Skyline’s Newest ADA-Compliant Window
The American with Disabilities Act has made great strides in improving the quality of life for many disabled apartment residents, but there's always more to be done.
New York—Getting around in a wheelchair is much more challenging when the physical environment isn’t set up correctly. The American with Disabilities Act (ADA) has made great strides in improving the quality of life for many disabled apartment residents, but there’s always more to be done. With this in mind, Skyline Windows has unveiled a new ADA-compliant pull handle casement window. The window features a multi-lock system that eliminates the need for a top handle, while still providing maximum performance. Traditionally, large casement windows require two handles in order to achieve maximum performance; one handle at the top of the window and one at the bottom. To meet ADA regulations, Skyline’s new pull handle casement window features just one handle, which is located at the bottom of the window and is therefore accessible from a wheelchair.
“As the building codes have evolved and changed we wanted to make sure we were offering the most up-to-date solutions to meet necessary building code requirements,” Matt Kraus, SVP of Skyline Windows, told MHN. “Handles must be within required dimensions from the floor. The concept of ADA compliance is not new and we did such projects as the NYC Medical Examiners building in the early 1980s featuring windows which could all be operated from a wheelchair.”
Kraus added that developers and architects are most concerned with getting their certificate of occupancy. “If code requirements are not met they can’t be issued their certificate of occupancy which then prevents them from allowing residents to live in the building. It is incumbent upon us to provide our clients with not only code compliant solutions, but to offer the elderly and those with special needs the ability to easily operate their windows.”
Skyline’s new ADA-compliant windows were recently installed at Connaught Tower, an Equity Residential co-op building at 300 East 54 Street in New York. The engineer for Connaught was WJE (Wiss Janney Eltsner) and the architect was Handel. “Equity was interested in providing every window in every apartment with full ADA compliance,” said Kraus.
“Our proprietary designs provide unique solutions that give us the ability to offer different products and solutions to satisfy ADA requirements,” Kraus added. This window also offers “night ventilation,” a feature that allows the resident to open the window very slightly before they go to bed so that a small amount of ventilation enters as they sleep.
