DSA IR 11B-3: DETECTABLE WARNINGS AT CURB RAMPS (with revisions issued through Jan. 2011)
Revised 01-01-11
Revised 11-01-07
Issued 01-26-05
References:
2001 California Building Code, Sections 1127B.5 Item 8 and 1117A.4.7 (prior to the 10/12/06 Supplement, effective 5/2/07).
California Government Code, Section 4451(d)
Americans with Disabilities Act Standards for Accessible Design, Section 4.7.7
Discipline: Access Compliance
This Interpretation of Regulations (IR) is intended for use by the Division of the State Architect (DSA) staff, and as a resource for design professionals, to promote more uniform statewide criteria for plan review and construction inspection of projects within the jurisdiction of DSA. This IR indicates an acceptable method for achieving compliance with applicable codes and regulations, although other methods proposed by design professionals may be considered by DSA.
This IR is reviewed on a regular basis and is subject to revision at any time. Please check the DSA web site for currently effective IRs. Only IRs listed in the document at http://www.dgs.ca.gov/dsa/Resources/IRManual.aspx at the time of plan submittal to DSA are considered applicable.
Purpose: This interpretation clarifies acceptable design and installation requirements of detectable warnings at curb ramps under Division of the State Architect (DSA) jurisdiction, which includes state funded buildings and facilities, State of California public elementary and secondary schools (grades K-12), community colleges, and universities. (In the 2007 and 2010 CBC this issue has been addressed in Section 1127B.5 Item 7).
General: California Building Code Sections 1127B.5 Item 8 and 1117A.4.7 state “a curb ramp shall have a detectable warning….when the ramp slope is less than 1 unit vertical to 15 units horizontal (6.7% slope).”
However, the Americans with Disabilities Act Standards for Accessible Design Section 4.7.7 indicates that curb ramps shall have a detectable warning surface without regard to the slope of the ramp.
Design Requirements: Per California Government Code 4451(d), until such building standards are published in the California Building Standards Code that meet or exceed the requirements of the federal Americans with Disabilities Act, and specifically in this case the Americans with Disabilities Act Standards for Accessible Design Section 4.7.7, the DSA will accept curb ramp designs which indicate detectable warnings at curb ramps regardless of slope.
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