FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Question: Does the State of Delaware have some type of uniform accessibility code?
Answer: No.
Question: What, then, are the State of Delaware Architectural Accessibility Standards?
Answer: This is the document used for State facilities, only, and is combined with the standards listed in ICC/ANSI A117.1 - 1998 to determine what accessible design criteria will ultimately be followed.
Question: Will the Architectural Accessibility Board review plans and drawings for design compliance for commercial buildings (for example, a new mall or new office building)?
Answer: No. The AAB's authority is only for State owned facilities, or facilities financed with State funding.
Question: Who has the responsibility for enforcing the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)?
Answer: Only the federal government can enforce a federal act.
Question: Who is responsible for ensuring that buildings and facilities are accessible to a disabled person?
Answer: The owner of the building is usually responsible for ensuring that the ADA is being followed. Sometimes, this responsibility is shared with the operator, or tenant.
Question: If a building is being constructed, or altered, and it is not a State owned facility, who then has the responsibility for ensuring that accessibility standards are being met?
Answer: The local code official has this responsibility. Normally, the model codes include accessibility in their requirements by referencing a certain set of design standards.
Question: Who would someone call if there is an accessibility complaint about existing architectural barriers or about the lack of accessibility to a building or facility?
Answer: The code official who has the responsibility for code compliance in that jurisdiction. If the complaint is about a State of Delaware facility, the AAB's Chief Administrator should be contacted. If the complaint is about a place of public accommodation, say a restaurant or some other facility used by the general public, then the code official who enforces the local building codes for that area, should be contacted.
