INTERIOR DESIGN LEGISLATION

Your right to practice!

Title vs Practice Act

Title Acts are laws that legislate the title of interior designer. In order to call yourself an interior designer, you may need certain requirements (varies by state) such as a FIDER education, NCIDQ exam and a specified number of years experience.

Practice Act is more stringent. This law stipulates who can practice interior design.

Question: Which state was the first to pass legislation?

Alabama was the first!

Title Act was in 1982 Practice Act was in 2001 Interior Designer and Registered Interior

Designer Must be from a FIDER/CIDA accredited

school 2 years experience

Update on Alabama Practice ActJustice Parker stated,

"If the public interest is not threatened by allowing homeowners and businesspersons to design their own houses and offices, it is difficult to understand how that interest is threatened by allowing them to retain interior designers who are not certified."

He concluded by saying:“Not only are [the appellee designer's] rights to contract and to engage in her chosen occupation at stake in this case, but also the rights of the people of Alabama to contract with her. If a homeowner or businessperson wants to express himself by decorating his home or his office in a certain way, and if that person believes [appellee designer] can best provide the design that he desires, the State should not tell that person that he may not contract with [appellee designer] merely because [appellee designer] lacks state certification or an academic degree. Nor should this Court embrace the paternalistic notion that the average citizen is incapable of choosing a competent interior designer without the State's help. The economic liberty of contract remains a protected right in Alabama, especially in a field like interior design that involves expressive activity." ”

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Opposition to Legislation

AIA NKBA Institute of Justice Interior Design Freedom Coalition Decorators

Enforcing Legislation

State licensing board Fines for each incident (not project)

CEU’s

Continuing Education Units Ranges from 5 – 10 hours per year of

additional education Must be related to health, safety and

welfare Obtained thru ASID and IIDA and be

IDCEC approved.

CHAPTER 2

Special Considerations in Design

Two Important Design Considerations Design for special needs

ADA American with Disabilities Act of 1990 Universal Design Ambulatory impaired Hearing impaired Visual impaired Elderly

Environmental Considerations Waste Air pollution Light and energy

What is ADA?

The ADA is a federal civil law signed into legislation on July 26th, 1990 by President George Bush.

It prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities.

It is designed to make American society more accessible to persons with disabilities.

Background

The ADA laws became enforceable in 1992 and 1993.

The ADA is divided into 5 parts, regulating: Employment Public Services Public Accommodations Telecommunications Miscellaneous

Part III: Public Accommodations Refers mainly to accessibility

requirement of public buildings including: Hotels, restaurants, auditoriums, shopping

centers, banks, hospitals, museums, libraries, educational facilities, child care centers, and recreational facilities

This is the section that we will focus on.

Myths and Facts about ADA

MYTH: ADA requires business to spend lots of money to make their existing facilities accessible.

FACT: ADA law requires that public accommodations remove architectural barriers in existing facilities when it is “readily achievable” (Can be done “without much difficulty or expense.” Easy steps include adding ramps, installing grab bars, lowering paper towel dispensers, rearranging furniture, installing offset hinges to widen a doorway, painting new lines to create an accessible parking space.

Myths and Facts about ADA

MYTH: The government thinks everything is “readily achievable”.

FACT: Not true: Installing elevators is not considered “readily achievable.” Maybe there isn’t room to add a ramp, the business could provide curb-side service.

Myths and Facts about ADA

MYTH: The ADA requires extensive renovation of all state and local government buildings to make them accessible.

FACT: The ADA requires all government programs, not buildings to be accessible. Not every building, nor each part of every building need to be accessible. Structural modifications are required only when there is no alternative available for providing program access. Example: A library has an inaccessible second floor. No elevator is needed if a staff member retrieves the books needed.

Myths and Facts about ADA

MYTH: Businesses must pay large fines when they violate the ADA

FACT: Courts may levy civil penalties only in cases brought by the Justice Department, not private litigants. The Department only seeks such penalties when the violation is substantial and the business has shown bad faith in failing to comply. The Department also considers a business’ size and resources in determining whether civil penalties are appropriate.

What is an accessible route?An accessible route is a continuous,

unobstructed path connecting all accessible elements and spaces in a building or facility. This includes pathways, corridors, doorways, floors, ramps, elevators and clear floor space at fixtures.

RAMPS

Clear width shall be 44” Landings shall be at least 60” in length Slope rise to run ratio of 1:12 For every 30” rise, there should be an

intervening flat area. Handrails should extend 12” beyond the top

and bottom ramp landings. Handrails should have 1 ½” space between

the handrail and wall.

Entrances, Exits, and Interior Routes

36” Clear space beyond the latch side of the entrance door. 12-18” clear space at latch side of interior doors. 32” clear width on door openings. Door hardware not higher than 48”. Lever style door hardware. Maximum opening force of 8.5 lbs on exterior hinged doors. Maximum opening force of 5 lbs on interior doors. Threshold not higher than ½” with beveled edge. For two doors in a series, there must be 48” between the

open doors. Sweep period of door closing should be at least 3 seconds. Signs must be provided to denote the accessible route. Floor area inside and outside each door should be level for a

distance of 5’ from the direction the door swings. Doors should be identified with either raised or indented

letters/ numerals which identify the area. Doors signs should be placed between 4’-6” – 5’-6” AFF.

ManeuveringClearances

Obstructions

80” clear headroom to avoid overhead hazards. (Includes alarms, and signs)

Routes should be clear of water fountains, pay phones and other protruding objects. Objects with their leading edges between 27 and 80” high shall not protrude more than 4” into the route.

Objects with their leading edge at 27” or below may protrude any amount as long as the route does not reduce pathway clearance below 36” wide.

One 60” x 60” passing space every 200 feet

Protruding Objects…

Accessible Telephones

Accessible Controls

Stairs

Uniform step heights from 4” - 7” high Tread depths at 11” No overhang greater than 1 ½” Handrails extend 12” past last step

Restrooms

At least one restroom is provide on an accessible route. Unobstructed 60” x 60” space for wheelchair turn around. Toilet should be 18” from centerline to wall or adjacent

partition. Toilet seat should be 17”-20” high Stall door shall be 32” clear Standard accessible stall is 56” x 60” Grab bars at 33” – 36” AFF and 36” or 42” wide Lever style faucets Hot/cold pipe (if exposed) shall be covered Counter tops not higher than 34” AFF with at least 29”

clearance from floor to top of apron. Clear floor space in front of sink shall be 30” x 48” Mirrors shall be mounted with the bottom edge mounted no

higher than 40” AFF

Page 183 of The Codes Guidebook for Interiors

Lavatory Clearances

Drinking Fountains

One drinking fountain for every 75 occupants. Each floor must have it’s own fountain. If available, 50% should be accessible on

each floor. If only one available, is it on an accessible

route. Spout shall be no higher than 36” AFF Recessed fountains shall have 24” maximum

side walls and 30” minimum width. Clear floor space of 30’ x 48”

Universal Design

Design that meets the needs of all users without drawing attention to to persons with disabilities.

It is not the ADA. Homes should be planned universally

Universal recommendations Lever type handles Hard surface flooring Little to no thresholds (1/2” minimum) Wider doors (32” clearance) Level plan (no steps) Varying counter top heights with kneespace in

kitchen Taller toe kick (12” vs 4”) Reinforcing walls for future grab bars Wheelchair Accessible shower “D” shaped pulls on cabinets Window sills at a min. of 36” AFF

Hearing Impaired

Reduce noise reverberation and improve acoustics. (carpet or fabric wall coverings, ceiling tiles)

Good lighting for lip reading and signing Round tables are better than square or

rectangular Visual warning signs are needed. Telephone,

doorbell, alarm clock, fire alarm, crying baby.

Special phone systems TDD (Telecommunication device for the deaf

Visual Impairment Design around hearing and touch Textured door handles to indicate

danger Landing and curbs that are textures Handrails 1 foot beyond last step Always consider protruding objects Signage with Braille and audible signals Rounded edges on furniture and

counterops

Design for the Elderly

Limited mobility, loss of hearing, and loss of vision

Also, memory loss Use visual contrast (depth perception) Wayfinding Yellowing of cornea Incontinence

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS

Challenge to Society

“We stand at a crossroads. For the first time we face the prospect of irreversible changes in our planet’s life support

systems. The growing human population and the by-products of our industrial and technological society threaten our planets

air, water, climate and biodiversity. These threats present a challenge to our society – to learn to live in harmony with our

planet.”

The Center for Environmental Studies

Sustainable Design Definition Sustainable design, also referred to as green design, is

the design of products and structures with sensitivity to health and the environment. Special consideration is

placed on the impact of materials on the environment, not only in the conservation of natural resources, but

also in the health of built environments to the individuals that occupy them.

Leading the way

Manufacturers and the design community can lead the way to easing the burden on our country’s landfills. Through manufacturing processes And disposal of products

The environmental impact

of building is significant. In the US alone, buildings represent 65.2 % of electricity consumption 30% of total greenhouse gas emissions 136 million tons of construction and

demolition waste 33% of total waste in North America is

from construction renovation and demolition of buildings.

The US is falling behind!

While efforts are increasing to conserve, America is falling way behind other countries North America makes up 5% of the worlds

population yet uses 25% of the worlds energy.

People are consuming the earth’s resources 20% faster than its ability to support renewal.

What does this mean?

It means that the US is not doing its part to be the world leader.

If China and other developing nations were to emulate America’s resource consumption and wasteful lifestyle, the world would plunge into a tremendous economic and environmental crisis.

New Energy Law

Bans incandescent light bulbs by 2014

The phase-out of incandescent light is to begin with the 100-watt bulb in 2012 and end in 2014 with the 40-watt.

All light bulbs must use 25 percent to 30 percent less 2014. By 2020, bulbs must be 70 percent more efficient than they are today.

WHAT IS LEED?

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®)

LEED Certification

AIA Honolulu, LEED-CI Gold Intergen, LEED-CI Certified

LEED is a voluntary, consensus-based national standard (1999) for developing high-performance, sustainable buildings. Members of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) representing all segments of the building industry developed LEED and continue to contribute to its evolution.

LEED was created to:

define "green building" by establishing a common standard of measurement

promote integrated, whole-building design practices recognize environmental leadership in the building

industry stimulate green competition raise consumer awareness of green building

benefits transform the building market

LEED Rating Systems

LEED focuses on

Sustainable sites

Water efficiency

Energy and atmosphere

Materials and resources

Indoor environmental air quality

Innovation and design process

Waste and Green Products Renewable products (10 year cycle) vs. non

renewable Bamboo Cork rubber

Exotic woods and hardwoods are not renewable Use Non-toxic (low VOC) materials that don’t

off-gas Look for antimicrobial finishes No asbestos No formaldehyde No PVC

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC’s)

Asbestos: best known VOC and environmental concern

Used in resilient flooring prior to the 1980’s Used in ceiling coatings (Commons) EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) and

OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) regulate the handling of asbestos materials.

Formaldehyde (VOC)

Used in many products you will specify

Kitchen cabinets RTA furniture Any product made

of particle board, oriented strand board or MDF (Multi-Density Fiberboard)

Why is formaldehyde used?

Glue and adhesive in pressed wood (as a preservative)

Preservative in paints and coatings As a coating for permanent press

qualities for draperies Insulation materials

Symptoms of Formaldehyde

Watery eyes Burning sensations in the eyes, ears, nose

and throat Nausea Coughing Chest thightness Wheezing Skin rashes Allergic reactions

Reducing Formaldehyde

Manufacturers have new processes to control formaldehyde emission

US standards are the lowest in the world. Other ways to reduce emission

Let product age Use low emission resin technology Use formaldehyde scavengers (sulfite or

ammonia compounds) Use coatings and laminates (reduce by 95%)

as a vapor barrier

Poly Vinyl Chloride (PVC)

An inexpensive material that is very durable Used in flooring A source for Dioxin which is the most potent

carcinogen known to science Causes dysfunctions in the immune and

reproductive systems as well as birth defects.

Avoid products that contain PVC.

How do you find Green Products?

Look for the labels and read the specs Learn how a product was

manufacturered and shipped Green Seal Energy Star CRI Labels