Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Information

Note – All 6 Door High, 10 Door High, and ADA/ADS High 4C horizontal standard configurations meet ADA reach requirements for all mailboxes and parcel lockers when installed at required heights. In addition, the remainder of the 4C horizontal mailbox models have tenant compartments that are compliant with those limits.  The Americans with Disabilities Act section that covers clear space and reach dimensions and applicable to both 4C horizontal mailboxes and Cluster Box Units are noted below:

Figure 1

Forward Reach Requirement

Forward reach from a wheelchair is covered in Section 308.2.1 of the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design published by the U.S. Department of Justice (September 15, 2010). It states: “Where a forward reach is unobstructed, the high forward reach shall be 48 inches (1220 mm) maximum and the low forward reach shall be 15 inches (380 mm) minimum above the finish floor or ground.” See Figure 1.

The 48” maximum high forward reach is also found in the USPS requirements where at least one tenant mailbox must be located less than 48” above the finished floor. The 15” lower limit is also found in the USPS requirements as the lowest position above the finished floor for the shelf surface of a parcel locker.

Figure 2

Side Reach Requirement

Side reach from a wheelchair is covered in Section 308.3.1 of the same document. It states: “Where a clear floor or ground space allows a parallel approach to an element and the side reach is unobstructed, the high side reach shall be 48 inches (1220 mm) maximum and the low side reach shall be 15 inches (380 mm) minimum above the finish floor or ground.” See Figure 2.

The 48” maximum high side reach is also found in the USPS requirements where at least one tenant mailbox must be located less than 48” above the finished floor. The 15” lower limit is also found in the USPS requirements as the lowest position above the finished floor for the shelf surface of a parcel locker.

1. The floor of the lowest patron mailbox shall be no less than 28″ above the finished floor (AFF).
2. The patron lock in the highest mailbox shall be no more than 67″ above the finished floor.
3. The USPS Arrow lock (master door lock) opening must be a minimum of 36″ and a maximum of 48″ above the finished floor.
4. The floor of the lowest parcel locker shall be no less than 15″ above the finished floor.
5. The master access door(s) must be allowed to open a minimum of 90 degrees with no obstruction.
6. There must be at least one parcel locker for every (5) five patron mailboxes in installations of (5) five or more patron mailboxes. There is no requirement for parcel lockers in installations of less than (5) five patron mailboxes, but one or more parcel lockers are recommended.