National Parking Association Releases White Paper Outlining Accessibility Regulations and Guidelines for Electric Vehicle Recharging Stations

The National Parking Association has released a white paper outlining regulations, guidelines and considerations regarding the installation of electric vehicle recharging stations. The white paper, “Accessibility of Electric Vehicle Recharging,” was written by NPA Parking Consultants Council (PCC) member Mary S. Smith.

Smith, senior vice president, Walker Parking Consultants, is an NPA Parking Consultants Council member in good standing. The NPA’s PCC is the only peer-reviewed council in the parking industry, representing top consulting firms, engineers and architects vetted for their qualifications and excellence.

The paper provides information regarding the application of Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessibility standards to electric vehicle recharging stations. The white paper highlights how local and federal regulations may impact the design and installation of electric vehicle recharging stations.

“A challenge that often occurs with new technology is meeting requirements for accessibility before there are codes and guidelines for design and installation,” said Smith. “The parking industry is now facing these issues relative to making Electric Vehicle Charging Stations (EVCS) accessible. There are some technological problems that have yet to be solved, but in the meantime, building owners must do what is possible to make the installations accessible.”

The white paper covers the five major topic areas related to the law, compliance and effective design and layout of EV charging spaces within surface lot and multi-level parking facilities:

• ADA regulations nationally and state considerations
• EV charging station layout, stall counts and design
• Good faith compliance efforts related to technology limits on accessibility
• Parking stall layout and accessible route mapping
• Reach ranges and guidelines affecting selection of EVCS units

Smith is director of Parking Consulting for Walker Parking Consultants and a former chair of NPA’s PCC. Since joining the firm in 1975, she has become widely acknowledged as the world’s leading parking planner/ functional designer. She has consulted on projects from Barcelona, Spain, to Tokyo, Japan.

She is a co-author of Parking Structures: Planning, Design, Construction, Maintenance, and Repair. In addition, she has authored numerous articles and publications and frequently speaks at conferences. Smith also served as parking consultant to the World Trade Center after the February 1993 bombing, and, following the Oklahoma City bombing, on a team that developed security design standards for U.S. government buildings.

NPA members can download a copy of the paper at www.npapark.org, members only section.

As a policy position, NPA supports the free enterprise system and is opposed to excessive rules and regulations that are disincentives for employment. NPA partners with The U.S. Chamber of Commerce to advocate on behalf of business and supports the policy platform efforts with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s plan to control costs, improve quality, and expand access for healthcare.

About NPA

The National Parking Association is the nation's leading parking trade group advancing the interests of the private and public sector in parking technology, sustainable mobility, certification, advocacy, research and education. Founded in 1951, NPA has more than 2,300 members and represents all segments of the parking industry. Online at www.npapark.org.