ADA Solutions Inc - Detectable Warning Systems

Why Detectable Warning Systems Are Necessary

Detectable warning systems are tiles containing uniform rows of large raised bumps—or truncated domes—that are colored to contrast with the surrounding ground. This provides a standardized warning for visually impaired citizens in locations where continuing to walk without pausing could be hazardous. The truncated domes contained in such tactile warning systems are easily detectable with a cane and beneath the feet, and have been implemented as an improvement over past warning systems. The two major purposes of detectable warning systems are:

Highlighting Sidewalk Edges
Most sidewalk corners and building entrances contain gently sloping ramps that allow access for people using wheelchairs or other mobility devices. However, many visually impaired pedestrians have difficulty recognizing when they are walking over such a slope and, as a result, may unintentionally step into a street or parking lot. This is both disorienting and dangerous—fortunately, tactile warning systems provide a consistent way for visually impaired individuals to recognize when they are nearing the sidewalk’s edge in areas that do not feature a noticeable curb.

Delineating Transit Platform Boundaries
Another situation where a visually impaired person may accidentally come too close to a dangerous area is on transit platforms, which often feature a steep drop-off toward train or subway rails. Detectable warning systems allow visually impaired pedestrians to become aware of the edge of the transit platform two feet in advance, providing plenty of room for the pedestrians to stop and readjust their paths.

ADA Solutions, Inc. is a national provider of detectable warning systems featuring truncated domes. We assist businesses and municipalities in becoming fully ADA-compliant by ensuring that sidewalks and platforms are safe for all pedestrians. For further information on our tactile warning surfaces or to locate a distributor in your area, visit us online or call us at (888) 485-5726.

The Basics of the Americans with Disabilities Act for Employers

Employees with disabilities are entitled to a number of protections under the Americans with Disabilities Act, or ADA. This video explains how employers can meet the provisions of the ADA and what exceptions to the law exist.

Under the ADA, employers must reasonably accommodate workers with disabilities. This means that efforts must be made to assist employees in performing their jobs unless providing certain accommodations presents an undue hardship for the business. Areas that fall under reasonable accommodation and therefore may be altered to fit the needs of a disabled worker include employee leave, job duties or scheduling, and the physical properties of the workplace.

Installing detectable warning tiles on curb ramps is one way that employers can accommodate employees with visual impairment. To learn more about tactile warning systems, contact ADA Solutions, Inc. by calling (888) 485-5726.

Requirements for Curb Ramps and Blended Transitions

There are many options for making sidewalks and street crossings more accessible to disabled pedestrians. Here is a brief overview of the required specifications for sidewalk-to-street transitions as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA):

Ramps or Transitions at All Crosswalks
In order to facilitate the travel of mobility-impaired pedestrians, the ADA has required that every street crossing be accessible from the sidewalk without a step down. This means that crosswalks and other street access points must feature either a curb ramp or blended transition that is at least three feet wide, not counting the flares that slope down toward the ramp from the sides.

Appropriate Landing Space
Because users of mobility devices require adequate space to turn around when entering or exiting a ramp, curb ramps that are perpendicular to the street require a level landing area at the top. This also enables mobility-impaired pedestrians to travel smoothly past the ramp and its flares. If there is not adequate space to provide a landing above a perpendicular ramp, a curb ramp that slopes parallel to the street toward a bottom landing that is level with the road is permissible.

Required Slope Steepness
Perpendicular curb ramps must slope less than 1:12, with flares having a maximum slope of 1:12-1:10, depending on the width of the landing above the ramp. Parallel curb ramps must have a more gradual slope of 1:14 to enable pedestrians to more easily travel over them. Blended transitions lower the sidewalk very gradually to meet the street, and therefore must feature a slope of no more than 1:48.

Detectable Warning Systems
Although the above guidelines serve mobility-impaired individuals well, they can be problematic for people with visual impairment who rely on the presence of a defined curb to orient themselves. To counteract potential dangers, a detectable warning strip containing large raised bumps must be present wherever there is no curb to delineate the street.

For more information on your options for detectable warning systems, including rounded tiles for blended transitions and diagonal curb ramps, contact ADA Solutions, Inc. by calling (888) 485-5726. You can also visit our website to learn about our products.

Learn More about Our Products with These Resources

If you are in need of tactile warning systems for new or existing curb ramps, these links can help you understand the necessary requirements. Contact ADA Solutions, Inc. at (888) 485-5726 for more information about our detectable warning tiles featuring truncated domes.

• This document from the U.S. Department of Transportation provides detailed specifications and helpful diagrams for the design of ADA-compliant curb ramps and blended transitions.
• For a depiction of a diagonal parallel curb ramp and the safety features it should contain, visit the Maryland State Highway Administration.
• Find an explanation of the different types of curb ramps and for how detectable warning systems should be implemented at ADA.gov.
• This document from AccessForBlind.org explains the need for detectable warning systems near transit rails and platform edges, providing examples of their implementation.
• Learn how visually-impaired individuals have traditionally detected transit platform edges and what tactile warning systems can do to facilitate this process at Access-Board.gov.

Profile: Cast in Place Detectable Warning Tiles

If you are in charge of creating a new sidewalk or other pedestrian area, it is important to know your options for tactile warning systems so you can ensure ADA compliance. Keep reading to learn about ADA Solutions, Inc.’s Cast in Place detectable warning tiles, including where they can be used and how they should be installed:

Applications
Our Cast in Place tactile warning tiles can be placed on curb ramps or blended transitions that have been freshly poured, making them the ideal solution for new construction. These tiles contain ribs that protrude from the underside of the surface. There are holes spaced throughout the ribs that allow the concrete to flow into them, locking the tiles in place for long-term durability. There are also replaceable tile options which can be bolted into the fresh concrete and later removed, if necessary.

Installation
Before the Cast in Place tiles can be installed, the concrete must be poured to the correct thickness and smoothed to the proper slope. Then, with the lines of truncated domes running parallel to the direction of travel, the tiles may be placed according to ADA measurements and tamped down to eliminate air pockets. The curing process will take two to four hours, during which time the tiles should be secured in place with cinder blocks.

Specifications
ADA Solutions, Inc.’s truncated dome tiles are made of fiberglass and a carbon-and-glass composite suitable for use in any climate. The Cast in Place detectable warning systems can be ordered in lengths of two feet or three feet and widths of three, four, or five feet. They meet ADA accessibility guidelines, as well as California Title 24 and PROW stipulations. Available colors include yellow, blue, black, white, gray, and three different reds for optimum visibility and aesthetic appeal.

Are you ready to order Cast in Place tiles for your new walkway? Find out more about ADA Solutions, Inc. and our detectable warning tiles by visiting our website or by calling (888) 485-5726. We have been a trusted manufacturer of tactile warning solutions for over 20 years.