Where is a LULA Elevator Allowed?
This questions comes up a great deal and the unfortunate answer is that it depends. To understand why the question is a little bit complex it helps to understand the differences between a LULA (Limited Use/ Limited Application) Elevator and a Full Commercial Passenger Elevator.
1.3. Passenger transportation facilities and airports (Group A-3 or B).
2. Levels that do not contain accessible elements or other spaces as determined by Section 1107 or 1108 are not required to be served by an accessible route from an accessible level.
4. Where a two-story building or facility has one story with an occupant load of five or fewer persons that does not contain public use space, that story shall not be required to be connected by an accessible route to the story above or below.
The Class of building being considered will dictate many things including whether an elevator is required but in general if a building is under 3 storeys then a passenger elevator is not required and a LULA elevator can be used in place of a full passenger elevator as part of barrier free accessibility design.
public facilities that are less than three stories and that are not open to the general public if the story above or below the accessible ground floor houses no more than five persons and is less than 500 square feet. Examples may include, but are not limited to, drawbridge towers and boat traffic towers, lock and dam control stations, and train dispatching towers.
Local building authorities may have additional requirements that negate the use of a LULA and they should be consulted during planning and permitting stages to ensure appropriate use.
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