December 21, 2005—The US General Services Administration (GSA) has adopted new accessibility standards for federally funded facilities under the Architectural Barriers Act (ABA).
The standards are based upon guidelines published by the Access Board in 2004. The adopted standards will apply to a wide range of new or altered buildings that are covered by the ABA, the 1968 law that ensures access to facilities designed, built, altered, or leased with federal money.
The new standards will replace the existing standards, known as the Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards (UFAS). Compliance with the UFAS standards will be permitted for construction and alterations that begin before May 8, 2006, and for projects whose design is substantially complete by that date. Further details are provided in a notice issues by GSA.
