ADA Truncated Dome Installation Los Angeles

ADA Truncated Dome Installation Los Angeles If you walk around Los Angeles, no doubt you’ve seen these increasingly installed at intersections – those yellow rectangular blocks with raised round mounds. They’re almost always at curb ramps and they’re popping up all over the city.

You may be thinking to yourself – what are these even for? What are they called? Why install these things?

One thing at a time. These yellow slabs have a technical name – truncated domes. They’re to help those with mobility issues more easily navigate curb ramps and sidewalks around Los Angeles.

If you’re a business owner who’s thinking about replacing your sidewalk, these truncated domes are something you want to learn more about.

Why Install Truncated Domes in Los Angeles

There are two important reasons to install truncated domes at intersections, especially if you’re a business owner. 

First of all, if you are replacing your sidewalk and your property is next to an intersection, the city of Los Angeles requires that you install truncated domes.

I know what you must be thinking – I don’t own the sidewalk, the city does. Why should I have to fix the sidewalk? Two words – lawsuits and insurance. Insurance companies are increasingly requiring businesses to replace or repair their sidewalks in order to even get coverage. Trip hazards are a huge liability for any business and insurance company.

As a business owner, you may be thinking about replacing your crumbling sidewalk to avoid lawsuits. Over the last ten years, the city of Los Angeles has shelled out millions to settle lawsuits regarding their treacherous sidewalks. But, don’t let that make you think that the city will always take the fall. In fact, the city’s own website will tell you to consult an attorney when it comes to liability in trip and fall cases. So, it only makes sense as a business owner that you will want to replace the sidewalk yourself – and when you replace that sidewalk near an intersection, the city is going to require you to install truncated domes.

What are truncated domes used for?

Truncated domes are an ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) detectable warning surface. They are tactile warning systems designed to provide physical cues for the visually impaired. With them, the visually impaired can better navigate the sidewalks and determine where the sidewalk ends and the street intersection begins. This allows visually impaired pedestrians to be alerted to potentially dangerous situations.

These ADA warning tiles must be easily seen, felt underfoot and easily detected with guidance canes. It’s no wonder, then, that the tiles are usually painted a vibrant yellow and the domes are very prominent.

The truncated domes are spaced so that they are easy to detect, but also not so close that they make it hard to navigate for pedestrians with mobility aids. Imagine trying to get past those domes in a wheelchair if they were any closer together!

How are truncated domes installed?

Any time you are replacing your sidewalk, the first thing you want to do is call a licensed concrete contractor. A licensed concrete contractor understands all the ins and outs of replacing dilapidated sidewalks to ensure that they pass inspection quickly and easily. That goes for truncated domes, as well. A licensed concrete contractor understands what the city inspectors are looking for when one of these panels is being installed.

Your licensed concrete contractor will consult city inspectors to determine how wide and at what slope your curb ramp needs to be. In order to pass code, truncated domes must be installed at a very specific slope. Once installation plans have been finalized and the old sidewalk torn out, the fun begins. Well, the pouring begins. Truncated domes are actually not a stamped concrete. Instead, they are a panel, usually made of metal or plastic. The city will require a metal panel be placed into the concrete sidewalk, as metal has a longer shelf life in heavy foot traffic areas.

If you are looking to install a truncated dome on your own commercial property and you don’t want to shell out for a metal panel, fear not. You can install a plastic truncated dome, which is less expensive.

Do I have to install a truncated dome in Los Angeles?

The Americans with Disabilities Act, or ADA, is a federal civil rights act passed back in 1990. It prohibits discrimination based on disability. As such, employers, state and local governments, businesses that are open to the public, commercial facilities, transportation providers and telecommunications companies must all follow the requirements of the ADA. In short, if you own pretty much any business, you must follow ADA guidelines.

ADA guidelines require that you follow these guidelines so that all people with disabilities can fully participate in all parts of life. The ADA requires that a tactile warning system, such as truncated domes, be installed on all new curb ramps and when any existing ramps are changed in any way.

If you are a business owner who is replacing your sidewalk, yes, you have to install truncated domes. When you’re ready to install that truncated dome on your commercial property or sidewalk, give us a call. We are a licensed concrete contractor with 30 years of combined experience. We work with engineers and city inspectors to ensure that your concrete work is done correctly and passes inspection in as little as a week. Call for your free estimate today.