V. Special Considerations
Protection of Ornamental Materials: Special care shall
be taken to avoid penetration into stone, unpainted wood, unpainted metal,
ceramic materials, ornamental plaster, decorative painting, and other
ornamental finishes. Use the following rules of thumb for the placement
of hardware in ornamental wall finishes:
1. If the existing hardware is located
within 54 inches from the floor, for side reach accessibility, and within
49 inches from the floor, for front reach accessibility,* retain the
existing hardware in place. If new hardware is required, install it
in place of the existing hardware to avoid cutting a new hole in the
wall. Specify new hardware finishes matching the original hardware.
Consult the Regional Historic Preservation Officer to determine if salvaging
the original hardware is required.
Notify the Regional Historic Preservation
Officer in writing if retaining existing hardware in place will require
a waiver from the handicapped access code. State the code requirement
and the allowance (inches from required height) needed to reuse the
existing hardware. The preservation staff member reviewing the project
will prepare the waiver request for submission to the GSA Administrator.
2. If the existing hardware is located
above 54 inches from the floor, for side reach accessibility, or above
49 inches from the floor, for front reach accessibility, retain the
existing hardware in place. Cut the wall the minimum extent necessary
to install new, handicapped accessible hardware separately. Install
the new hardware (matching original hardware's finish) at a location
five to ten feet away from the existing hardware. When this is not possible,
align new and old hardware vertically.
Do not install new and old hardware together on an enlarged
backplate. Do not remove old hardware and cover hole with an enlarged
backplate. The intent is to minimize cutting into the ornamental wall
material."