Another prime consideration when selecting a detectable warning is durability. Products which wear prematurely or fade to white when they are intended to be yellow, or which crack, break or peel in short order, are all poor choices. A product which is resistant to chemical reagents, is unaffected by freeze-thaw cycles, will not break or peel, and is resistant to fading in ultraviolet light, is extremely important. Armor-Tile, by Engineered Products, is one such detectable warning.

Concrete Ramps ADA Compliant

The final prime concern when choosing a detectable warning, is cost. Cost includes initial purchase of materials, installation labor, and maintenance over the years. Stamped concrete is a perfect example of a product which is initially inexpensive, but in the long run, costs more than nearly all other products. Materials required to achieve domes stamped in concrete is minimal; a reusable rubber mold is all that is needed. However, in order to comply with Federal and State requirements for contrast, the concrete would need to be dyed or painted. Dyed concrete tends to fade considerably in less than a year, and intended contrast is not longer achievable. Painting the stamped concrete is unacceptable for two reasons. The first is that regulations state that the color of the detectable warning must be integral, meaning that it is the same color through-and-through. Painting is simply not compliant. Additionally, most often, the paint would need to be applied annually, so that contrast is maintained. The labor costs associated with this annual maintenance can be overwhelming.

The easiest and most cost-effective way to make your concrete ramps ADA compliant is to choose a product which is uniquely detectable the day it is installed and maintains that detectability over the years; to choose a product which is extremely durable so that it continues to perform, worry-free, year-after-year; to choose one which is cost effective to install and requires no maintenance. The finest product available in terms of detectability, durability, and cost effectiveness is Armor-Tile’s Vitrified Polymer Composite tile. It is brutally tough, installs in just minutes, and is maintenance free. For more information, go to www.armor-tile.com.

By Mark Heimlich

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