NC Department of Insurance
Office of the State Fire Marshal - Engineering Division
1202 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1202
919-661-5880
Construction of Accessible Route to Temporary Buildings
Code: 2002 Accessibility Code
Section: 3.3.1
Date: April 4, 2006
Question:
Our school system will install modular classrooms on a temporary basis as a solution to a
shortage of classroom space. Because of cost, we would like to install compacted
crushed stone screenings as the accessible path of travel to the modular classrooms. Is
this acceptable?
Answer:
Code Sections 3.1.1 and 3.1.3 require an accessible path of travel onto the site and in
between buildings and elements on-site. This includes temporary buildings.
Section 3.3.1 of the Accessibility Code states:
"Public walks shall be fixed, firm and non-slip."
There is no further assistance in the Code regarding what constitutes "fixed, firm and
non-slip". The fixed, firm, non-slip surface is required whenever the accessible path of
travel is required.
Compacted gravel, washed stone, crusher run, or stone screenings are not acceptable.
The walkway is required to be an all-weather surface that will remain in place on slopes
and drain without developing cracks or ruts or becoming soft or yielding in rainy
weather. Very few surfaces, unless properly prepared, will do that unless they are asphalt
or concrete paved.
If the cost of asphalt or concrete is too great, a design by a professional engineer may be
accepted. The engineer should certify that this design has been installed in other
locations and has been found to meet the "fixed, firm and non-slip" requirement in rainy
weather. The engineer should be required to inspect the construction of the walkway as it
is installed and certify that it meets the design.