Hotel Curb Ramp in Hawaii - What's Wrong?

Hawaii Composite Curb Ramp

The photo on the right is a rubber curb ramp observed at the front curb of a hotel in Hawaii. What’s wrong? HINT: Don’t be fooled by the ADA blue pedestrian cones.

2010 ADA Standard 405.2, Ramps, Slope, states, “Ramp runs shall have a running slope not steeper than 1:12 [8.3%].” The diagram below is representative of this Standard.

Max ramp runs slope is 12 inches for every 1 inch vertical change.

So in the first photo above you can see that the length of the ramp run is approximately 12 inches and the elevation at the top of the ramp is less than the height of the curb. So there are two things wrong in this photo. First, the ramp run length is too short for use by disabled individuals because it is steeper than 1:12. And second, the height of the ramp leaves an abrupt vertical change in elevation when comparing the top of the ramp to the curb height. This elevation change is approximately 1 inch.

2010 ADA Standard 403.4, Walking Surfaces, Changes in Elevation, states, “Changes in elevation shall comply with [Standard] 303.” Standard 303.2, Changes in Level, Vertical, states, “Changes in level of 1/4 inch high maximum shall be permitted to be vertical.” Standard 303.3, Changes in Level, Beveled, states, “Changes in level between 1/4 inch high minimum and 1/2 inch high maximum shall be beveled with a slope not steeper than 1:2.” The diagram below is representative of these Standards.

Beveled Change in Level

So the answer to the question above is that this curb ramp is not acceptable as an accessible curb ramp for disabled individuals. The ADA blue pedestrian cones give a false impression that this is an accessible curb ramp. The ramp is probably OK for other uses like luggage carts, rolling suitcases, and the electric vehicle in the background of the first photo above, but it should not be presented as a curb ramp for disabled individuals. At this hotel there must be another route across the curb ramp that is accessible for disabled individuals.

If you observe a building that is not ADA compliant and you would like to know how to proceed, please see the link at What To Do When A Building Is Not ADA Compliant or Accessible.

ADA Inspections Nationwide, LLC, offers ADA/ABA/FHA accessibility compliance inspections for buildings and facilities, as applicable to the different laws, and expert witness services with respect to ADA/ABA/FHA laws for building owners, tenants and managers. Also, ADAIN offers consulting for home modifications as a CAPS consultant for people wishing to age in place in their homes. For a complete list of services please see ADAIN Services.

Thank you.