AI ADA Accessibility Checker

Why accessibility errors survive drawing review

Most accessibility problems are not missing knowledge. Designers know the 60 in. turning circle and the 1:12 ramp. The errors come from coordination: a turning space drawn on the enlarged plan that a door swing or casework later eats into, a corridor that meets clear width on the floor plan but not after a drinking fountain is added, or a counter height that differs between the elevation and the millwork detail. Once built, these are demolition, not redlines.

The references below are to the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design. Many jurisdictions enforce ICC A117.1 through the building code instead, with similar but not identical dimensions. If yours does, upload that standard and it is included in the review.

Turning space (Section 304)

Section 304 allows either a 60 in. diameter circle or a T-shaped space within a 60 in. square. On drawings, the common failures are:

• Turning circle drawn in a toilet room but overlapping the water closet clearance, a lavatory without knee clearance, or a trash receptacle
• T-shaped turn used where an arm of the T is blocked by a wall or fixture
• Kitchenette, break room, or dwelling unit plans that show no turning space at all
• Enlarged plan and floor plan showing different room dimensions, so the turn only works on one of them

Clear width on accessible routes (Section 403.5)

Section 403.5.1 sets a 36 in. minimum clear width for walking surfaces on an accessible route, which may narrow to 32 in. for a length of 24 in. or less. Clear width is measured to the face of obstructions, not to the wall centerline. Things that typically reduce it:

• Wall-mounted items, fire extinguisher cabinets, and handrails projecting into corridors
• Columns, furniture, and casework placed after the corridor was dimensioned
• Tight turns around an element, which need more width than a straight run
• Long corridors under 60 in. wide with no passing space shown

Running slope over 1:20 makes a walking surface a ramp, and cross slope over 1:48 is not allowed. The checker compares slopes and spot elevations on site and civil sheets against those limits and the ramp requirements in Section 405.

Reach ranges (Section 308)

Unobstructed forward and side reach both fall between 15 in. minimum and 48 in. maximum above the floor. Obstructed reaches over counters or cabinets lower the high limit. Reach problems are easy to miss because the controls are often specified on different sheets from the elevations:

• Light switches, thermostats, or card readers dimensioned above the reach limit on interior elevations
• Dispensers and controls placed over a deep counter without adjusting for obstructed reach
• Electrical mounting height notes that conflict with the architectural elevations

Doors, counters, and toilet rooms

• Door clear opening under 32 in. once the door stop and hardware are counted
• Maneuvering clearance at the latch side blocked by a wall, casework, or another door swing
• Sales and service counter heights that differ between floor plan notes, elevations, and millwork details
• Water closet centerline and clearance dimensions that conflict between the enlarged plan and the elevation
• Grab bar lengths and locations missing or inconsistent with the fixture layout

Site and parking

The accessible route has to connect parking, passenger loading, and public sidewalks to the entrance. The checker looks for accessible parking with no access aisle shown, aisles on slopes steeper than allowed, and routes that cross curbs without a curb ramp. Site work is cross-checked with the civil checker.

What a finding looks like

Each finding names the sheets, the dimension, and the requirement. An illustrative example:

Enlarged plan A-401 shows a 60 in. turning circle in Toilet 114. Interior elevation A-501 adds a 14 in. deep vanity on the same wall with no knee clearance, which reduces the turning space. Revise the vanity or the room layout.

How InspectMind reviews accessibility

Upload architectural, site, and civil drawings as PDFs. The checker reads plans, enlarged plans, elevations, and details together, then compares dimensions and notes against the accessibility standard you enable. For broader code coverage, pair it with the building codes checker. See common patterns in ADA drawing errors.

Frequently asked questions

Does it replace an accessibility consultant?

No. It catches common issues early so your consultant and AHJ review spends time on judgment calls, not dimensions.

ADA Standards or ICC A117.1?

ADA Standards are built in. Upload ICC A117.1, a state accessibility code, or local amendments and they are included in the review.

Does it check site slopes?

Yes, where slopes or spot elevations are shown on the drawings.