The guide path of a room is define by the objects near the walls, at 27 inches above the finished floor (AFF) or lower. The objects in this area are used for navigation for individuals with visual impairments. If no objects are present in this area, the wall is used as the guide path.
In the US, objects mounted higher than 27 inches AFF violate ADA requirements if they protrude more than four inches into the guide path.
In this example, a thin display is mounted to the wall and protrudes from the wall less than four inches. This setup is ADA compliant.
In this example, a camera is mounted below the display. The camera protrudes from the wall more than four inches. This setup is not ADA compliant.
In this example, a Heckler ADA Panel is mounted below the camera, and part of the panel is present 27 inches AFF. As the panel is detectible when navigated by individuals with visual impairments, the guide path in this area is now defined by the panel, not the wall. Heckler ADA Panels are three inches thick. Objects may protrude the guide path by up to four inches. Therefore, objects mounted above the panel may protrude up to seven inches form the wall and four inches left and right of the panel.
Use a laser level to mark the top edge of your preferred panel location.