Tactile Warning Construction – Let’s Clear the Air

Sure – it’s easy! How hard can tactile warning construction be? When one realizes that tactile warnings are required at curb ramps and other hazardous vehicular-ways, construction of same becomes rather easy. In its simplest form, a trip-wire installed 6 to 7 feet back from the curb line, will do it. A couple of wooden stakes and a sturdy length of wire installed 6 to 10 inches off the ground is all you need. Stretch the wire tightly across the path of travel, and in no time at all, the installation is complete! The American Heritage Dictionary defines “tactile” as: “Perceptible to the sense of touch; tangible”. Well . . . then this tactile warning would certainly qualify for that! The trip-wire is felt as it digs into the leg, the sidewalk is gently caressed by the nose and forehead, and the hands are delighted by their contact with the concrete. OK, OK . . . perhaps not the best example of tactile warning construction.

In other, slightly more refined terms, a tactile warning might be constructed by grooving the concrete. We’ve all seen it. Perhaps chevrons cut into the curb ramp. Perhaps horizontal grooves in the concrete; perhaps vertical.

Probably an improvement over the trip-wire, but still not acceptable. In its memo of May 6, 2002, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration, reminded us that:

“Detectable warnings were required in 1991 by the Americans with Disabilities Act Accessible Guideline (ADAAG) (regulatory standards) for hazardous vehicular ways, transit platform edges, and curb ramps. A suspension was placed on requiring detectable warnings at curb ramps and hazardous vehicular ways, but not for transit platform edges. The reason for the suspension was to conduct research on the performance of their detectability. The DOJ continued the suspension through July 26, 2001, which allowed 10 years for conducting research. The research determined that other designs used in place of truncated domes such as grooves, striations, and exposed aggregate, were not detectable in the sidewalk and roadway environment because of the similarities to other surface textures and defects. Truncated domes have a unique design that can be detected underfoot and with a cane, and other surfaces are not considered ADA equivalent and therefore do not comply with the ADA requirements.”

SO . . . to be clear, what is meant by tactile warning construction, is the installation of a durable, detectable, truncated dome product. Well - now the answer has become simple again . . . Armor-Tile tactile warnings.

By
Mark Heimlich

 

Back to Articles