not open to the public and that house no more than five persons, including, but not limited to equipment control rooms and projection booths.