Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Americans with Disabilities Act?
The ADA is Federal civil rights legislation written and enacted to provide disabled people with access and accommodations equal to or similar to those of the general public. The ADA assumes that an individual has only one disability. For example, if a person is hearing impaired, the ADA assumes they are not visually handicapped also. The ADA went into effect January 26, 1992.

Who must comply with ADA requirements?
The ADA is Federal legislation and is applicable in all 50 states. Any person who owns, leases or operates a place of public accomodation must comply with the ADA requirements for elevator emergency telephones.

How does Rath Microtech's SmartPhone comply with the ADA requirements?
All SmartPhone models comply with the emergency communication requirements of the safety code for elevators and escalators. A preprogrammed emergency number is dialed automatically each time the SmartPhone is activated. Two-way communication is established between the elevator and emergency personnel at a point either inside or outside the building.

Location
The SmartPhone can be installed behind or below the car operating panel in the elevator. It is the responsibility of the installing contractor to make sure the highest operable part of the emergency phone is no more than 48 inches from the floor of the car.

Braille/Raised Letter Labels and Pictogram
Each SmartPhone has all the labels required by ADA. Operating instructions are provided in Grade 2 Braille and raised letters that meet all ADA specifications. The international telephone symbol pictogram appears on the face of the phone in both a raised and printed format.

Mechanical Operation
SmartPhone is a non-handset speaker phone activated by pressing a pushbutton. No tight grasping, pinching or twisting of the wrist is required. The force required to activate the SmartPhone is 3 LBF (foot pounds).

General Operation
Voice communication with the emergency service is not required. The SmartPhone is equipped with the Location Identification Message feature. This feature is a field recordable, 18 second message that notifies emergency services the exact location of the emergency. The message plays automatically when the incoming call is answered. The message can be programmed to play once, twice or until emergency services presses the * key. A sample message would be:

There is an elevator emergency at 123 Main Street, elevator number two.
Please send help

A red LED either on the SmartPhone or on the panel face lights when the phone is activated and flashes when the call is answered.