Why Are Different Colors Used to Distinguish Detectable Warning Tiles?

Pedestrian walking on tactile paving on footpath

Detectable warning surfaces are one of many requirements set by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). They help people with visual impairments identify transitions between sidewalks and roadways, the tops and bottoms of ramps, and the edges of transit platforms. The ADA sets guidelines on detectable warning surface colors, the size of warning tiles, and dimensions and placement of truncated domes.

The ADA requires these visual contrasts between detectable warning tiles and adjacent surfaces:

  • Light tiles against darker surfaces
  • Dark tiles against lighter surfaces

However, ADA regulations don’t set a specific color requirement. So long as the colors contrast with surrounding areas, any color or combination of colors can be selected. Businesses, municipalities, and other entities may set their own rules. For example, California requires warning surfaces to be yellow. In New York City, gray has traditionally been the color of choice, although safety-red is becoming more commonplace in New York and New Jersey.

Contrasting color is important because it:

  • Allows the visually impaired to notice the warning. A pedestrian may be legally blind or have depth perception issues; a highly contrasting color lets them know the raised domes are there and to be cautious when proceeding beyond the warning surface.
  • Contrasts with other surfaces. A community may use different colors of cement, such as a lighter cement around the perimeter of a park. An alternative to yellow may be used to help pedestrians navigate to and from the park at nearby crosswalks.
  • Helps meet Americans with Disability Act Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG). The ADAAG suggests, but does not require, a 70% light reflectance value or higher for the visually impaired. Depending on the color combination, 60% to 70% light reflectance can suffice.
    • What is light reflectance value (LRV)? A contrast percentage is obtained by dividing the LRV of a lighter area by the LRV of a darker area and multiplying the answer by 100. Concrete is generally rated LRV 50 while cast iron is typically around LRV 11; this exceeds the 70% threshold—LRV ranges from zero or black to 100 or pure white.
  • Stands out to individuals using their phones. People who make calls, text, or use social media are alerted they’re approaching a transition to a potentially hazardous area. Pedestrian fatalities due to motor vehicle accidents have been on the rise in recent years.

The Most Common Detectable Warning Surface Colors

Colors often used for warning tiles include:

  • Yellow: This is effective at catching the attention of the human eye and provides strong contrast with surrounding surfaces. Yellow is also a color that signifies caution.
  • Red: Red universally implies “stop.” It contrasts well with light concrete. In some states, regulations require the use of red tactile warning surfaces for controlled pedestrian walkways or crossings, such as those near major intersections or on pedestrian bridges.
  • Dark Red: This creates a brick-like appearance on a path. It is sometimes a design choice in areas where asphalt or concrete is lightly colored; in this case, it will meet ADA contrast requirements.
  • Blue: A bright blue paint is often used for warning surfaces in handicap-accessible areas. Blue tiles often have wheelchair symbols painted on the surface in white.
  • White/Light Gray: These may be used for detectable warning tiles placed on or near roads or paths made of dark-colored asphalt.

Orange-red, clay red, brown, dark gray, and black may be used for truncated dome tiles as well. Often, the choice of color is tied to aesthetics rather than purpose. The United States Access Board conducted a study in 2007 of tile colors and found that traditional yellow and brick red provided an equal level of contrast. In areas where a single color doesn’t provide adequate contrast, it found using multiple colors was beneficial. One color could be used as a border around a second color, as is often done at rail stations.

The Use of Custom Colors

There’s generally no limit as to what colors and shades are used, aside from federal requirements for contrast and any applicable state mandates. A business may use custom colors to reflect its brand. For example, an arena may use team colors for detectable warning surfaces, or a retail store may use tiles with different colors, images, and logos for specific seasons or holidays.

Beyond Detectable Warning Surface Colors

Color isn’t the only factor in making tactile walking surfaces more noticeable. Photoluminescent walking surfaces made by ADA Solutions emit light even when sources of electricity aren’t available. A product called Glow-Dome™ is suited for emergency situations such as power failures in pedestrian areas, as well as in train stations. The product is charged by ambient light and requires no power source; it is available in paver tiles and in a replaceable or retrofitted transit format.

ADA compliant detectable warning surface tactiles installation

ADA Solutions also offers replaceable graphic tile systems. They can feature messages, different fonts, and reflective ink in up to four colors. A custom message can be fit on one tile or be placed across multiple sequential tiles. All custom panels feature ADA-compliant, slip-resistant truncated domes.

Contact ADA Solutions

ADA Solutions manufactures and supplies truncated dome, Directional Bar, and Guide Surface
Tiles. Our Cast-in-Place replaceable panels for fresh concrete and surface applied detectable warning panels suited for new construction or retrofits meet the latest ADAAG requirements. We can provide our products in all common detectable warning surface colors.

Different Color ADA Tile Squares

Continue browsing our online resources to learn more about our detectable warning products. Feel free to call us at 800-372-0519 for additional help or to request a free quote online today.

8 Key Points to Consider When Choosing Detectable Warning Surfaces

yellow detectable warning tiles

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law in 1990 to expand opportunities for individuals with disabilities, prevent discrimination, and improve safety. In addition, it set requirements for detectable warning systems. The criteria for these was revised with the ADA 2010 Standards for Accessible Design. To be compliant, you must factor in the latest guidelines; here are key points to think about when choosing detectable warning products.

  1. Color

Warning surfaces tend to be yellow, red, or other bright colors. However, the ADA does not require a warning tile to be a specific color, although state and local laws vary in what colors they permit or restrict. ADA guidelines do require the warning surface to contrast with the color of surrounding surfaces. If the sidewalk, street, or platform it is installed on is dark, the tile should be light; if the surrounding surface is light, the warning surface should be darker.

  1. Spacing

The ADA specifies precise spacing between truncated domes, based on studies of what works best for tactile feedback when using a wheelchair, walker, cane, or other mobility aid. From center to center, raised domes must be 1.6 to 2.4 inches apart. There must be at least 0.65 inches of space between each adjacent dome.

  1. Size

The base diameter of truncated domes must now be between 0.9 and 1.4 inches, with a height of 0.2 inches above the surrounding panel surface. Domes are arranged in a grid to provide a distinct feel when an individual’s feet or mobility aid contacts them. The warning surface itself must be at least 24 inches long and extend in the direction of travel. It must reach across the entire width of the surface it’s installed on. Detectable warning systems can be square, rectangular, or radial.

  1. Location

Since 2010, the ADA requires detectable warning surfaces only on curb ramps and transit platforms. They had previously been required in front of doors near hazardous locations, the edges of reflecting pools, and any area where vehicles travel that could be dangerous. A warning surface should be installed on any public right-of-way that transitions to an area that is hazardous. Therefore, transit platform edges, curb ramps, and crosswalks are among the most common places to find tactile warning surfaces.

  1. Curb Cuts

A curb cut must be at least three feet wide and a minimum of two feet from where the pedestrian path transitions into a street or other vehicular way. A 24-inch warning strip must be installed across the bottom of a curb ramp. The slope of a ramp must not exceed 8.33 percent. That means there must be at least 12 inches of distance for every inch of height change.

  1. Product Quality

For warning tiles and other products, the American Society for Testing & Materials (ASTM) provides data on strength and other properties. Make sure a detectable warning tile meets ASTM standards before choosing it. That way, you can verify it is reliable and safe.

  1. Function

Detectable warning surfaces must do more than provide tactile feedback. They need to be slip-resistant, as rain, snow, ice, oils, and other substances can create dangerous conditions for pedestrians. Tiles must also have low water absorption to extend their life. Water expands and contracts, depending on temperature, so water entry can damage the material, make the tile less effective, or put people in danger.

  1. Installation

The installation procedure depends on the type of product. For cast-in-place tiles, holes in the flanges of the panel help anchor it; concrete can flow through before it cures, effectively sealing the product. Surface-mounted detectable warning systems include fasteners and adhesives to secure them. The perimeter should be properly sealed during installation, using a high-quality sealant.

Cast-in-place replaceable Tile

Order Detectable Warning Systems from ADA Solutions

The leading supplier of ADA-compliant detectable surfaces in North America, we provide quality products including cast-in-place pavers and replaceable as well as surface-applied tiles. We also supply radius systems, cast iron ADA plates, photoluminescent domes, and replaceable graphic tile systems. Various tactile surfaces are available for transit platforms as well. To learn more or get a free quote, call us at 800-372-0519.

Do Apartments Have to Be ADA Compliant?

Entrance to modern high-rise building made of bricks

Dwelling units do not have to be compliant with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessibility standards. While apartments and rental properties are included in requirements to provide equal opportunity for access, it is the public spaces around them that apply. In fact, there is no such thing as an ADA unit.

Accessible units are covered under other regulations, yet apartment buildings must comply with ADA standards. For an apartment building or complex to be ADA compliant, the following must be considered:

  • Common Areas: Recreation areas, rental offices, and on-site gathering spaces and convenience stores must be designed to comply with Title III of the ADA Standards of Accessible Design. If common areas are only used by residents and their guests, they must instead be built in accordance with the Fair Housing Act (FHA).
  • Elevators: While the ADA covers accessible hallway signals, elevator car dimensional requirements, braille hoistway signs, and accessible controls—as well as push button and visual/tactile two-way emergency communication—the FHA sets a standard for one or more elevators to be accessible in any building.
  • Building Amenities: The ADA sets dimensional requirements for drinking fountains, so individuals in wheelchairs can reach the spouts, as well as controls and other parts of vending machines that contain food, snacks, or beverages. Laundry room equipment must include means for visually impaired persons to communicate and receive assistance, while visual indicators must be present for the hearing impaired.

Regulations that Apply to Apartment Units

While the units in your building may not need to meet ADA requirements, laws that do apply include:

FHA

Applies to all “covered multifamily dwellings” first occupied after March 13, 1991. Buildings with four or more dwelling units, and at least one elevator, must be accessible. These include single-family homes with multiple dwellings, buildings with four or more sleeping rooms where a kitchen or toilet is shared, carriage houses level on accessible routes, townhouses, and units with a loft or raised/sunken living room.

Guide dog helping blind man

ADA apartment modifications on the ground floor must be completed for large buildings that don’t have elevators.

Rehabilitation Act of 1973

Section 504, which went into effect in 1982, applies to newly built, government subsidized Rural Development properties. It was expanded to U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) properties in 1988. Properties built before these went into effect don’t need to meet requirements, such as having 5% of units being fully accessible and 2% of apartments accommodating hearing and visually impaired persons. That is, unless the building undergoes an extensive renovation.

The Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988 (FHAA)

The FHAA added new federally protected classes—disability and familial status. It also requires buildings with ground-floor units and those with in-unit elevators to incorporate seven design features. These include accessible entryways, public use areas, usable doors, access to and through the unit, and electrical outlets, light switches, and thermostats that can be reached by someone using a wheelchair. The FHAA also requires grab bars and other reinforcements on walls, as well as accessible kitchens and bathrooms.

What Is an Adaptable Unit?

The seven features outlined by the FHAA allow a unit to be quickly adapted to accommodate the needs of a person with a physical disability. An adaptable unit must have walls reinforced to accommodate grab bars if needed. This differs from fully accessible units that already have grab bars permanently installed. Townhouses or units with living spaces on multiple levels aren’t covered, unless they have an elevator.

Do Landlords Need to Be ADA Compliant?

woman standing out front of apartment building

Under the ADA, landlords are required to make “reasonable accommodations” for a renter with a physical disability. These enable the individual to access, use, and enjoy their home or common spaces on the property. Examples of modifications include installing grab bars in baths, widening doorways, and fitting a threshold with a ramp.

While inquiring about a disability on a rental application isn’t permitted, the landlord can ask for proof once a tenant requests accommodations after signing their lease. This ensures the request will provide the functionality the tenant needs.

A landlord or another housing provider is required by law to make such accommodations. The only exception is if making the appropriate changes would impose an undue financial burden.

detectable warning surfaces

When to Use Detectable Warning Tiles

The ADA requires detectable warning surfaces to be installed in areas that serve the public. Contrasting colors and raised domes provide a warning that a pedestrian is near a transition between a safe walking path and some type of hazard, whether it is a change in height or oncoming vehicular traffic.

If your property includes curb ramps and public stairwells, for example, detectable warnings are required. At ADA Solutions, we supply numerous tactile warning products, including cast-in-place and surface applied tiles. Request a free quote or call 800-372-0519 for more information today.