Brickell Animal Hospital WAV# 129

Issue: The applicant is requesting a vertical accessibility waiver to the 2nd floor of the existing buildingdue to disproportionate cost.

Analysis: This project is a proposed alteration to Brickell Animal Hospital operates as a tenant at the

existing facility at 130 SE 8th Street, Suite 100 in Miami, Florida. The proposed cost of the alteration is

$137,246.00. The existing commercial building built in 1982 offers 2,599 SF of usable space and an

added 205 SF of circulation on 2 floors. The two floors are built of masonry construction with a concrete

2nd floor slab on a precast concrete joist system. As ground level tenant, Brickell Animal Hospital has

provided for full accessibly compliance on this level. Atthe 2nd floor level, under contract by Brickell

Animal Hospital for tenant improvement and services expansion, the design submitted for permit makes

all provisions necessary for accessibility within the interior space of this level in compliance with

advisory 202.3 alterations as per FBC 5th edition (2014) Accessibility. The 2nd floor level of the

expanded facility will be considered non-public pet kennel with office and a pet wash to be operated by

veterinary staff only.

The current facility has many challenges in orderto provide vertical accessibility. The lack of space on

the site to locate an exterior type lift, the lack of proper exterior circulation width per accessibility

requirements on the 2nd floor exterior walkway as well as restrictions within an already built and

operating business facility to place an interior lift has triggered this request to waive the vertical

accessibility requirements to the 2nd floor building due to hardship (operational and financial) to tenant

and their plan for improvements in retrofitting the existing building and structure to accommodate a lift.

We have been presented with two options for vertical lifts. Option A which is a Garaventa lift has an

estimated cost of $51,088 which comprises of 37% of the proposed fee for interior renovation. Option B

which is a Florida lift has an estimated cost of $58,867 which comprises of 42% of the proposed fee for

interior renovation. These two options and proposed fees for lifts, shaft and other costs associated with

the vertical accessibility are in line with the request that this accessibility waiver be granted due to

disproportionate cost.

Uploads

1. Interior Renovation plan

2. Photos of Property

3. Construction Cost Correction Letter

4. Floor plan with lift location options

5.2 Cost Estimates for Compliance with Bids for Vertical Access Lift.

6. Grounds for Waiver Letter.

7. Construction Contract

Project Progress:

This project is in plan review. (Alteration)

Items to be waived:

Vertical accessibility to the structure, as required by section 553.509, Florida Statutes.

553.509 Vertical accessibility. This part and the Americans with Disabilities Act Standards forAccessible Design do not relieve the owner o f any building, structure, or facilitygoverned by this part from the duty to provide vertical accessibility to all levels aboveand below the occupiable grade level, regardless ofwhether the standards require anelevator to be installed in such building, structure, or facility, except for:

(a) Elevator pits, elevator penthouses, mechanical rooms, piping or equipment catwalksand automobile lubrication and maintenance pits and platforms;(b) Unoccupiable spaces, such as rooms, enclosed spaces and storage spaces that are notdesigned for human occupancy, for public accommodations or for work areas; and(c) Occupiable spaces and rooms that are not open to the public and that house no morethan five persons, including, but not limited to equipment control rooms andprojection booths.(d)Theaters, concert halls, and stadiums, or other large assembly areas that havestadium-style seating or tiered seating if ss. 221 and 802 of the standards are met.(e)All play and recreation areas if the requirements of chapter 10 ofthe standards are met.(f)All employee areas as exempted in s. 203.9 ofthe standards.(g)Facilities, sites, and spaces exempted by s. 203 ofthe standards.(2)However, buildings, structures, and facilities must, as a minimum, comply with theAmericans with Disabilities Act Standards for Accessible Design.

206.2.4 Spaces and Elements. At least one accessible route shall connect accessible building orfacility entrances with all accessible spaces and elements within the building or facilitywhich are otherwise connected by a circulation path unless exempted by 206.2.3Exceptions 1 through 7.

402.2 Components Accessible routes shall consist of one or more of the following

components:

Walking surfaces with a running slope not steeper than 1:20, doorways, ramps, curbramps excluding the flared sides, elevators, and plat form lifts. All components o f anaccessible route shall comply with the applicable requirements of Chapter 4 and 208.3.1.

Waiver Criteria: There is no specific guidance for a waiver of this requirement in the code.The Commission's current rule, authorized in Section 553.512, Florida Statutes, provides criteriafor granting waivers and allows consideration ofunnecessary or extreme hardship to theapplicant if the specific requirements were imposed.