ADA Ice Machines

What makes an ice machine "ADA"?

The ADA doesn't certify individual appliances. A machine is described as ADA-compliant when it can be installed so that the space around it meets the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design. For an undercounter ice maker, three requirements matter most:

A standard 33-1/2-inch undercounter machine usually needs a counter about 35-36 inches high once you allow for the countertop and clearance. A 31-1/2-inch machine fits under a 34-inch accessible counter.

See the U.S. Access Board guide to operable parts for the reach and operating-force rules. Your architect or accessibility consultant decides compliance for the whole space.

The four ADA models

All four are Hoshizaki, air-cooled, 115V, R290 refrigerant, with front-in, front-out airflow. Specifications from each product page.

Cubelet or top hat?

For most accessible break rooms, clinics and nurses' stations, the cubelet machine is the practical choice: it makes more ice, uses far less water and the ice is easy to chew. The top hat machine is for hospitality settings where presentation matters.

AD or ADDS?

• -AD: a stainless steel door, ready to install.
• -ADDS: Hoshizaki's custom cabinet door system. You supply a decorative panel that matches the surrounding cabinetry, so the machine disappears into the millwork. The panel is not included. Confirm the panel specification and the finished opening before the cabinetry is ordered.

ADDS models suit hotel rooms, executive suites, conference rooms, accessible residential-style kitchens and anywhere the design calls for a built-in look.

Where ADA ice machines are used

• Hotels: accessible guest rooms and suites, accessible hospitality suites and lounges.
• Healthcare: nurses' stations, patient nourishment areas and accessible staff break rooms.
• Offices and public buildings: accessible break rooms and kitchenettes.
• Education: staff rooms and accessible kitchen classrooms.
• Residential and senior living: accessible kitchens and wet bars.

Planning the installation

1. Counter height: plan the finished counter at 34 inches or below, with the 31-1/2-inch machine fitting under it. Allow the clearance in the installation manual above the cabinet.
2. Clear floor space: keep a 30 x 48 inch clear floor space in front of the machine for a forward or side approach (§305 and §309.2).
3. Reach: the bin door and its handle must be within the 15-48 inch reach range. The low profile helps keep the bin opening reachable.
4. Door and handle: the C-80BAK series has a full-length stainless steel handle; confirm the opening force suits one-handed use.
5. Airflow: these machines use front-in, front-out airflow, so they can be built in. Keep the front grille clear, including with a custom panel on ADDS models.
6. Utilities: a dedicated 115V outlet (the C-80BAK series uses a NEMA 5-15 plug), a cold potable water line through a water filter, and a drain. Hoshizaki's HS-5061 drain pump is listed as an option on several AM-50 models.

Do I have to buy an "ADA" model?

Not always. What matters is the finished installation. If your accessible counter can be 34 inches high and the space under it is tall enough, other low machines may work, such as the Ice-O-Matic UCG060A (25.25 in. tall) or UCG080A (27.25 in., with an optional short-leg configuration for ADA-height counters per its product page). Hoshizaki's -AD models are designed specifically for this use, which makes compliance planning simpler. Check with your designer.

Running costs

At 40 lb of ice a day and $0.15 per kWh, the C-80BAK-AD (8.5 kWh/100 lb) uses about $185 a year in electricity and about 1,750 gallons of water. The AM-50BAK-AD at 30 lb a day uses about $150 in electricity but about 7,100 gallons of water, because top hat ice is made with a high water flush.

Warranty

The C-80BAK and AM-50BAK series list 2 years parts and labor on the entire machine on our product pages. Confirm current terms, including any residential limits, before ordering.

Approach and clear floor space

The 2010 ADA Standards require a clear floor space of at least 30 by 48 inches at operable parts (§305.3). For an undercounter ice machine, that space is usually in front of the machine:

• Forward approach: the user faces the machine. The bin and door must be within the 15-48 inch forward reach range.
• Parallel (side) approach: the user pulls alongside. Side reach is also 15-48 inches above the floor (§308.3).

Because the ice machine fills the space under the counter, there is no knee space in front of it, so a parallel approach is common. Keep the clear floor space free of trash cans, carts and doors that swing into it.

Worked example: accessible hotel suites

A hotel is fitting out four accessible suites, each with a kitchenette counter at 34 inches.

• Use: guests fill an ice bucket or two a day, about 5-10 lb per suite.
• Machine: the C-80BAK-ADDS (92 lb/day, 27 lb bin, 31-1/2 in. tall) fits under the 34-inch counter with a panel matching the millwork. Its chewable cubelet ice suits guests of all ages.
• Utilities: each suite needs a 115V outlet, a filtered water line and a drain, or a drain pump where no drain is available.
• Consistency: using the same model in standard rooms (the 33-1/2 in. C-80BAK under 36-inch counters) simplifies parts and housekeeping training.

Checklist for architects and designers

1. Finished counter height at or below 34 inches, measured to the top of the countertop.
2. Rough-in opening sized to the -AD installation drawing, including any toe-kick and panel thickness on ADDS models.
3. 30 x 48 inch clear floor space at the machine, with the approach direction shown.
4. Bin door handle within the reach range and operable without tight grasping.
5. Front grille left open for airflow.
6. Water shut-off valve, outlet and drain positioned per the installation manual and reachable for service.
7. Decorative panel specification issued to the millwork supplier for ADDS models.

Healthcare and workplace considerations

In clinics and workplaces, an accessible ice machine is usually part of a nourishment area or break room that also includes a sink, a microwave and a refrigerator. Plan the whole run at accessible height so every appliance can be reached, and choose cubelet ice where patients or staff need ice that is easy to chew and swallow.

Why the 2-inch difference matters

Standard undercounter machines in this class are 33-1/2 inches tall. Under a 36-inch counter, that leaves room for the countertop and clearance. Under a 34-inch accessible counter, it doesn't: a typical countertop is around 1-1/2 inches thick, leaving about 32-1/2 inches of space below. The -AD models, at 31-1/2 inches, fit that space with clearance to spare. That's the only physical change, so output, ice type and bin size stay the same as the standard models.

Other low-profile options

If you need a different ice type, low machines from other brands may also fit under an accessible counter:

Check each model's installation drawing and the overall design with your accessibility consultant. See residential ice makers and cocktail ice machines.

Maintenance in accessible locations

ADA models are maintained like their standard versions: clean and sanitize at least every six months, clean the air filter every month or two and change the water filter on schedule. Because the machine is built in, plan service access when the cabinetry is designed, so a technician can slide the unit out without removing countertops or panels. On ADDS models, make sure the decorative panel can be removed for service.

Common mistakes

1. Installing a 33-1/2-inch machine under a 34-inch counter. It won't fit with the countertop.
2. Forgetting clear floor space. The machine can comply while the room doesn't.
3. Ordering an ADDS model without a panel. The decorative panel is customer-supplied.
4. Covering the front grille with a custom panel or kick plate.
5. Choosing top hat for a high-use break room. Cubelet makes more ice with far less water.

Related collections

• Hoshizaki undercounter ice machines
• 15-inch undercounter ice makers
• Healthcare ice machines and hotel ice machines
• Built-in ice makers and cubelet ice makers