TDLR no longer performing AB Inspections

"Beginning February 1, 2013, TDLR will no longer accept new requests to perform Architectural Barriers (AB) inspections. While TDLR may continue to conduct some public sector AB inspections for state leases and other state agencies, the agency is getting entirely out of the private market, which already performs 96% of the required inspections. This will free up TDLR inspectors to focus on inspections that are best performed by agency staff."

Please contact us for your inspection needs!

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New Technical Memorandums

Five Technical Memorandums applicable to the 2012 Texas Accessibility Standards requirements for safe harbor, wading pools, press boxes, private clubs, and employee break rooms have been issued by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR).

- TM 2012-05 Safe Harbor (19kb)
- TM 2012-06 Wading Pools (65kb)
- TM 2012-07 Press Boxes (82kb)
- TM 2012-08 Private Clubs (18kb)
- TM 2012-09 Employee Break Rooms (200kb)

You can see all Technical Memorandums issued by TDLR at http://www.license.state.tx.us/ab/techmemos.htm.

1994 TAS ADA/ABA Side-By-Side Comparison

1994 TAS ADA/ABA Side-By-Side Comparison This 681-page document provides a comparison between the 1994 Texas Accessibility Standards (TAS) and the 2010 Standards for Accessible Design which include guidelines issued under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Architectural Barriers Act (ABA). This is the working document developed by the Department in 2010 to be used by the TDLR Architectural Barriers Advisory Board during the review and implementation of the 2012 TAS; therefore, it is intended for informational purposes only since it does not reflect all additions, changes, or revisions made to the final adopted edition of the 2012 TAS. The file is 7 MB and is available on TDLR's web site at http://www.license.state.tx.us/ab/2012TAS/TASADAABAComparison.pdf .

A similar side-by-side comparison issued by the U. S. Access Board which includes the International Building Code (IBC) in addition to the 1991 and 2010 ADA guidelines is available on their website: http://www.access-board.gov/ada-aba/comparison/index.htm .

Busy day at TDLR!

TM 2012-01

Due to the adoption of the 2012 Texas Accessibility Standards (TAS) on March 15, 2012, the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation has re-issued the Technical Memorandum (TM) applicable to electric vehicle charging stations. TM 2012-01 reflects the applicable sections of the 2012 TAS in lieu of sections of the 1994 TAS.

View TM 2012-01

All Technical Memoranda issued prior to March 15, 2012 are now applicable only to construction projects eligible to comply with the 1994 TAS. Additional information about compliance dates for new construction and alterations of buildings and facilities subject to Chapter 469.003 is available on the TDLR's Elimination of Architectural Barriers page.

TDLR adopts amendments to EAB administrative rules

The Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation adopted amendments to 16 Texas Administrative Code, Chapter 68, §§68.10, 68.30, 68.31, 68.50, 68.65, 68.74, 68.76, 68.80, 68.100, 68.101, and 68.102 and the repeal of §68.103 and §68.104, regarding the Elimination of Architectural Barriers program. The effective date of the rule adoption is March 15, 2012. The updated rule chapter may be viewed at http://www.license.state.tx.us/ab/abrules.htm .

TDLR adopts amendments to EAB administrative rules

2012 TAS Compliance Criteria Amended

It has been brought to the Department’s attention that buildings and facilities may be constructed or altered in violation of federal accessibility requirements if the Department allows compliance with the 2012 Texas Accessibility Standards (TAS) to be based on the date a construction project is registered. Therefore, the compliance criteria for the 2012 TAS has been amended to be consistent with criteria established by the U.S. Department of Justice for public accommodations and commercial facilities.

Compliance with the 2012 TAS for new construction and alterations of all buildings and facilities subject to Chapter 469.003 is determined by:

•the date the last application for a building permit or permit extension is certified to be complete by a State, county, or local government;

•the date the last application for a building permit or permit extension is received by a State, county, or local government, where the government does not certify the completion of applications; or

•the start of physical construction or alteration, if no building permit is required.

If that date is on or after March 15, 2012, then new construction and alterations must comply with the 2012 TAS. If that date is on or after April 1, 1994, and before March 15, 2012, then new construction and alterations must comply with either the 1994 TAS or the 2012 TAS.

New TAS Approved

The final draft of the 2012 Texas Accessibility Standards (TAS) (2.7MB PDF) was approved for adoption by the Commission on November 1, 2011; however, the revised standards will not become effective until March 15, 2012. Until that time, compliance with the 1994 Texas Accessibility Standards is required.

Compliance with the 2012 TAS will be required on all buildings and facilities subject to Chapter 469.003 when:

- the construction project is registered with the Department on or after March 15, 2012 ; or

- the application for a building permit is issued by a state, county, or local government on or after March 15, 2012; or

- the commencement of construction begins on or after March 15, 2012.