If you have walked through your town recently I can guarantee you have stepped on a truncated dome and not thought a second about it. Few people really know what these truncated domes are or what they are used for. This article will explain them in detail and how they managed to find their way to your neighborhood.
Raised domes as many call them are all part of what is known as tactile paving. Tactile paving is a system where you can feel the pavement underfoot without having to see it. These are installed in crosswalks as well as train platforms. They are used primarily as a warning system for someone with a visual impairment. These tactile paving systems are used to signal a curbside, a pedestrian crossing area or the edge of a train platform.
Japan is the birth place of these tactile pavement systems. In the middle 1960's they were first installed in crosswalks and train platforms in a city called Okayama City. Their success was immediate and they were quickly adopted nation wide. They were brought to Great Britain in the 1980's and were eventually brought to the United States. They were adopted nationwide in the States after the passing of the Americans with Disabilities Act in the 90's. These tactile paving systems are required throughout the land. They are required where ever there is a crosswalk, train platform edge or any change in the elevation on a side walk.
The raised dome design is slightly higher than the rest of the tactile padding underneath. The shape can be a dome or diamond pattern, there is currently no default and communities can choose between the two as they see fit. Though generally speaking you will find the diamond cut pattern on train platforms and the dome pattern on crosswalks. They are usually a brighter color in contrast to the sidewalk or other surface color. Usually a bright orange or yellow is used to highlight their existence.
There are generally 2 types one might find under foot. First is the one made from heavy duty polymer. The other is made of a high strength resin called liquid plastic. Both are designed to last give or take 5 years under heavy pedestrian traffic. During rain or winter months these surfaces are slip resistant making them ideal for a neighborhood application.
Truncated domes can be seen in cities big and small throughout the country. Their installation is mandatory since the passing of the American with Disabilities Act in the 1990's. Manufacturers can use either a heavy duty polymer or a strong resin to make them. Their design and color will vary depending upon their application.
Raised domes as many call them are all part of what is known as tactile paving. Tactile paving is a system where you can feel the pavement underfoot without having to see it. These are installed in crosswalks as well as train platforms. They are used primarily as a warning system for someone with a visual impairment. These tactile paving systems are used to signal a curbside, a pedestrian crossing area or the edge of a train platform.
Japan is the birth place of these tactile pavement systems. In the middle 1960's they were first installed in crosswalks and train platforms in a city called Okayama City. Their success was immediate and they were quickly adopted nation wide. They were brought to Great Britain in the 1980's and were eventually brought to the United States. They were adopted nationwide in the States after the passing of the Americans with Disabilities Act in the 90's. These tactile paving systems are required throughout the land. They are required where ever there is a crosswalk, train platform edge or any change in the elevation on a side walk.
The raised dome design is slightly higher than the rest of the tactile padding underneath. The shape can be a dome or diamond pattern, there is currently no default and communities can choose between the two as they see fit. Though generally speaking you will find the diamond cut pattern on train platforms and the dome pattern on crosswalks. They are usually a brighter color in contrast to the sidewalk or other surface color. Usually a bright orange or yellow is used to highlight their existence.
There are generally 2 types one might find under foot. First is the one made from heavy duty polymer. The other is made of a high strength resin called liquid plastic. Both are designed to last give or take 5 years under heavy pedestrian traffic. During rain or winter months these surfaces are slip resistant making them ideal for a neighborhood application.
Truncated domes can be seen in cities big and small throughout the country. Their installation is mandatory since the passing of the American with Disabilities Act in the 1990's. Manufacturers can use either a heavy duty polymer or a strong resin to make them. Their design and color will vary depending upon their application.
