Tactile Warning – ADA

What is a tactile warning? ADA, or the Americans with Disabilities Act, requires that all newly built or altered curb ramps incorporate a surface texture comprised of a grid pattern of truncated domes to mark the boundary between the safe walking zone and a potentially hazardous vehicular way. A tactile warning will alert visually impaired pedestrians, upon cane contact or underfoot detection that they are leaving an area which is mostly safe and entering one which will require added awareness. Used in conjunction with other cues such as audible pedestrian crossing signals, ambient traffic noise, and alignment of curbs, tactile warnings become an important safety device relied upon by people with visual impairments.

Where else might you see a tactile warning? ADA also requires detectable warning surfaces along platform drop-off edges on transit systems such as passenger railway lines and subways. Although the pattern and size of truncated domes on a platform edge may differ from those on curb ramps, tactile warnings are just as important, perhaps even more important of a safety device in such a location. With high speed trains and subway cars moving rapidly beside standing pedestrians, a two foot strip of tactile warning is ADA required to indicate to visually impaired transit users where to stand while waiting for a train or subway.

 

 

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