How to Make Your Shower Handicapped Accessible

Handicapped Access Bathroom Shower

Start by reviewing the guidelines of the Americans with Disabilities Act, for, most often, ADA accessible design standards are the concern of those who intend to serve the general public in some way, whether it’s by running a business or providing a public facility. Of course, the specifics of these guidelines may vary, depending on the building’s intended use. However, these accessibility guidelines are useful for anyone who wishes to meet the needs of the disabled—including homeowners.

ADA shower guidelines are meant to provide information about measurements, materials, and designs that are ideal for the needs of individuals with various disabilities. This includes things like spacing measurements, shower control and spray unit heights, grab bar placement, shower seat strength, threshold requirements, and more.

Examples of ADA shower standards include the following:

  • Standard roll-in showers must be at least 30 in. wide by 60 in. deep, accessible from a front entry at least 60 in. wide.
  • The threshold height for roll-in showers must be no taller than ½ in.
  • Grab bars must be installed horizontally no lower than 33 in. and no higher than 36 in. from the shower floor (unless meant for children, in which case it must be between 18 and 27 in. from the floor).

Handicapped showers must have a shower spray unit with a hose at least 59 in. long mounted no higher than 48 in. from the floor. It should be usable as either a fixed shower head or hand-held sprayer.

Disabled Access Bathtub with Grab Bar Hand Rails

Creating a Handicapped Accessible Shower

In addition to basing your shower design on ADA guidelines, you’ll want to think about how you can tailor your accessible shower to the user. Do you need a roll-in type shower (for wheelchairs) or a transfer type shower (for those who can walk but need to be seated while showering)? Consider whether they have needs beyond the ADA standards. Someone with a large build might need additional shower compartment space, for example.

If you know what you need but aren’t sure how to install it, that’s okay—there are many professional shower installation companies that offer fully ADA-compliant systems that can be personalized and fitted into most bathrooms. If you have an existing shower with compliant dimensions, you might choose a shower surround system that installs in its place.

Additional Tips

Here are a few more ideas for making your handicap accessible shower as comfortable as possible:

Install a glass block shower – These kinds of walls provide a number of benefits over those flimsy thin sliding doors you see in so many showers. Glass blocks can offer balance support for handicapped individuals, and these walls also offer a large degree of privacy. They’re also an effective solution for those looking for a barrier-free shower entrance.

Install waterproof wall panels – It’s a good idea to make your shower as maintenance-free as possible. One way to that is to eliminate standard shower wall tiles. Tiled shower walls can be difficult and time-consuming to clean, so opt for wall panels instead.

Make shower accessories manageable – Creating a well-functioning handicapped shower is more than just a matter of getting doors and shower heads in the right place. Are shower accessories—soap, shampoo, and all that—easily reachable? Trays and recessed niches need to be constructed with that in mind. Make sure you take the individual’s unique preferences and physical challenges into consideration.

The Benefits of Using ADA-Compliant Shower Floor Tiles

A great way to complete your handicap accessible shower is by opting for specialized ADA flooring. The truncated dome pattern on ADA tiles provides a tactile warning surface for those with visual impairments, allowing them to feel for the edges of the shower with their feet. The tiles’ texture also provides traction, protecting those with limited mobility from slipping on a slick shower floor.

ADA Solutions offers a variety of durable ADA detectable warning surface products that can help you create accessible spaces throughout your home or business. Plus, our tactile warning surface tiles are available in a variety of colors, allowing you to coordinate with décor without sacrificing functionality. Explore our selection online, or call us at (800) 372-0519.

 

Detectable Warning Surfaces Increase Safety, Ensure ADA Compliance

Detectable warning surfaces play an important role in our society’s efforts to improve safety and quality of life for men and women with disabilities. These truncated domes give sight-impaired people warning of hazards that may be present when they’re crossing streets or boarding trains or buses. A growing number of municipal governments and businesses are adopting them to meet Americans with Disability Act requirements and because it’s the right thing to do.

detectable warning surfaces truncated domes

 

Significant Sight-Impaired Population in the U.S.

There is a large population in the U.S. of the sight-impaired. The term “sight-impaired” is broad and covers a wide spectrum of people, including those who are legally blind and those who suffer from vision loss. According to the National Federation of the Blind, there are more than 7 million people in the U.S. who have significant vision loss. Worldwide, the World Health Organization estimates that 285 million people are visually impaired, and 39 percent of them are blind.

One of the major challenges of living with sight impairment is the impact it has on daily tasks that the sighted often take for granted. Tasks like walking to a nearby location or using public transportation become significantly more difficult—and even dangerous—when one cannot see obstacles and hazards in one’s path.

A study published by the National Center for Biotechnology Information found that blind people have significantly more difficulty in safely crossing streets when they had to rely on hearing alone to navigate the crossing. Truncated domes on ground surfaces provide a tactile warning to sight-impaired people that hazardous conditions or a change in conditions lies ahead, reducing the chance that these men and women will be injured.

detectable warning surface on sidewalk

What Are Detectable Warning Surfaces?

Detectable warning surfaces are ground surfaces that have a distinctive pattern of truncated domes that sight-impaired people can detect using their feet or a cane. Detectable warning surfaces notify sight-impaired people that street crossings or hazardous drop-offs are ahead.

For example, at a pedestrian street crossing where the pedestrian route transitions to the street route with a flush instead of a curbed connection, detectable warning surfaces would alert sight-impaired pedestrians to this change. At train stations or bus stops, detectable warning surfaces are used to indicate unprotected drop-offs along the edges of boarding platforms.

blind man with seeing eye dog

The ADA & Detectable Warning Surfaces

The Americans with Disabilities Act is the major piece of U.S. legislation dealing with access to facilities for the disabled. Originally passed in the 90s during the first Bush Administration, the ADA provides protections to people with disabilities, similar to those granted to various ethnic and religious groups under the 1964 Civil Rights Act.

The ADA is a complicated piece of legislation and covers many things, including accommodations at work for the disabled and how private and public facilities are designed. Making the legislation even more complicated is the fact that it is updated from time to time by the Department of Justice.

In general, when new ADA rules come down, facilities owners don’t have to tear up existing facilities to comply with the new regulations. Instead, when and if they upgrade their facilities, new construction must comply with ADA rules. This keeps business owners and municipalities from having to spend a lot of money to upgrade facilities every time new rules are announced.

In 2010, the U.S. Department of Justice released its 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design, which included new rules regarding facility design to improve accessibility for individuals with disabilities. The new guidelines were intended to improve accessibility to public and private spaces for people with disabilities, including the sight-impaired. The 2010 regulations revised regulations established in 2001.

yellow detectable warning surface next to sidewalk

The new guidelines created new rules regarding slopes for walking surfaces and slip-resistance for ground surfaces. In addition to these requirements, the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design also created new rules for detectable warning surfaces.

The 2010 revision created some more lenient technical requirements for truncated dome sizes and placement on detectable warning surfaces. According to the new rules, domes should have a diameter of 0.9 to 1.4 inches. Their center-to-center spacing should be between 1.6 to 2.4 inches. Dome height should be 0.2 inches. The new guidelines give builders and facilities owners a little more leeway regarding spacing and diameter.

The major impact of the 2010 revisions to the ADA Standards for Accessible Design concerned changes to where detectable warning surfaces are required. According to the 2001 standards, truncated domes were required on curb ramps, in front of doors to hazardous areas, at dangerous vehicular areas, at transit platforms, and around the edges of reflecting pools.

blind person crossing street

The new standards are less demanding. Detectable warning surfaces are now only required on curb ramps in the public right-of-way and on the edges of transit platforms.

For companies not sure about whether they’ll need to upgrade facilities with detectable warning surfaces, a conversation with the Department of Justice or a supplier of detectable warning surfaces may clear up any ambiguity in the matter.

While many businesses don’t have to comply with ADA rules regarding detectable warning surfaces, compliance may be a good option, anyway. Having these surfaces in place could help businesses fight claims of negligence should disabled people be harmed on their properties. Installing infrastructure to make a property more accessible will also win a business the support of the disabled community in their area and will certainly be good public relations for that business.

Investing in making your facilities more accessible to people with disabilities can provide a nice return on your investment. The disabled community is growing in influence and wealth, and catering to this often-overlooked population can be lucrative. Nielsen estimates that one in three households in the U.S. has a member with a disability, representing more than $1 billion in spending power.

People can’t shop where they can’t go, so, by improving your facilities to make them more accessible for people with limited vision, you open your business to a group of customers with whom few other companies are doing business.

Recent Upgrades to Public Facilities

As municipalities upgrade and replace their sidewalks and other pedestrian infrastructure, many are adopting detectable warning surfaces to comply with ADA regulations and to receive grants linked to compliance.

For example, in Leetsdale, PA, the city government recently received funds from the Community Development Block Grant initiative, a federal program that aids low to medium-income areas. The funds are being used to renovate sidewalks on a major thoroughfare to be wider and to incorporate detectable warning surfaces. CDBG grants require sidewalk renovation projects to be ADA compliant.

Woodland Park, N.J. recently received $575,000 from the New Jersey Department of Transportation for upgrades to an often-traveled streetscape. The project will make a stretch of McBride Avenue more pedestrian- and bike-friendly and allow more convenient access to local merchants. A number of ADA renovations are being funded by the project, including the installation of barrier-free curb ramps, detectable warning surfaces, and more.

For municipalities and businesses considering making ADA-compliant changes to their facilities, partnering with a reputable maker of ADA compliant building materials can help ensure these projects are a success.

ADA Solutions is a leading manufacturer of detectable warning surfaces in North America. In business for 20 years, the company manufactures a variety of tactile dome and related products, including easy to install cast-in-place surfaces, durable surface applied panels for existing concrete or new construction, radius systems for curving surfaces, and more. If you’re looking to upgrade facilities and need an ADA-compliant ground surface, consult with ADA Solutions now for safe and reliable products.

Sources

  1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3358127/
  2. http://www.nielsen.com/us/en/insights/news/2016/understanding-the-shopping-habits-of-the-disabled-consumer.html

 

The History and Evolution of Detectable Warning Surfaces

Detectable warning surfaces provide a valuable service for those individuals with visual impairments. They essentially serve as a warning that requires their attention ahead, such as entering a busy intersection, a rail platform dropoff, and so on. In addition, these warning surfaces alert non-visually impaired, yet distracted individuals of the same warnings.

According to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), detectable warning surfaces are defined as a distinct surface with a pattern of raised domes that can easily be detected by the use of a cane or feet and serve to alert people of their approach to hazardous locations.1

ada detectable warning near escalator

Reasons Why There Are ADA Requirements

The ADA was initialed passed in 1990. The Act affords similar protections for those individuals with disabilities as found under the Civil Rights Act. There are several Title areas of the Act that relate to:

  • Title I: Employment
  • Title II: Public Entitles and Public Transportation
  • Title III: Public Accommodations and Commercial Facilities
  • Title IV: Telecommunications
  • Title V: Miscellaneous Provisions

In regards to the requirements for detectable warning surfaces, Title II and Title III contain the information regarding the use of tactile warning surfaces. Title II focuses primarily on curbs, curb ramps, intersections, and other public areas where these surfaces are required. Title III focuses on altered/renovated or newly constructed places of public accommodations and commercial facilities.

Since the ADA was initially passed, there have been several updates to the regulatory compliances required for tactile warning surfaces. The most recent one was in 2010. It is the responsibility of facility managers, project managers, and others to ensure any existing, renovated or new construction meets the latest ADA requirements.

the americans with disabilities act

History of Detectable Warning Surfaces

Warning surfaces have gone through several generations since the ADA was first passed. Over the years, advancements have been made to ensure the truncated domes on the raised warning surfaces are durable and last a long time.

First Generation

The first generation solution was to simply stamp or score the concrete to create the elevated surfaces. It was a low-cost solution for contractors and builders since they only had to pour a new section of concrete in the required areas.

However, one major problem was that the concrete domes wore away quickly and could not easily be distinguished between cracks in the pavement and a warning surface. The use of this type of warning surface is not ADA-compliant under the current guidelines.

Second Generation

The second generation aimed to make improvements to warning surfaces by using bricks with raised domes. While the concept was much better than the first generation, there were still some issues with bricks.

To set bricks in place, the area around the location where the warning surface was to be installed had to be prepared using concrete. In addition, the ground underneath the bricks had to be compacted to ensure the bricks were level once installed. Gaps in between the bricks also had to be sealed to ensure they remained in place in the ground.

detectable warning brick surface

One reason bricks were not very successful is that the domes would wear off from being constantly walked on and from exposure to the elements. Furthermore, the bricks could become uneven, if not installed correctly, and create a slip, trip, and fall hazard. As such, truncated domed bricks are no longer allowed under the current ADA guidelines.

Third Generation

The third generation saw the introduction of surface-applied rubber and plastic domed solutions. These offered a better solution over the previous generations because they could be applied directly over an existing surface.

Contractors and construction workers no longer had to tear out sidewalks or other areas where truncated domes were required by the ADA. One concern when this solution first came out was the quality of the rubber and plastic materials used. They did not stand up to changes in temperatures, direct exposure to UV sunlight, and heavy foot traffic.

Yet one major change was the ability to create warning surfaces in a variety of colors, from yellow and red to blue and gray. Unfortunately, even with color options, the rubber or plastic would rip, tear, fade, and crack.

Whenever this occurred, the old one had to be completed removed and a new one installed. This led to ongoing maintenance in areas where these solutions were being used. In addition, they were not always installed in the exact location as required by the ADA.

Today, the ADA still does allow surface applied warning surfaces. However, they must be made from quality and durable materials. For instance, ADA Solutions surface-applied solutions are constructed of an exterior grade, high-quality fiberglass polymer composite material which is durable, weather resistant, and slip resistant.

Fourth Generation

The fourth generation saw the introduction of concrete inserts. This was a marked improvement over the original stamped or scored concrete. However, these inserts had similar problems to those truncated domes made from brick. The dome would wear off, the inserts could crack, and they were not designed for heavy foot traffic.

concrete detectable warning surface

These initial concrete inserts are no longer ADA compliant. Rather, there is a different type of concrete insert that addresses the previous concerns and problems, which the ADA does allow, although they can still be prone to weathering.

Fifth Generation

The fifth generation built upon the concept of using inserts and plastic-based materials. These new plastic inserts are commonly referred to as “Cast-in-Place” because they are set directly into the concrete while it is still wet.

The quality of the plastic materials was superior to concrete inserts. In addition, there is a variety of color options one can choose from when color is not mandated by state or local ordinances. The color of the insert resists fading from UV sunlight and is not prone to weathering like concrete.

Sixth Generation

The sixth generation saw new detectable warning surfaces being made from various metals, most often steel. The problem with steel warning surfaces is they had to be coated because you cannot color steel throughout. Even though steel is very durable, if the coating comes off, it leaves exposed steel that will rust and which could bleed into the pavement.

Metal inserts are still allowed under the ADA guidelines, so long as they meet the light-on-dark or dark-on-light requirement, as well as any state or local ordinances.

metal detectable warning surface

Seventh Generation

The latest generation of tactile systems includes several new products and solutions. Building upon the success of our high-quality surface applied products, we introduced our “Cast-in-Place Replaceable” panels in 2006. These panels have been a huge success and game changer and, so far, we have installed over 18 million square feet of our replaceable panel systems.

The replaceable feature makes it easy to swap out panels without having to tear up the concrete. Rather, the upper portion of the panel is removable and a new one can be installed in its place. This style is also popular when graphic tile systems are used as part of the warning surface.

Graphic tiles are a great way to incorporate images, logos, brands, or text messages into the ground. For instance, railway platforms could add text that says “Stand Back” or “Wait for Doors to Open before Boarding.”

Another type of product that we recently developed is our cast iron warning surface. The surfaces are made of durable cast iron and do not require coatings like steel and other metal warning surfaces. Since the dark cask iron color is consistent throughout, it maintains its appearance with its natural, unfinished state.

Radius systems are also another solution that we have brought to market in more recent years. This system transforms the traditional square or rectangular warning surfaces into arched and curved designs. This solution is perfect for corners at busy intersections or other areas where a curved or arch pattern is desired.

Last, this generation has seen the introduction of our Glow-Dome™ panels. These panels illuminate in lower light conditions to help provide non-visually impaired individuals with a distinct visual warning, as well as help guide them to emergency exits.

detectable warning surface on sidewalk

As you can see, detectable tactile warning surfaces have evolved quite a bit since 1990. Today you have numerous options to choose from that best suit your needs, from surface applied to cast-in-place and replaceable panels.

To learn more about our tactile dome systems and solutions or assistance in selecting the right warning surface products for your project, sidewalk, building, or another area, please feel free to contact ADA Solutions at (800) 372-0519 today!

Sources

  1. https://www.access-board.gov/prowag/
  2. https://www.ada.gov/ada_title_II.htm
  3. https://www.ada.gov/ada_title_III.htm

 

All You Need to Know About ADA Curb Ramp Requirements in 2021

ADA Wheelchair ramp sign

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements continue to be updated more than three decades after the law was passed, with mandates still in place to make public areas accessible to wheelchairs, walkers, and motorized scooters through the use of ramps.1

This means your facility needs to have an ADA-compliant ramp for 2021 if it serves the public, and adhere to the type of ramp required. Location, size, and slope are just some factors to consider. The same requirements are in place, with just some proposed changes to language thus far; these include parallel execution of constructs such as loops, blocks, and container iteration as well as parallel reduction.2

Importance of an ADA Curb Ramp

For people with disabilities, curb edges and other hazards can be quite dangerous. ADA curb ramp requirements are in place to help prevent situations such as people falling out of wheelchairs or scooters, or tripping while using a cane or walker. Accessibility is an factor too, as federal laws consider restricting access in public areas to be a form of discrimination.3

To help you better understand the latest ADA ramp specifications and requirements, we will answer some questions we often get from business owners, building managers, and construction companies.

Where are curb ramps and ramps required by the ADA?

The ADA requires curb ramps and ramps to be installed along any accessible route in a public area, along a path where there’s a change in height greater than ½ inch. As an alternative, a facility may use elevators or platform/chair lifts to provide accessibility.1 In addition, accessibility routes with a 5% or greater slope must be fit with ADA-compliant ramps.

Section §405 of the ADA curb ramp requirements for 2021 covers the following ADA curb ramp design standards:

  • Clear Width: A ramp run must be at least 36 inches wide between the ramp’s handrails.
  • Rise: A maximum of 30 inches per run, with no limit on the number of runs.
  • Running Slope: 1:12 maximum slope, or one foot in elevation change for every 12 feet.
  • Cross Slope: The ADA permits a maximum ratio of 1:48.
  • Alterations: Are permitted on running slopes with limited space, such as:
    • 1:10 maximum with 6 inches maximum rise
    • 1:8 maximum with 3 inches maximum rise
    • A slope of no greater than 1:12

What are some additional requirements for curb ramp dimensions?

A curb ramp must occupy a space 36 inches wide, not including handrails. Railings are required if the ramp rises more than 6 inches. Its width must not be reduced by indentations, flared sides, or other design features. The only exception is when equipment essential to any work being performed is used.1

An excessively long ramp run can be difficult to navigate with a wheelchair or walker. However, the ADA doesn’t restrict length so long as a curb ramp or ramp doesn’t exceed 30 inches in height. Larger ramps can be configured as a series of smaller rises, or a chair or platform lift may be used instead.

What do the slope requirements for curb ramps and ramps mean?

handicapped curb ramp

Slope is the ratio of the height of a ramp to its length. An ADA curb ramp must have no more than a 1:12 ratio, or no greater than a 8.33% slope. The ADA also requires slopes to be consistent from end to end; a ramp must have a uniform slope. There are only a few exceptions to this rule, which are dependent on building materials.

Cross-sloped ramps are the only other exception. The maximum ratio for cross slope here is 1:48. Side flares used with certain curb ramp designs are limited to only a 1:10 ratio.1

What Are the Latest ADA Requirements for Landings?

A landing, which must be installed at the top and bottom of a ramp (in between separate sections), must be at least 60 inches long and 36 inches wide.1 Its level must not exceed a 1:48 ratio.1 For intermediate landings between runs, there must be at least 60 inches of clear width and a 60-inch minimum length. Handrails, vertical posts, edge protectors, or other elements cannot obstruct the path.

Handrail extensions are also required at the top and bottom of a run. They must be at least 12 inches long. Although the extension must travel in the same direction as the ramp, it can turn or wrap with a handrail so long as it is continuous, or follows the inside turn of a dogleg or switchback type ramp. The design of curb ramps and ramps, landings, and the bottom of curb transitions must also prevent water from pooling.

Doorways can be installed at ramp landings. In such cases, ramps can overlap with door openings but the door cannot open into the landing area. Sometimes it’s hard to avoid an overlap. If this can’t be avoided, the ADA recommends the door be configured to swing open in the direction opposite the landing.

Are side flares required?

Side flares reduce the risk of tripping. They are not required on curb ramps but are essential when there’s not enough space for a top landing. A wheelchair user might need a side flare for maneuvering if landing space is restricted. Parallel-type curb ramps can be installed to ease maneuvering in such an instance.

However, side flares generally don’t provide the space to accommodate wheelchairs. This can be addressed by altering the curb ramp accordingly. The landing must be at least 36 inches long and have room for a person using a wheelchair to approach, exit, or turn on the ramp without contacting the compound slope’s flared side.

Where can built-up curb ramps be used?

Handicapped woman on wheelchair using ramp for disabled

The ADA permits built-up curb ramps. These are added off a curb to provide access, and can either be built up to the curb in the street or cut through it. They can also be used in parking lots. However, built-up ramps cannot project into parking spaces, traffic lanes, or access aisles.

Built-up curb ramps can feature side flares with a 1:10 maximum slope on either side. Alternative designs can be used when a built-up curb ramp is not feasible. An alternative ramp must run parallel to the sidewalk with landings at least 48 inches or wider at its base.1

Can a curb ramp or ramp be curved or circular?

A curved or circular ramp does not meet ADA standards as it’s not safe or practical for a wheelchair user. Its radius must be large enough to provide a compliant cross slope. Compounding slopes violate ADA curb ramp requirements unless the cross slope is compliant. The ramp must have a level landing wherever there are changes in direction, or else there will be an uneven surface.

Can a ramp be portable or added later?

Only if it serves a temporary structure. Otherwise, all curb ramps and ramps must be installed during initial construction or when alterations are performed. The only exception is when access to a raised workstation or courtroom is required.

Can raised crossings be used instead of curb ramps?

This is permitted if the entire crossing is at the same elevation as the curb. By installing a raised crossing, a curb cut is eliminated, and the installation can help reduce the speed of traffic. However, requirements for height, width, and markings may vary with local regulations.

What are the requirements for curb ramps at islands?

ADA compliant sidewalk ramps at either side of the island must be separated by at least 48 inches. Individuals using wheelchairs therefore have room to pass one ramp before reaching the second one. A level cut-through can be used if the island isn’t wide enough.

intersection curb ramp

What are the requirements for curb ramps used at intersections?

According to ADA curb ramp design standards, ramps used at a marked crosswalk must be fully contained within that crosswalk. While crossings are not required to be marked, ramps must be placed perpendicular to corners within the allotted space. Flared sides are excluded from these requirements. The ramp opening can align with the curb line or be oriented towards the crosswalk.1

Are diagonal curb ramps allowed?

A diagonal curb ramp can be used at a crosswalk. It eliminates the need for two separate ramps. There must be 48 inches of clearance at the bottom and segments on either side, beyond the flares, that are 24 inches long. The transition of the ramp to the street must be contained within the marked crossings of both crosswalks.

Detectable Warning Systems and Ramps and Curb Ramps

detectable tactile warming systems

Aside from specific requirements for ramps and curb ramps, the ADA also includes a section regarding the use of detectable warning systems on accessible routes. The use of tactile raised domes, also called truncated domes, at the top and bottom of ramps is not always required. However, they are mandatory in subways, train stations, and bus stations, and other public transportation areas.

Where are detectable warnings required on curb ramps?

ADA-compliant curb ramps with tactile warnings are required at bus, rail, and other facilities operated by federal agencies, as well as intercity and commuter rail stations. Detectable warnings must be provided on boarding platforms with an open drop-off (private sector facilities included). The Department of Justice (DOJ) and Department of Transportation (DOT) also require the use of detectable tactile warning systems. Their requirements can be added on top of those of the ADA.

The DOJ and DOT require raised domes for curb ramps to be used in areas that receive funding from the Federal Highway Administration, as well as in federal, state, and local government facilities.

The ADA also recommends other facilities install panels with truncated domes to warn visually impaired individuals of changes in surfaces. This includes the top and bottom of ramps. That’s because people use ramps and curb ramps even in areas where federal, state, or local requirements don’t mandate them.

Why are tactile warnings not required for all curb ramps?

The Access Board has specific criteria for public rights-of-ways, specifically public streets and sidewalks used by people with vision impairments. Tactile warning surfaces are also not required in all hazardous vehicle areas, especially where reducing vehicle speeds, installing speed bumps, and using marked crossings are viable options.

However, when tactile warning curb ramps are required by federal, state, or local laws, they must comply with specific guidelines for spacing, size, and contrast with the regular pavement surface. For instance, California laws have adopted the use of yellow as the only allowed color, with a few exceptions. Overall, the ADA requires that a truncated dome has specific dimensions:

ada compliant painted sidewalk

  • Height: 0.2 inches
  • Base diameter: 0.9 to 1.4 inches
  • Size: 50% to 65% of the base diameter
  • Dome spacing: At least 0.65 inches from edge to edge, and distance of 1.6 to 2.4 inches from the middle of one dome to the middle of another.1

Depending on the location of warning surfaces, placement can vary. While in some areas tactile surfaces are only needed in transition zones, they must run the entire length of a subway and rail station platform.

At ADA Solutions, we offer cast-in-place replaceable, surface applied, and radius systems in a variety of colors. Cast iron and photoluminescent systems are available as well. For more information about ADA curb ramp requirements for 2021 and assistance in selecting the appropriate tactile warning systems for your facility, please feel free to contact ADA Solutions at (888) 927-2043 today!

Sources:

  1. https://www.access-board.gov/ada/guides/chapter-4-ramps-and-curb-ramps/
  2. www.ada-auth.org/standards/2xrm/html/RM-0-2.html
  3. https://www.ada.gov/pcatoolkit/chap6toolkit.htm
  4. https://www.ada.gov/regs2010/titleII_2010/titleII_2010_regulations.htm#subpartd