Section 1003.1/Type A Accessible Dwelling Units
ICC ANSI A117.1 Section 1003 covers Type A accessible dwelling unit requirements including wider doors, reinforced bathroom walls, accessible kitchens, and adaptable features for residential construction.
Type A dwelling units provide a higher level of accessibility than the minimum accessible route requirements and are required by the IBC for a percentage of units in Group R-2 (apartments and condominiums). Section 1003 requires: all primary entrance doors must provide 32 inches minimum clear width per Section 404; interior doors on accessible routes must provide 31.75 inches minimum clear width; thresholds at exterior doors must not exceed 3/4 inch; walls around toilets, tubs, and showers must be reinforced for future grab bar installation (even if grab bars are not initially installed); at least one bathroom must have a 60-inch turning space or a T-shaped turning space; the kitchen must have 40 inches of clearance between opposing counters (or 36 inches at a U-shaped kitchen with a 60-inch clearance at the open end); all appliance controls and electrical outlets must be within reach range; and light switches must be at 48 inches maximum. Type A units are "adaptable": designed so accessibility features can be added later without structural modification.
Why this section exists
Type A units address the reality that people develop disabilities over their lifetime and may need accessible housing features in units that were not originally occupied by a person with a disability. The "adaptable" approach requires structural provisions (reinforced walls, wider doors, adequate clearances) during initial construction so that grab bars, roll-in showers, and accessible fixtures can be added later at minimal cost. Without Type A requirements, retrofitting a standard apartment for wheelchair accessibility often requires removing walls, relocating plumbing, and widening door frames, which is prohibitively expensive. The IBC requires Type A units in buildings with four or more dwelling units served by an elevator, or in ground-floor units.
What plan reviewers look for
Plan reviewers verify the correct number of Type A units based on the IBC requirement (typically 2% of units, with specific rules by floor and elevator access). They check door clear widths on the unit floor plan (32 inches at the primary entrance, 31.75 inches at interior doors). They verify bathroom wall reinforcement is noted on the drawings (blocking for grab bars at toilet, tub, and shower locations per Section 603). They check kitchen clearances between counters. They verify the 60-inch turning space in the bathroom and kitchen. They check receptacle and switch mounting heights.