PennDOT Engineering District 8-02012 Construction Winter School

ADA Curb Ramp InspectionPresented by: Mike SissonFebruary 23, 2012

It is the Law ◦ The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

It is the Right Thing to do◦ Provide Equal Access.

Why are ADA Compliant Curb Ramps Important?

RC 67M◦ Stable, Firm and Slip Resistant Surface.◦ No Elevation Differences > ¼″.◦ Ramp Slopes 12:1 (8.33%) or Flatter.◦ 2% Maximum Cross Slope.◦ Detectable Warning Surface.◦ Minimum 4′ Wide Accessible Path (5′ for New

Const.).

What are ADA Compliant Curb Ramps?

Design/Bid/Build◦ Department is Responsible for Design of Ramps.◦ Contractor is Responsible for Construction.

Design/Build◦ Contract Item for Design of Ramps.◦ Design/Build Team is Responsible for Design and

Construction.

How do we Build ADA Ramps?

Read the Special Provisions. Review ramp locations early. Ensure ramp is within ROW, or obtain an

Authorization to Enter. Ensure Technically Infeasible Forms (TIFs)

are done before construction if ramp cannot fully meet the Standards.

Preconstruction Activities

Limited ROW Existing Utilities Existing Structures Environmental Impacts Historical Factors Safety Roadway Profile Slope

TIF Reasons:

Must use sound engineering judgment. Evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Must include reasons Standards cannot be met. Must include solution to provide access to the

maximum extent feasible. Detail alternatives investigated. Submitted to ADA Coordinator in EXCEL format. Approved before construction.

Filling out a TIF:

Look for existing drainage issues. Know how to use the Smart Level:

◦ 2 ′ vs. 4 ′ level◦ Calibrated◦ Measure in percentage of slope (%), not degrees (°)

Standard concrete placement requirements:◦ Source of Supply◦ Quality Control Plan◦ Certifications◦ Certified Concrete Technician

Preconstruction Activities

Verify appropriate design and TIFs approved. Check forms before, during, and after placement:

◦ Widths◦ Depths◦ Slopes (%, not °)

Maximum and minimum slope rates are absolute (No construction tolerance).

Standard concrete placement documentation. Install Detectable Warning Surfaces (DWS) per

manufacturer’s recommendations. Complete Form CS 4401.

Construction Activities

A Curb Ramp Inspection Form (CS-4401) is required for each curb ramp and will be used for the inspection of all altered curb ramps within the project limits to ensure compliance to PennDOT standards, contract documents, or provided access to the maximum extent feasible.

The CS-4401 is a permanent record of how ADA ramps were built and should be retained in the project files.

Inspector ultimately is responsible to ensure compliance.

CS-4401

This form contains field measurements, pictures of the constructed curb ramps, and images of the Technically Infeasible Form (if applicable).

If any slopes or dimensions are out of range, the Inspector needs to compare the results to the design drawing(s). If the approved drawing(s) indicated all elements are ADA compliant, and the actual construction is not ADA compliant, the ramp must be reconstructed at no additional expense to the Department.

The Inspector must verify the completed CS-4401 is accurate if the contractor or another person completes the form.

CS-4401

The electronic version of CS-4401 form can be found by going to the PennDOT homepage (www.dot.state.pa.us), selecting “More Links…” on the left side, then clicking “Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and PennDOT”. From there, you can then access all ADA related publications and forms.

When any part of the CS-4401 has a Red Cell, you must attach a TIF.

CS-4401

Things to Watch for: General Notes (RC 67M Sheet 1 of 13)

Note 8 To avoid chasing grade indefinitely when traversing the height of the curb, ramp length not to exceed 4500 (15′-0″). Adjust ramp slope as needed to provide access to the maximum extent possible.

Note 13Provide detectable warning surfaces (DWS) 610 (24″) minimum (in the direction of pedestrian travel) across full width of ramp at the grade break near street edge. Provide DWS that contrast visually with adjacent walkway surfaces, either light-on-dark or dark-on-light for the full width of ramp.

Note 15For new construction and alterations, construct curb ramp and flare slopes with the flattest slope possible. The

slopes indicated in the details show the max slope allowable. Slopes that exceed those indicated in the details, or contract documents as applicable, will not be accepted and will be reconstructed.

Things to Watch for: DWS Placement

Things to Watch for: DWS Placement

Things to Watch for: Ponding Water

Things to Watch for: Excessive Slopes

Things to Watch for: Push Button Access

Things to Watch for: Push Button Access

Things to Watch for: Push Button Access

Things to Watch for: Change of Grade Limitations

Start coordinating early. Read the Special Provisions. If in doubt, ask questions. Consider drainage throughout the process Provide for a margin of error is possible.

Key ADA Ramp Points

QUESTIONS

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