UFAS 100%

Lessons 1-9 review

Lesson 10: Review and practice questions

Lessons 1-9 review · 20 practice questions

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Reading

This lesson pulls the nine lessons of this course into one place. It introduces no new dimensions; every figure below was already verified in Lessons 1 through 9. Use it as a map back to the lesson covering a topic in depth, and the questions to find any gaps.

When UFAS applies under 24 CFR Part 8

UFAS, published August 7, 1984 under the Architectural Barriers Act, was jointly adopted by GSA, HUD, DoD, and USPS. GSA, USPS, and DoD each moved to the newer ABA Accessibility Standards; HUD did not. 24 CFR 8.32 states that conformance with UFAS sections 3 through 8 "shall be deemed to comply" with HUD's design, construction, and alteration requirements in 8.21, 8.22, 8.23, and 8.25. Those rules cover facilities designed, constructed, or altered after July 11, 1988; where design began before that date, they apply "to the maximum extent practicable." That is why UFAS is still the standard HUD applies to GCHS's housing.

The 5 percent and 2 percent unit rules, and the substantial-alteration test

UFAS sets the technical design of an accessible unit; 24 CFR Part 8 sets how many units need it. Section 8.22(b) requires new construction to make at least 5 percent of units (or 1) accessible for mobility impairments, plus a separate 2 percent (or 1) for hearing or vision impairments. Section 8.23(a) applies those percentages to an alteration only at 15 or more units and 75 percent or more of replacement cost. Below that, Section 8.23(b) requires alterations to be made accessible to the maximum extent feasible until 5 percent of units are accessible. Section 8.26 requires accessible units distributed, not clustered.

The building-block numbers: space, reach, and surfaces

Section 4.2 sets dimensions repeated throughout UFAS: 36 inches for continuous wheelchair passage, a 60-inch turning space, a 30-by-48-inch clear floor space, forward reach of 15 to 48 inches, and side reach of 9 to 54 inches unobstructed. Section 4.4 caps protruding objects at 4 inches between 27 and 80 inches high, with 80 inches of headroom. Section 4.5 governs level changes: 1/4 inch needs no treatment, 1/4 to 1/2 inch needs a bevel, and anything greater needs a ramp.

Getting there: routes, parking, and ramps

Section 4.3 sets an accessible route's minimum width at 36 inches with a 1:50 maximum cross slope; above 1:20 slope, a surface becomes a ramp. UFAS ties parking counts to a table keyed to lot size, and sizes a standard space at 96 inches with a 60-inch aisle; for a van space it recommends a 96-inch aisle, while the 2010 ADA Standards make a van space 132 inches wide with a 60-inch aisle unless the space is 96 inches wide with a 96-inch aisle. Curb ramps and ramps cap slope at 1:12 in new construction, with ramps capped at 30 inches of rise per run, handrails above a 6-inch rise, and a 2-inch minimum edge curb.

Doors and vertical access

Section 4.13.5 sets minimum clear doorway width at 32 inches, and Figure 25 sets maneuvering clearances that vary by approach and by pushing or pulling. Stairs require an 11-inch minimum tread, prohibit open risers, and mount handrails 30 to 34 inches above the nosings. Elevators must self-level within 1/2 inch, with set dimensions for buttons, lanterns, and reopening devices. A platform lift may stand in for an elevator only where no other alternative is feasible.

Toilet and bathing facilities

Water closets sit 17 to 19 inches high with grab bars at least 36 inches (rear) and 42 inches (side) long, as drawn in Figure 29. Toilet stalls are drawn 60 inches wide in Figure 30(a), with 9 inches of toe clearance. Lavatories cap rim height at 34 inches with at least 29 inches from the floor to the bottom of the apron. Section 4.26 sets one shared rule behind every grab bar: 1-1/4 to 1-1/2 inches in diameter, 1-1/2 inches of wall clearance, and a 250-pound-force load rating. The fixture figures place the bars 33 to 36 inches above the floor.

Alarms and signage

An audible alarm must exceed ambient sound by at least 15 decibels, or any 30-second maximum by 5, whichever is louder, never exceeding 120 decibels; a visual alarm must flash under 5 Hz. Sleeping accommodations need a wired visual alarm or a 110-volt receptacle, with instructions. Signage requires set character proportions, contrast, raised characters for tactile reading, and mounting on the latch side, 54 to 66 inches above the floor. Section 4.34.2(10) carries the alarm rule into the unit, and 8.22(b)'s 2 percent figure scopes how many units need it.

Dwelling unit kitchens and baths

A unit may be built permanently accessible or adaptable, with documentation of how an adaptable feature converts later. Kitchens need 40 inches of clearance between opposing counters (60 inches U-shaped), a 30-inch counter section at 34 inches maximum or adjustable to 28, 32, or 36 inches, and a sink bowl no deeper than 6.5 inches. Section 4.27 governs every control: reach ranges matching Section 4.2, receptacles at least 15 inches above the floor, and one-hand operation at no more than 5 pounds of force.

HUD's 2014 alternative and where the rule stands today

HUD's May 23, 2014 notice, docket FR-5784-N-01, lets a recipient use the 2010 ADA Standards instead of UFAS, only in full, with HUD's exceptions layered on top for alteration scoping, common-use and employee work areas, vehicular-only site connections, private-building elevator exemptions, the visible-alarm trigger, and common-use laundry equipment. Real differences remain: UFAS's 54-inch, 9-inch side reach differs from the 2010 ADA Standards' 48-inch, 15-inch range, and UFAS requires front-loading common-use laundry where the 2010 ADA Standards allow top-loading. The official notices checked for this course show no change finalized as of September 2026: HUD's April 25, 2023 Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking sought comment, closing July 24, 2023, and no later proposed or final rule turned up. UFAS remains the rule GCHS works under today.

Key numbers board

8.22/8.23(a): 5%+2% units; 15+ units, 75%+ replacement cost. Turning space: 60 in. Route/ramp: 36 in. min., 1:12 max slope. Doors: 32 in. min. Grab bars: 33-36 in., 250 lbf. Alarms: +15 dB, 120 dB cap; flash under 5 Hz. Signage: latch side, 54-66 in. Kitchen counter/sink: 34 in. max. Side reach, UFAS vs. ADA: 54/9 in. vs. 48/15 in.

Key numbers board across UFAS Lessons 2 through 9 A ten-row table of key numbers from Lessons 2 through 9: unit percentages, the substantial-alteration test, turning space, route and ramp figures, door width, the grab bar band, alarm thresholds, sign mounting, kitchen counter and sink height, and the UFAS-versus-2010-ADA side reach comparison, each naming its section number and source lesson. Topic Key number Lesson Unit percentages (8.22) 5% + 2% L2 Substantial alteration (8.23a) 15+ units, 75%+ cost L2 Turning space (4.2.3) 60 in. circle or T L3 Route and ramp (4.3, 4.8.2) 36 in.; 1:12, 30 in. L4 Door clear width (4.13.5) 32 in. minimum L5 Grab bars (4.26, fixture figures) 33-36 in. (figs.); 250 lbf L6 Alarms (4.28) +15 dB, 120 cap; <5 Hz L7 Sign mounting (4.30.6) Latch side, 54-66 in. L7 Kitchen counter/sink (4.34.6) 34 in. max, or 28/32/36 L8 Side reach, UFAS vs. ADA 54/9 in. vs. 48/15 in. L9 Every number checked against its own section, cited above.
Ten key numbers from Lessons 2 through 9, each keeping its section number.

Why this matters for GCHS

GCHS jobs rarely touch one section at a time. A single bathroom remodel can involve the substantial-alteration question from Lesson 2, the reach ranges from Lesson 3, the grab bar rule from Lesson 6, and, if the 2010 ADA Standards were elected, the side-reach difference from Lesson 9, all at once. Keeping the numbers straight across sections is what keeps a project compliant end to end.

Practice questions

1. Under HUD's own regulation, 24 CFR 8.32, why does UFAS remain a live compliance standard for GCHS's HUD-funded work even though GSA, USPS, and DoD have all moved to the current ABA Accessibility Standards?

  1. HUD adopted the 2004 ABA Standards in 2010, the same year as the other three agencies
  2. UFAS binds only federal buildings, never HUD-funded housing
  3. GCHS itself is a federal agency required to follow UFAS directly
  4. Section 8.32 states that conformance with UFAS sections 3 through 8 "shall be deemed to comply" with HUD's design and construction requirements, and HUD has not adopted the ABA or 2010 ADA Standards outright

2. UFAS was published in the Federal Register on what date, and under what federal law was it jointly developed and adopted?

  1. March 15, 2012, under the Americans with Disabilities Act
  2. August 7, 1984, under the Architectural Barriers Act of 1968, as amended
  3. July 11, 1988, under the Fair Housing Act of 1968, as amended, by HUD alone
  4. 2004, under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, jointly by the Access Board and the Department of Justice

3. Under 24 CFR 8.22(b), new HUD-funded multifamily housing must provide accessible units in what split?

  1. 2 percent for mobility impairments, 5 percent for hearing or vision impairments
  2. 7 percent combined, with no separate counts kept
  3. A minimum of 5 percent of units (or 1, whichever is greater) for mobility impairments, plus an additional 2 percent (or 1) for hearing or vision impairments
  4. 10 percent for mobility impairments only, with no hearing/vision requirement

4. Field scenario: GCHS is scoping a rehab of a 22-unit HUD-assisted apartment building where the alteration is budgeted at 80 percent of the building's replacement cost. Which standard governs the required accessible-unit count?

  1. No accessibility standard applies, since this is existing housing, not new construction
  2. The 2010 ADA Standards automatically, regardless of any HUD election
  3. Section 8.22's full new-construction percentages, because the project meets both parts of 8.23(a)'s substantial-alteration test: 15 or more units, and 75 percent or more of replacement cost
  4. Section 8.23(b), "maximum extent feasible," because any alteration work defaults there

5. Under Section 4.2.5, unobstructed forward reach runs from what minimum to what maximum height above the floor?

  1. 9 inches minimum to 54 inches maximum
  2. 15 inches minimum to 44 inches maximum
  3. 9 inches minimum to 48 inches maximum
  4. 15 inches minimum to 48 inches maximum

6. Under Section 4.5.2, a floor level change of 5/8 inch requires what treatment?

  1. A beveled edge sloped no steeper than 1:2, the same treatment allowed for a 3/8-inch change in level
  2. 5/8-inch level changes are prohibited outright under any circumstance
  3. No treatment is required at that height
  4. A ramp or similar sloped transition, since 5/8 in. exceeds the 1/2 in. limit for a bevel

7. Under Section 4.3, what is the maximum cross slope allowed on an accessible route?

  1. There is no cross-slope limit on an accessible route
  2. 1:12
  3. 1:20
  4. 1:50

8. Field scenario: A GCHS-built ramp has a compliant 1:12 slope and a 28-inch rise in a single run, with a full 36-inch clear width, but no landing at the top and no handrails anywhere along the run. Is this ramp compliant with Section 4.8?

  1. No, but only because a 36-inch clear width is too narrow for a ramp with a 28-inch rise
  2. No; 4.8.4 requires landings at both ends of a run and 4.8.5 requires handrails above a 6-inch rise
  3. Yes, because slope and rise are the only two figures that Section 4.8 regulates, and both are within the limits
  4. Yes, because a rise under 30 inches never requires a landing

9. Under Section 4.13.5, what is the minimum clear opening width of a doorway on an accessible route?

  1. 28 inches
  2. 32 inches
  3. 30 inches
  4. 36 inches

10. Under Section 4.9.4, at what height above the stair nosings must a handrail's gripping surface be mounted?

  1. 24 to 28 inches
  2. 36 to 42 inches, fixed
  3. 34 to 38 inches
  4. 30 to 34 inches

11. Under Section 4.16.3, what is the required height range for an accessible water closet, measured to the top of the seat?

  1. 19 to 21 inches
  2. 17 to 19 inches
  3. 14 to 16 inches
  4. 15 to 17 inches

12. Field scenario: A GCHS crew installs a shower stall grab bar rated to resist a 200 pound-force load without failure. Does this meet Section 4.26.3?

  1. No; Section 4.26.3 requires resisting a 250 pound-force load, so a 200 lbf rating falls short
  2. Yes, because 200 lbf is well above ordinary hand-load use
  3. Yes, because Section 4.26.3 only regulates a grab bar's diameter and wall clearance, not its load rating
  4. Yes, since any load rating above 100 lbf satisfies UFAS

13. Under Section 4.28.2, how much must an audible emergency alarm exceed ambient sound by, and what ceiling may it never exceed?

  1. At least 15 dB over ambient (or 5 dB over any 30-second maximum, whichever is louder), never exceeding 120 dB
  2. Exactly 10 decibels over ambient in every room, with no stated ceiling on alarm sound levels
  3. At least 20 decibels over ambient, or 10 decibels over any 30-second maximum, whichever is louder, never exceeding 110 decibels
  4. At least 5 decibels over ambient or 15 over any 30-second maximum, never exceeding 130 decibels

14. Under Section 4.30.6, where and at what height must required interior room signage be mounted?

  1. Anywhere in the room, at standing eye level
  2. On the hinge side of the door, at any convenient height between 48 and 72 inches above the floor
  3. Alongside the door on the latch side, between 54 and 66 inches above the finished floor
  4. On the face of the door itself, at exactly 48 inches

15. Under Section 4.34.6.1, what clearance must separate opposing base cabinets, countertops, appliances, or walls in a U-shaped kitchen?

  1. 36 inches minimum
  2. 40 inches minimum, the same as any other kitchen layout
  3. 60 inches minimum
  4. 30 inches minimum

16. Field scenario: A GCHS kitchen remodel has a compliant 34-inch counter section and the correct 30-by-48-inch clear floor space at the sink, but the faucet is a round knob that requires a firm twist to turn on. Does this comply with Section 4.27.4?

  1. No; Section 4.27.4 requires controls usable without tight grasping, pinching, or twisting, so the twist knob fails
  2. Yes, because faucet handle type is outside the scope of Section 4.27
  3. Yes, because the 34-inch counter height and the 30-by-48-inch clear floor space are the only requirements that matter here
  4. No, but only because the counter should have been 36 inches instead of 34 inches

17. HUD's May 23, 2014 Federal Register notice, docket FR-5784-N-01, permits a HUD recipient to do what?

  1. Ignore Section 504 accessibility requirements for new construction going forward when a 2010 ADA design is used
  2. Use the 2010 ADA Standards instead of UFAS, but only with the exceptions HUD attaches
  3. Repeal UFAS entirely for all HUD-funded housing
  4. Mix individual UFAS and 2010 ADA provisions freely, element by element, on the same project

18. As of September 2026, what do the official notices checked for this course show about HUD's Section 504 rulemaking on a possible replacement for UFAS?

  1. HUD's April 25, 2023 Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking sought comment; no proposed or final replacement rule turned up
  2. HUD repealed 24 CFR Part 8 entirely in 2025 and replaced it with a rule that adopts the 2010 ADA Standards without exceptions
  3. HUD has taken no action of any kind on this question since UFAS was published in 1984, including notices seeking public comment
  4. HUD's final rule adopted the 2010 ADA Standards outright, effective in 2024, and repealed the 2014 alternative-standard notice

19. Field scenario: GCHS is scoping a 12-unit HUD-assisted rehab where alteration costs will run 90 percent of the building's replacement value. Because the project has fewer than 15 units, which section governs, and what technical rulebook applies to the units that must be made accessible?

  1. Section 8.23(a)'s substantial-alteration threshold is not met because the project has fewer than 15 units, so Section 8.23(b)'s "maximum extent feasible" standard applies instead, with UFAS (or the 2010 ADA Standards, if properly elected under the 2014 notice) still supplying the technical requirements
  2. The 2010 ADA Standards apply automatically to every project under 15 units, with no HUD election required
  3. Section 8.22 applies automatically regardless of unit count, with UFAS sections 3 through 8 as the technical rulebook
  4. No accessibility standard applies to any project with fewer than 15 units

20. Field scenario: A GCHS project elects the 2010 ADA Standards under HUD's 2014 notice for a HUD-funded rehab. The design sets a light switch at 50 inches with an unobstructed side approach, citing UFAS's 54-inch maximum, and specifies a top-loading common-use washer, citing Section 611 of the 2010 ADA Standards. Are both choices compliant?

  1. Yes, because side reach and laundry equipment fall outside the scope of the 2010 ADA Standards entirely
  2. No, but only because of the light switch height; the top-loading washer is acceptable either way
  3. No; having elected the 2010 ADA Standards, the design must follow that standard's own 48-inch side-reach maximum, so 50 inches fails, and HUD's 2014 notice still requires UFAS 4.34.7's front-loading rule for common-use laundry regardless of which standard is elected
  4. Yes, because electing the 2010 ADA Standards means every 2010 ADA number and every 2010 ADA exception applies without exception

Glossary

UFAS
Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards, published August 7, 1984 under the Architectural Barriers Act; still applied by HUD for residential facilities under 24 CFR 8.32.
Substantial alteration
Under 24 CFR 8.23(a), an alteration to a project of 15 or more units costing 75 percent or more of the replacement cost of the completed facility; triggers the same accessible-unit percentages as new construction under 8.22.
Accessible route
The continuous, unobstructed path connecting accessible site elements to a building entrance and through it; 36 inches wide minimum with a 1:50 maximum cross slope under Section 4.3.
Grab bar
A wall-mounted support bar required at water closets, tubs, and showers; Section 4.26 sets a shared 1-1/4-to-1-1/2-inch diameter, 1-1/2-inch wall clearance, and 250-pound-force load rating for every fixture that requires one, and the fixture figures place the bars 33 to 36 inches above the floor.
HUD's 2014 alternative-standard notice
HUD's May 23, 2014 Federal Register notice, docket FR-5784-N-01, permitting a recipient to use the 2010 ADA Standards instead of UFAS, subject to a specific list of HUD-attached exceptions.
Adaptable design
An accessible dwelling unit built with required clearances and structural blocking in place, but with certain features, most often counter heights, designed to convert later without reconstruction, under Section 4.34.3.
Reach range
The height band within which a control must fall to be usable from a seated position; forward reach is 15 to 48 inches and side reach is 9 to 54 inches under UFAS Sections 4.2.5 and 4.2.6, both reduced over an obstruction.
Clear floor space
The 30-by-48-inch minimum footprint a stationary wheelchair needs in front of a fixture or control, required under Section 4.2.4.1 and repeated throughout the toilet, bathing, and kitchen sections of this course.
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