The Americans with Disabilities Act, signed into law in 1990, is a wide-ranging act that attempts in most situations to minimize or eliminate discrimination based on disability. It is, in some ways, an important extension of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 which prohibited discrimination based on sex, religion or race. Affording those with disabilities the same rights makes the bill a rather complex one, as the definition of disability is wide, and encompasses a large range of different physical and mental disabilities.
The bill is split into five parts: employment, public entities, public accommodation, telecommunications, and miscellaneous. These parts define rules that the government, business community and citizens must conform to, to ensure that those with disabilities of one form or another can live as full a life as possible. Some example provisions include communication companies must make strides to ensure those with disabilities will also be able to use the majority of their services, or that hotels must allow those with physical disabilities access to the same facilities that others are afforded.
When it comes to intercoms, there is also ADA compliance for intercom height. This is because an intercom is also a communication device, and therefore is covered under the ADA. What this means for the average company is that their intercom system must be placed at a height which is accessible to all, including those who are in a wheelchair.
An intercom should therefore not be placed higher than 48 inches above the floor, if it requires access from the front. If the intercom can be accessed from the side, then this restriction goes up to 50 inches above the floor.
An additional ADA compliance for intercom is that objects such as intercoms should not protrude more than 4 inches into areas which are clearly corridors, walkways, or aisles. This is a safety issue, and also a matter of accessibility for those in a wide wheelchair.
Therefore the ADA does touch upon the installation of physical intercom systems, and if you are planning on installing a fixed-location intercom system it is required that you follow the above rules. These rules should be easy to follow, but it pays to know them beforehand and install your system correctly in the first place. Conforming to the ADA guidelines means you are building a world accessible to all, and should be seen as a basic human thought rather than a nuisance to your business.