Our Philosophy

Detectable Warning Panels come in many different sizes, colors and types of Materials they are produced out of. Also noted as Tactiles for Sale, these ADA Required Detectable Warnings come in Composite, Cast Iron, Concrete detectable Warnings. Concrete detectable warning panels come in typical sizes of 1’x1’ and 2’x 2’, And well as a range of thicknesses, from 1.5 inches to 4 inches thick.

The ADA Detectable Warning Industry started its first Federal Mandate back in 1991, requiring Only Transit companies, like subways, bus stops & other types of railway transportation, to comply. There was a relief for all other applications until 2001, when the mandate applied to ALL new wheel Chair ramp installations and areas with no tactiles present for warning. (Tactiles Up to this point we typically the curb that is stepped off between vehicular areas & pedestrian.)

Without the curb warning in place, a visually impaired person would not know that they are passing from a safe Pedestrian area to a dangerous Vehicular area. Now with the domed warnings in place, and the agency for the visually impaired educating the people this was created for, a Clear warning is in place, and tragedies can be avoided.

The most familiar place (to the public) that these are found, is along the edges of railways. As noted above, Train stations, Subways and other rail forms of mass transit have been complying with this mandate since 2001. In addition to people encountering these detectable Warning panels in these areas, they are often in the background of movie scenes. Once you read this, I am sure you will start to notice them every where you go, and in every movie that shows them.

Some people ask what the colors are important and have restrictions in the mandate, if they are intended for people who can’t see the color. In the beginning the colors were mandated as a percentage of color difference between the Detectable Warning & the materials It is set In or On. Now they merely require light on dark, or vice versa. The REASON being; the domes can become a trip hazard for sighted people. The color contrast alerts sighted people that the cast iron detectable warning - composite detectable warning - concrete detectable warning or any other type of Tactile warning being used, reducing their chances of tripping over them, from lack of vivid visual presence.

ALL IN ALL the detectable warning mandate protects the visually impaired, while still making sure not to cause and alternate problem for sighted people. Now that you know, look for these detectable warning panels along your travels. Look and try to figure out if they are a cast iron detectable warning - composite detectable warning - concrete detectable warning or any other type of Tactile warning.