Specific Locations Requiring Detectable Warning Systems

Last updated 9 months ago

Keeping people safe and providing them with equal accessibility are both tasks made easier with detectable warning systems. Detectable warning systems fulfill ADA regulations and are effective in guiding persons safely to a destination. Here are four specific locations requiring tactile warning systems:

Stairways: Staircases and stairways are incredibly dangerous locations for those unaware of their presence due to a visual impairment. A tactile surface can alert someone on foot or in a wheelchair that he or she is approaching stairs and should take care to avoid a fall. Stairs should have a width of no less than eleven inches and include handrails on both sides.
Vehicular Areas: A common place for tactile surfaces to be used is at crosswalks in order to alert pedestrians where the street begins and where it is safest to walk. If any walkway crosses the path of a car, there should be an area with a detectable warning that is at least 36 inches wide. These zones include parking lots, driveways, transit platforms, and roads.
Reflecting Pools: Reflecting pools at businesses or in public spaces should have rails, walls, curbs, or other devices intended to warn someone that he or she is approaching the pool. These detectable warning devices are legally required by certain protocols set forth in the new ADA accessibility standards.
Hazardous Areas: Doors that lead to potentially hazardous areas need to be marked by a detectable warning system. These could include construction zones, areas that contain chemicals, or any other spaces in which a person could be easily injured.

At ADA Solutions, Inc., our main focus is to make everyday environments accessible to all people regardless of their mobility or visual capacity. We offer numerous products to private companies and public organizations to increase the presence of warning systems in communities around the country. Call us today at (800) 372-0519 to learn more.