The ADA imposes specific requirements on walking surfaces, transitions, and ramps in public accommodations. Violations of these standards frequently appear in premises liability cases — and they can be decisive.
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and its implementing standards — the ADA Standards for Accessible Design (2010) and ICC/ANSI A117.1 — impose specific, measurable requirements on the design and maintenance of walking surfaces, ramps, transitions, and accessible routes in public accommodations. Airports, as places of public accommodation and facilities receiving federal financial assistance, are subject to these requirements in their entirety. ADA violations are among the most common findings in airport premises liability cases — and they can be decisive in establishing breach of duty.
Walking Surface Requirements Under the ADA
The ADA Standards for Accessible Design specify that walking surfaces on accessible routes must be stable, firm, and slip resistant. These three requirements are distinct and independently enforceable. A surface can be firm and stable but not slip resistant — as is often the case with polished marble or terrazzo flooring that becomes dangerously slippery when wet. A surface can be slip resistant when dry but fail that standard when contaminated with water, cleaning solution, or food debris.
- Stable: the surface does not shift or move under foot pressure
- Firm: the surface does not compress or deflect significantly under foot pressure
- Slip resistant: the surface provides adequate traction under foreseeable conditions of use
- Cross slope: no more than 1:48 (2%) on accessible routes
- Running slope: no more than 1:20 (5%) except on designated ramps
- Changes in level: vertical changes greater than 1/4 inch must be beveled; greater than 1/2 inch require a ramp
Transition Zones and Level Changes
One of the most common ADA violations in airport premises liability cases involves improper transitions between different flooring materials or at changes in level. The ADA Standards specify that vertical changes in level between 1/4 inch and 1/2 inch must be beveled with a slope no greater than 1:2, and changes greater than 1/2 inch must be ramped. In practice, flooring transitions in airports — particularly at the edges of carpet, tile, or terrazzo sections — frequently exceed these tolerances, creating trip hazards that are both ADA violations and foreseeable causes of injury.
Ramp Requirements
Ramps on accessible routes must comply with specific slope, width, handrail, and edge protection requirements under the ADA Standards. The maximum running slope for a ramp is 1:12 (8.33%), and ramps must have level landings at the top and bottom. Handrails are required on both sides of ramps with a rise greater than 6 inches. In airport environments — where ramps are used to connect different terminal levels, boarding areas, and parking structures — violations of these requirements are common and frequently contribute to fall injuries.
ADA Violations as Evidence of Negligence
In premises liability litigation, an ADA violation is not automatically proof of negligence — but it is strong evidence of breach of duty. The ADA establishes a minimum standard of care for accessible design, and a property owner who fails to meet that standard has failed to comply with a legally mandated requirement. An ADA compliance expert witness can identify specific violations, explain how they deviate from the applicable standard, and provide an opinion on whether the violation was a proximate cause of the plaintiff's injury.
The Maintenance Obligation
The ADA imposes not only a design obligation but also a maintenance obligation: accessible features must be maintained in working order. A ramp that was properly designed but is now damaged, a tactile warning strip that has been worn smooth, or a non-slip surface treatment that has been removed during a cleaning operation — all of these can constitute ADA violations even if the original design was compliant. Regular inspection and maintenance of accessible features is part of the standard of care for airport operators.
Need an Expert Witness for Your Case?
Paul Gaston, Ryan Dahlstrom, and Preston Rideout are available for plaintiff and defense engagements nationwide. Initial consultation at no charge.
