CSA recommends that every business or commercial facility owner should at the very least, perform a “high speed” architectural barrier assessment. The goal of this basic walkthrough assessment will be to identify the number, type and severity of deficiencies or items that do not comply with either current or previous ADA standard or regulatory statute. Items that do not meet specifications for the requirements of compliance are then noted without being formally documented in a report. The assessment is often later used as the foundation for a full barrier remediation plan which sometimes includes basic problem solving and innovative cost solutions. CSA works with clients to identify these conditions that often impede access to your business or institution by people with physical disabilities. The most common types of barriers are seen in areas such as: Parking spaces and aisles; Parking signage; Passenger loading zones; Interior reception areas, corridors, lobbies and toilet rooms; Exterior paths of travel; Exterior ramps and curb ramps and routes to site arrival points and public right-of-ways.

CSA provides a Standard ADA architectural barrier survey that includes documenting each existing noncompliant condition. A spin off of the high speed assessment, this process driven inspection utilizes a series of digital photographs containing tape measurements and slope readings to explain each barrier condition. A barrier severity code is then determined and applied to each noncomplying condition. Barrier severity codes help the owner determine those areas of a facility that may be a potential safety concern, blocks access or creates a major or minor inconvenience for persons with disabilities. For full confidentiality and protection of information, CSA recommends businesses owners perform full barrier surveys under advice of their legal counsel.

Our Accessibility Survey Report provides much more than just listing items that are out of compliance. Knowing how to bring the item into compliance is important. Knowing which requirement you must meet (federal, state or other) is another important factor. Consulting firms that do building condition surveys usually address ADA and FHA on a very basic level as part of their overall reports. CSA performs in-depth detailed surveys, and our reports indicate a proposed solution and budget cost for implementing each item. Our reporting software contains an internal cost estimator for each region or area of the country.