Skip to main content Skip to main menu

Accessible Seating in Buildings

The AODA has standards for the design of public spaces, but no standards for accessibility in other built environments. However, the Third Review of the AODA recommends improvements to all standards and laws governing buildings and public spaces. In addition, the review recommends that future AODA standards should align with existing standards in other parts of the country. For instance, Accessibility Standards Canada (ASC) and the Canadian Standards Association (CSA Group) have developed federal standards for accessibility in the built environment. Future AODA standards may include some or all of these guidelines and requirements to make buildings more accessible. In this article, we explore guidelines in the federal built environment standards for accessible seating in buildings.

Accessible Seating in Buildings

The standards list requirements for different types of seating, including seating areas:

  • At tables or counters
  • In rest areas
  • In assembly areas

Seating at Tables and Counters

For example, there should be space at tables or counters for people to approach with their assistive devices, such as wheelchairs or scooters. Moreover, the standards list requirements for these spaces, including:

  • Floor area
  • Table or counter height ranges
  • Knee and toe clearance

Rest Areas

Furthermore, the standards list requirements for rest areas with benches or seats along accessible routes. There should be a bench or seat every thirty metres (30 M) in a rest area. The standards provide height ranges for benches or seats. In areas with more than one (1) seat, some seats should have backrests. Conversely, other seats should have armrests. Alternatively, some seats should have both backrests and armrests. Seats should be firm. Similarly, surfaces below benches and seats should be firm and level. Likewise, nearby space should also be firm and level, to support people resting with their:

Rest areas should have good colour contrast with surrounding space.

Viewing Spaces in Assembly Areas

In addition, assembly areas with seating should have viewing spaces for people using assistive devices. For example, assembly areas include:

The standards outline how many viewing spaces an assembly area should have, based on its total number of fixed seats. In some cases, assembly areas should remove some of their fixed seating to make more viewing spaces. Similarly, the standards list measurements for the floor area of viewing spaces. Moreover, the spaces must be level.

Viewing spaces should be near fixed seating, and near accessible paths of travel leading to entrances and exits. Steps along aisles should have accent lighting at their edges, so people can navigate around them toward viewing spaces. Furthermore, at least fifty percent (50%) of these spaces should be in pairs. Conversely, the remaining spaces should be single spaces. In this way, some people can sit with friends also using viewing spaces. In contrast, other people using viewing spaces can sit with friends using fixed seats.

Adaptable Seating

In addition, some fixed seats in assembly areas should be adaptable. In other words, people may want to transfer from their assistive devices to fixed seats. Therefore, some fixed seats should be high enough for people to transfer easily. Like viewing spaces, adaptable seats should be near accessible paths of travel. Armrests on the aisle side of seats should be built so that people can move or remove them. Moreover, these seats should not block aisles or exits.

Finally, every level of an assembly area should include some viewing spaces and adaptable seats. Furthermore, spaces should be arranged so that people do not block each other’s view. For example, people standing should not block the sight lines of people in viewing spaces. Likewise, people seated in viewing spaces or adaptable seats should not block the sight lines of people in fixed seating. Similarly, rails protecting viewing spaces should not block anyone’s sight lines.

Back to top