What’s changed with curb ramps from 2015 to 2024?

There is still some confusion out there when it comes to existing ramp codes.

First, we had some major changes in July of 2015 and then we had even more serious changes in the 2022 California Building Code. To make things even more interesting, I am noticing that several Architects, Building inspectors and contractors are NOT keeping up on these changes.

Let’s go back to May of 2015 and re-visit what went wrong!

This was the removal of the “12 inch grooved borders” for all curb cut ramps that was and still is used by “sight impaired” or “blind” pedestrians when identifying curb ramps and change in elevation.

The item being removed was not just some small insignificant feature in the ramp system. It was an item — if installed improperly — became the focus of hundreds of ADA lawsuits over the last 18 years.

But this item was used by the sight impaired and blind to alert them of a change in elevation between a raised walkway and the parking/ vehicular way.

The famously hated but needed “12-inch Grooved Border”.

Here is the code as it stood before July 1, 2015 this requirement goes away.

11B-406.5.11 Reserved. Grooved border. Curb ramps shall have a grooved border 12 inches (305 mm) wide along the top of the curb ramp at the level surface of the top landing and at the outside edges of the flared sides. The grooved border shall consist of a series of grooves 1⁄4 inch (6.4 mm) wide by 1⁄4 inch (6.4 mm) deep, at 3⁄4 inch (19 mm) on center.

Exceptions:

1. At parallel curb ramps, the grooved border shall be on the upper approach immediately adjacent to the curb ramp across the full width of the curb ramp.

2. A grooved border shall not be required at blended transitions. First, I want to make it clear that the 12” grooved borders have never been required on “Pedestrian Ramps” with handrails, only on curb cut ramps. Second, if you have existing curb cut ramps on your property that have 12” grooved borders, you are NOT required to remove the grooves and restore the area to match the existing ramp finish. Just leave them be!

3. If your existing 12” grooves exceed 2% surface slope, this condition no longer carries the threat of a lawsuit.

This leads me to the code section that has NOT changed, but is still giving a lot of designers, inspectors and contractors trouble: California Approved Truncated Domes.

 Two items concerning truncated domes on curb ramps still stand out as problematic. One item is the “Dome Spacing” or the distance between each dome aligned on the panel. Outside of California, the dome spacing is allowed to be 1 5/8” but here in California the spacing is required to be between 2.3”-2.4” dome to dome. The second item is the color. For many years here in California, the local building agency has allowed us to install truncated dome panels in colors such as Terra Cotta, brown, black and even turquoise blue, as long as the truncated dome panel had a contrasting color with the surrounding surface!

Since January of 2014, California now enforces yellow-colored panels only.

Be careful! Many building departments and their inspectors still allow the use of other colors which are now a violation of the current code requirements.

Here is what the code says:

11B-705.1.1.3 Color and Contrast. Detectable warning surfaces at transit boarding platform edges, bus stops, hazardous vehicular areas, reflecting pools, and track crossings shall comply with Section 11B-705.1.1.3.1. Detectable warnings at other locations shall comply with either Section 11B- 705.1.1.3.1 or Section 11B-705.1.1.3.2. The material used to provide visual contrast shall be an integral part of the surface.

11B-705.1.1.3.1 Detectable-warning surfaces shall be yellow and approximate FS 33538 of Federal Standard 595C.

11B-705.1.1.3.2 Detectable warning surfaces shall provide a 70 percent minimum visual contrast visually with adjacent walking surfaces either light on dark, or dark-on-light. The material used to provide contrast shall be an integral part of the surface. Contrast in percent shall be determined by: Contrast percent = [(B1-B2)/B1] x 100 percent where B1 = light reflectance value (LRV) of the lighter area and B2 = light reflectance value (LRV) of the darker area. Exception: Where the detectable warning surface does not adequately contrast with provide a 70 percent minimum contrast with adjacent walking surfaces, a 1 inch (25 mm) wide minimum visually contrasting surface shall separate the detectable warning from adjacent walking surfaces. The visually contrasting surface shall contrast with both the detectable warning and adjacent walking surfaces either light-on-dark, or dark-on-light.

11B-705.1.2.2 Curb ramps. Detectable warnings at curb ramps shall extend 36 inches (914 mm) in the direction of travel. Detectable warnings shall extend the full width of the ramp run less 2 inches (51 mm) maximum on each side, excluding any flared sides. Detectable warnings shall be located so the edge nearest the curb is 6 inches (152 mm) minimum and 8 inches (203 mm) maximum from the line at the face of the curb marking the transition between the curb and the gutter, street or highway. Exception: On parallel curb ramps, detectable warnings shall be placed on the turning space at the flush transition between the street and sidewalk. Detectable warnings shall extend the full width of the turning space at the flush transition between the street and the sidewalk less 2 inches (51 mm) maximum on each side.

11B-705.1.2.3 Islands or cut-through medians. Detectable warnings at pedestrian islands or cut- through medians shall be 36 inches (914 mm) minimum in depth extending the full width of the pedestrian path or cut-through less 2 inches (51 mm) maximum on each side, placed at the edges of the pedestrian island or cut-through median, and shall be separated by 24 inches (610 mm) minimum of walking surface without detectable warnings. Exception: Detectable warnings shall be 24 inches (610 mm) minimum in depth at pedestrian islands or cut-through medians that are less than 96 inches (2438 mm) in length in the direction of pedestrian travel.

There is a lot to consider when installing a new curb cut ramp besides the ramp slope, wing slope, top landing and transitions.

Before you call your favorite contractor to replace an existing curb ramp, make sure they are know the current code requirements.

Let’s get this right the first time and get back to running our businesses.

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