JAN 19 1993



The Honorable Ernest F. Hollings
United States Senate
125 Russell Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510-4002

Dear Senator Hollings:

        In response to your inquiry on behalf of   (b)(6)     , I
am enclosing a copy of our response to        XX       concerning
the regulatory requirements of the Americans with Disabilities
Act for slip resistance of floors.

                                Sincerely,




                              John R. Dunne
                        Assistant Attorney General
                           Civil Rights Division

Enclosure






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(b)(6)
XX
Columbia, South Carolina 29224

Dear    XX

        This letter responds to your inquiry concerning the
regulatory requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act
(ADA) for slip resistance of floors.

        The ADA authorizes the Department of Justice to provide
technical assistance to individuals and entities with rights or
obligations under the Act. This letter provides informal
guidance to assist your constituent in understanding the ADA
accessibility standards. However, this technical assistance does
not constitute a legal interpretation of the statute and it is
not binding on the Department.

        Section 4.5.1 of the Americans with Disabilities Act
Accessibility Guidelines (page 35628 of the enclosed document)
requires ground and floor surfaces along accessible routes and in
accessible rooms and spaces to be stable, firm, and slip-
resistant. There are no enforceable standards for coefficients
of friction in the regulations. The Appendix to the Guidelines,
which is advisory only, discusses recommended coefficients of
friction in section A4.5.1 (page 35678). Because coefficients of
friction for flooring materials in place can be affected by
water, cleaning compounds, or other factors, and because it is
difficult to measure these coefficients under varying
environmental conditions, the recommended coefficients are
provided only as advisory guidance and not as regulatory
requirements.



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                                - 2 -

        Additional information regarding slip-resistance is
available from the Access Board by calling 800-USA-ABLE and
requesting its publication titled "Slip-Resistant Surfaces." In
addition, the Department of Justice maintains a telephone
information line to provide technical assistance regarding the
rights and obligations of individuals, businesses, agencies, and
others covered or protected by the ADA. This technical
assistance is available by calling 202-514-0301 (voice) or 202-
514-0383 (TDD) between 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through
Friday.

        I hope the information we have provided is helpful to you.

                                        Sincerely,




                                    John L. Wodatch
                                          Chief
                                  Public Access Section

Enclosure

01-01851
                                         (b)(6)
                                        XX
                                Columbia, SC 29224
                                        XX

The Honorable William Barr
U.S. Attorney General
U.S. Department of Justice, Room 5111
10th and Constitution Ave. N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20530                                       November 10, 1992

Dear Sir:

        We are greatly concerned about the apparent lack of enforcement by the 
Justice Department of the slip-resistant floor requirement of the Americans
With Disabilities Act of 1990.      XX       has called on hundreds of
businesses throughout the eastern part of South Carolina (Columbia to
Charleston) in an  effort to bring a safer environment to these organizations  
      XX(b)(6)         In many cases           XX       tested the floors for
the coefficient of friction with a slip meter. Virtually none of the floors
tested comply with the ADA 0.6 coefficient of friction standard for
public-access facilities set forth in the Act and most are not even close.
Even though the law called for all work to have been completed by January of
1992, XX       have been told by businessmen that they will only correct their
problems when it becomes expedient to do so. (meaning enforcement by your
organization.) Several have even gone so far as to XX       .

        It is difficult for me to write this letter XX
                XX      problem and we would
       XX       these businesses to comply with the law. The complete lack of
response on the part of the business community however, has prompted me to
write.               XX
XX

        We would appreciate knowing what plans you have for enforcing the law.

                                        Sincerely,
                                        (b)(6)
                                         XX


cc: Senator Strom Thurmond
    Senator Ernest Hollings

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