FAMILY FUN CONCEPTS

ISSUE: Vertical accessibility to all levels of a laser tag facility.

Analysis: The applicant is requesting a waiver from providing vertical accessibility to the mezzanine area of a laser tag arena in a 21,222 square foot family entertainment center. The mezzanine will contain 30 percent (1,250 square feet) of the arena playing area. According to the applicant, installation of a series of ramps would reduce the first floor playing area by 38 percent, and would present a hazardous environment for all players because of low lighting and limited play area. All the game’s features are located on the accessible ground floor area and the mezzanine is designed to increase the potential number of players in the facility. The overall project will be a “junior anchor” in an existing retail center and will be the first occupant of the area. The estimated project cost is $850,000 and it is currently in conceptual design. Before proceeding further, the applicant seeking direction on the need for vertical accessibility.

Project Progress:

The project is under design.

Items to be Waived:

Vertical accessibility to the mezzanine area of a laser tag arena, as required by Chapter 553.509, Florida Statutes.

553.509 Vertical accessibility. Nothing in Sections 553.501-553.513 or the guidelines 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.

Waiver Criteria: There is no specific guidance for a waiver of this requirement in the code. The Commission’s current rule, authorized in Section 553.512, Florida Statutes, provides criteria for granting waivers and allows consideration of unnecessary or extreme hardship to the applicant if the specific requirements were imposed.