Compliance is our forte.
An important aspect of being in the asphalt business is knowing our audience. Not just the property managers and boards—the individuals who frequent those paved surfaces each and every day bring a unique set of needs and considerations to a property. Depending on the client needs, whether they be residential or commercial, we create a plan for surfaces that are not only nice to look at, but are also easy to use and ADA compliant.
Keep Yourself Safe from ADA Lawsuits.
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 was created in order to prohibit discrimination and ensure equal opportunity for individuals with disabilities, and has led to major advances in how they are able to move throughout public spaces—on the whole, a very, very good thing. Unfortunately, as with many laws of this nature, it can be susceptible to abuse, leaving property owners and managers—especially those who have let their properties fall lax in regards to ADA regulations—open to lawsuits by unscrupulous lawyers and their clients.
These lawsuits are costly and time-consuming, and often lead to drastic consequences for the businesses being sued; lay-offs, bankruptcy, and closure are common results. While legislation has been passed to curb these unethical lawsuits, it’s best to protect yourself by staying ahead of the game and staying on top of compliance code.
At Black Diamond, we are well-versed in ADA Compliance. We have decades of experience navigating the ins and outs of the ever-changing ADA rules and regulations and often work closely with specialists and consultants in the ADA Compliance field. We help get your property current with ADA laws, which can end up saving you lots of money in the long run.
DID YOU KNOW?
It’s currently estimated that around 20% of Americans have some form of disability.
California ranks #1 on the list of top 10 states for Federal ADA lawsuits filed every year.
In the first six months of 2020, more than 2,700 lawsuits were filed in California—over 3.5 times as many as the second place contender, New York.
The Process
In assessing your property for ADA compliance, our experts look at many factors, including markings, parking spaces, van access, aisle width, curb ramps, appropriate slopes, and the surface area itself, which must be firm, stable, and slip resistant. Government regulations can only go so far in the mission to keeping properties user friendly. Outside of the specifics of the law, there are other practical considerations to evaluate depending on your situation. For instance, if the businesses on your property are frequented by the elderly or injured (clinics, etc.), additional spaces and planning will ensure all customers are able to access the buildings in a convenient way. Schools and churches may also require additional focus on making sure the shared areas are easily accessed.
1. Survey
An ADA survey is the first step towards identifying where the non-compliant areas are and how best to address them.
During this step, we:
- Determine how many and what type of handicap stalls are required.
- Make sure existing stalls have correct signage, paint markings, and access aisles.
- Check the slope of pavement in stalls, access aisles, and associated paths of travel.
- Make sure sidewalk ramps and paths of travel are compliant.
- Ensure entry signs to the lot are of the correct type and information on the sign is current.
2. Corrective Action Plan
Using the results from the survey, we then create a plan that specifically identifies the areas for correction and where it may be necessary to have detailed drawings made that can be used for construction and permitting.
3. Construction
Once a plan is in place, it’s time to select a contractor to perform the work. It is very important to select someone with extensive experience in ADA compliance, as mistakes here can be expensive and time consuming. At Black Diamond, we’ve spent many years navigating the ins and outs of the ever-changing federal, state, and local ADA rules and regulations, and frequently work closely with specialists and consultants in the ADA Compliance field.
The Plan
If your property is not up to regulations, we’ll create a strategy, in conjunction with your budget and other surface maintenance needs, to get it to where it needs to be and keep it current. While all sorts of factors come into play when creating the plan, there are three basic steps we’ll follow.
Let’s Get the Ball Rolling!
There’s a lot to know about hitting the mark when it comes to ADA law. We welcome the opportunity to help you make a difference in the lives of those with disabilities by assessing your current surfaces and creating a plan for best compliance. Give us a call!
