Curb Ramps and Your City

What issue can have one of the most negative impacts on your projects profitability? Call backs, this can be caused by product failure, poor installation and or non compliance with federal and local specifications. The 2001 American with Disabilities Act (ADA) spells out specific requirements to make sure your project is and remains within compliance. This act has often been misinterpreted and or ignored, which costs everyone involved time and money. Lets review the big three requirements of detectable warning surfaces for curb ramps and your city.

• The ADA calls out for a 70% color contrast between detectable warning surface and the adjacent curb/street surface.

• All detectable warning systems must have a unique sound that is different from the adjacent surface.

• Each detectable warning surface is required to exhibit a unique feel or touch that is different from the adjacent surface

With that, the act does allow for some local variance within product specifications. Curb ramps in each and every city vary for a plethora of reasons which has cost time and money to fix. Here are a couple of tips to make sure you start and remain within compliance.

• Request that every detectable warning surface installed be made of a Vitrified Polymer Composite (VPC). VPC products will help minimize product maintenance and or complete replacement.

• Schedule a product knowledge and or installation session with a manufacturer’s representative to ensure compliance.

• Have your inspectors routinely give feedback on what is or is not working within your area of influence.

• A valuable website for information regarding all of these issues and more within the scope of detectable warning surfaces is www.armor-tile.com.

Detectability and durability are keys to curb ramp city compliance in the detectable warning surface specification. By focusing on those two aspects of your specification it will ensure compliance and maximize product longevity.

By
Shawn Osborne

 

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