Assessment of Detectable Warning Devices for Specification Compliance or Equivalent Facilitation

Details

• Creators:
  Spiller, David ; Multer, Jordan
• Corporate Creators:
  John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (U.S.)
• Subject/TRT Terms:
  • Detectable warning surfaces
  • Warning devices for persons with disabilities
  • Persons with disabilities
  • Visually impaired persons
  • Accessibility
  • Human factors
  • Tactile perception
  • Performance based specifications
  • Specifications
  • Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
  More +
• Publication/ Report Number:
  DOT-VNTSC-FTA-92-5 ; FTA-DC-90-7710-92-1
• Resource Type:
  Tech Report
• Geographical Coverage:
  United States
• Edition:
  Final Report April 1992-June 1992
• Corporate Publisher:
  United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Transit Administration
• Abstract:
  This report evaluates the Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG) specification for detectable ; warnings and the applicability of equivalent facilitation to the development of detectable warning devices. Ambiguities ; in the specification are identified and solutions are recommended to address these problems. ; Detectable warnings are intended to aid the visually impaired to detect the presence of hazards on a circulation path. ; Transit authorities and manufacturers developing detectable warnings for use at rail platforms have requested assistance ; in interpreting the specification. Lack of precision in the specification language allows different interpretations, ; resulting in products that vary widely in their designs. The evolution of the detectable warning specification and the ; human performance considerations that led to changes in the specification are discussed. Recommendations are given for ; clarifying the language and eliminating the ambiguity in the specification. ; For transportation authorities unable to comply with the ADA detectable warning specification, the guidelines provide an ; alternative mechanism by which accessibility requirements may be met. Equivalent Facilitation permits the use of ; alternative designs provided they give equal or better access. The implications of departures from the specification ; are discussed and several tests are suggested for determining whether an alternative design meets the equivalent ; facilitation criterion.
  More +
• Format:
  PDF
• Funding:
  U2034/UM293
• Download URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/8633/dot_8633_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 4.31 MB]
• Collection(s):
  Volpe Center
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:6994b47082e2dabb125ad2ca76761ec1ed4827fdfe3dac7853c54b42e585dba24717b4fa554921ca3da4d117da0b8d52e6b7353072caf1e6465dd324bc75a62c