Truncated tiles ADA compliance

Truncated tiles ADA compliance ?  what does this  mean?  Well here’s a little insight on what and why.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), passed in 1990, required the establishment of design criteria for building and altering commercial and public facilities, including sidewalks and curb ramps. In 1991, the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) and the U.S. Department of Justice (USDOJ) developed a set of regulations for new construction and alterations. The regulations include standards that reference the ADA Accessibility Guidelines for Buildings and Facilities (ADAAG), developed by the U.S. Access Board-an independent Federal agency devoted to accessibility for people with disabilities. The guidelines require the installation of detectable warnings on sidewalks, street crossings and curb ramps, hazardous vehicular ways, and transit platform edges.

Since 1991, truncated domes have been the standard design requirement for detectable warnings on curb ramps and at flush transitions from sidewalks to street crossings. The U.S. Access Board temporarily suspended the standard in 1994 but allowed the suspension to expire in 2001, reestablishing the mandate.

Truncated tiles ADA compliance is a phrase referring to the following:  Small, flattened domes provide a surface that is distinguishable underfoot and by cane, and they are closely spaced so that pedestrians can maintain stability. In addition, the color of the domes contrasts with the surrounding pedestrian ramp to provide a cue for low-vision persons that a transition from the pedestrian area to the vehicular area is forthcoming.

Armor-Tile tactile detectable warnings www.armor-tile.com is a manufacturer of these Truncated tiles and has been proven to be the best product on the market in independent testing. The Armor-Tile materials and manufacturing process produce the highest quality, lowest life cycle cost, detectable warning available on the market.

By John A. Heffner

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