Coordinating Committee for the Removal of Architectural Barriers

The Coordinating Committee for the Removal of Architectural Barriers (CCRAB) serves the University of California, Berkeley as a subcommittee of the Chancellor’s Advisory Council on Disability & Accessibility Planning. CCRAB is administered on behalf of the ADA/504 Coordinator and the Vice Chancellor for Administration. The Committee meets as regularly as required (at least monthly) to ensure the physical accessibility of the university’s programs, services, and activities by reviewing plans for capital projects. CCRAB’s charge is to:

  • Review capital projects to ensure their accessibility as defined under the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act, Title 24 of the California Building Code, as well as other applicable law and university policies,

  • Monitor the effective execution of the university ADA Transition Plan,

  • Initiate capital projects, studies, and research projects that improve the physical accessibility of UC Berkeley facilities, and

  • Allocate Committee funds to improve the accessibility of properties under the university’s stewardship.

Scope of CCRAB Review

CCRAB serves as one component of the university’s process for complying with the Americans With Disabilities Act Access Guidelines (ADAAG) and Title 24 of the California Building Code (CBC). Specifically, CRABB reviews projects to ensure that:

  1. Path of Travel improvement requirements under Title 24 of the CBC Ch. 11B-202.4 (“Path of Travel Requirements in Alterations, Additions and Structural Repairs”) are executed as required,

  2. Determinations of Unreasonable Hardship and Technical Infeasibility as described in Title 24 of CBC 11B-202.4 Exception 8 are accurately assessed and documented, and

  3. The correct provisions of Title 24 of the CBC Ch. 11B are applied to project based on the university’s program plan for the facility.

CCRAB reviews projects either informally at the request of the Project Manager/client or formally at the direction of the Campus Building Department/Office for Disability Access & Compliance.

Voluntary reviews are performed on an informal basis to support projects at any phase (from conceptual design through 90% CD submittals). Project Managers may submit requests for review via this form.

For formal reviews, CCRAB interprets the application of California Building Code accessibility provisions and other relevant law to the project or evaluates requests for exemption from compliance with those provisions. Formal reviews are required for all projects in the categories described below, as well as at the direction of CBD/DAC.

Project Categories for CCRAB Consideration

CCRAB Review Required:

  • Construction of new facilities

  • Projects addressing the structural conditions of an existing facility

  • Projects which significantly alter the circulation route within an existing facility

  • Projects with an adjusted estimated construction cost exceeding the current valuation threshold when they:

    • request exemption from complete compliance as described in CBC 11-B 202.4 or

    • cannot identify readily removable barriers inside the project area or path of travel to the area of work.

Generally Exempted* from CCRAB Review:

  • Projects limited in scope to signage, repaving parking lots, replacements-in-kind of existing features, mechanical systems, cosmetic work, and non-fixed furniture. 

  • Projects solely for the purpose of removing existing access barriers initiated in response to an individual complaint. 

  • Projects with an adjusted estimated construction cost below the current valuation threshold (unless advised by CBD or DAC). The Campus Building Department will review projects for access compliance exempted in this way, including the application of path of travel improvement requirements.

*PMs may elect to bring projects exempted from CCRAB review (as described above) to the committee at their discretion. CCRAB will prioritize reviews for projects

Upcoming and Past CCRAB Calendar