Trapping: Reducing Abortion Access through the Manipulation of Clinic Building Codes

For several years, political efforts have successfully begun to change abortion clinic building codes from codes for medical facilities to ambulatory code requirements under the rhetoric of safety for women’s health. These are known as TRAP laws, Targeted Regulations of Abortion Providers, and put unnecessary restrictions on reproductive healthcare facilities. At present, these could range from building changes such as widening door and hallway widths, adding additional closet space, to installing specialized hvac or sprinkler systems. During the 20th century, building codes for abortion clinics were generally defined within medical facility codes – this included medical offices for doctors. There were no specific differences required for abortion clinics than from dentist offices, dermatology offices, or other similar medical spaces. Building upon research from Contested Spaces: Abortion Clinics, Women’s Shelters and Hospitals (2013), this presentation will discuss the changes to building codes that are taking place as a means of political manipulation to close clinics, not for life and safety concerns which building codes are legally required to do. This project applies the research methodology of spatial and data analysis of Contested Spaces to the ongoing changing landscape of state abortion restrictions in states including Texas, Virginia, Louisiana, Florida and Tennessee thus far. I will discuss 20th century building codes in general terms focusing on basic spatial and material requirements and compare those with the current changes being put forward by various building departments.