Table 6.14 – Dispersion of Wheelchair Spaces and Lines of Sight in Assembly Areas Current Guidelines: 4.33.3 Placement of Wheelchair Locations. Wheelchair areas shall be an integral part of any fixed seating plan and shall be provided so as to provide people with physical disabilities a choice of admission prices and lines of sight comparable to those for members of the general public. They shall adjoin an accessible route that also serves as a means of egress in case of emergency. . . When the seating capacity exceeds 300, wheelchair spaces shall be provided in more than one location. . . . Exception: Accessible viewing positions may be clustered for bleachers, balconies, and other areas having sight lines that require slopes greater than 5 percent. Equivalent accessible viewing positions may be located on levels having accessible egress. Final Revised Guidelines: 221.2.2 Integration. Wheelchair spaces shall be an integral part of the seating plan. 221.2.3 Lines of Sight and Dispersion. Wheelchair spaces shall provide lines of sight complying with 802.2 and shall comply with 221.2.3. In providing lines of sight, wheelchair spaces shall be dispersed. Wheelchair spaces shall provide spectators with choices of seating locations and viewing angles that are substantially equivalent to, or better than, the choices of seating locations and viewing angles available to all other spectators. When the number of wheelchair spaces required by 221.2.1 has been meet, further dispersion shall not be required. . . . 221.2.3.1 Horizontal Dispersion. Wheelchair spaces shall be dispersed horizontally. Exceptions: 1. Horizontal dispersion shall not be required in assembly areas with 300 or fewer seats if companion seats required by 221.3 and wheelchair spaces are located within the 2nd or 3rd quartile of the total row length. Intermediate aisles shall be included in determining the total row length. If the row length in the 2nd and 3rd quartile of a row is insufficient to accommodate the required number of companion seats and wheelchair spaces, the additional companion seats and wheelchair spaces shall be permitted to be located in the 1st and 4th quartile of the row. 2. In row seating, two wheelchair spaces shall be permitted to be located side-by-side. 221.2.3.2 Vertical Dispersion. Wheelchair spaces shall be dispersed vertically at varying distances from the screen, performance area, or playing field. In addition, wheelchair spaces shall be located in each balcony or mezzanine that is located on an accessible route. Exceptions: 1. Vertical dispersion shall not be required in assembly areas with 300 or fewer seats if wheelchair spaces provide viewing angles that are equivalent to, or better than, the average viewing angle provided in the facility. 2. In bleachers, wheelchair spaces shall not be required to be provided in rows other than rows at points of entry to bleacher seating. 802.2 Lines of Sight. Lines of sight to the screen, performance area, or playing field for spectators in wheelchair spaces shall comply with 802.2. 802.2.1 Lines of Sight Over Seated Spectators. Where spectators are expected to remain seated during events, spectators in wheelchair spaces shall be afforded lines of sight complying with 802.2.1. 802.2.1.1 Lines of Sight Over Heads. Where spectators are provided lines of sight over the heads of spectators seated in the first row in front of their seats, spectators seated in wheelchair spaces shall be afforded lines of sight over the heads of seated spectators in the first row in front of wheelchair spaces. 802.2.1.2 Lines of Sight Between Heads. Where spectators are provided lines of sight over the shoulders and between the heads of spectators seated in the first row in front of their seats, spectators seated in wheelchair spaces shall be afforded lines of sight over the shoulders and between the heads of seated spectators in the first row in front of wheelchair spaces. 802.2.2 Lines of Sight Over Standing Spectators. Where spectators are expected to stand during events, spectators in wheelchair spaces shall be afforded lines of sight complying with 802.2.2. 802.2.2.1 Lines of Sight Over Heads. Where standing spectators are provided lines of sight over the heads of spectators standing in the first row in front of their seats, spectators seated in wheelchair spaces shall be afforded lines of sight over the heads of standing spectators in the first row in front of wheelchair spaces. 802.2.2.2 Lines of Sight Between Heads. Where standing spectators are provided lines of sight over the shoulders and between the heads of spectators standing in the first row in front of their seats, spectators seated in wheelchair spaces shall be afforded lines of sight over the shoulders and between the heads of standing spectators in the first row in front of wheelchair spaces. Model Codes & Standards IBC 2000: Section 1107.2.3 has similar requirements for dispersion of wheelchair spaces. IBC 2003: Section 1108.2.4 has similar requirements for dispersion of wheelchair spaces. ICC/ANSI A117.1-1998: Section 802.8 has similar requirements for lines of sight.