Detectable Warning Mat Selector — Find the Right ADA Truncated Dome Mat

Specifying an ADA detectable warning surface sounds simple until you are weighing cast-in-place against surface-mount, composite against cast iron, and a wall of sizes and colors. The Detectable Warning Mat Selector above walks you through how your mat will be installed, how much durability the site demands, which product line fits, and the exact size and color you need — then matches you to the truncated dome mats we stock, with live pricing and one-click add to cart. It is built for contractors who already know their spec and for first-time buyers who would rather be guided than guess.

What detectable warning mats do and why they matter

A detectable warning mat — also called a truncated dome mat, tactile paving, or detectable warning surface — is a panel of raised domes that alerts pedestrians who are blind or have low vision that they are approaching a hazard. The domes provide tactile feedback underfoot and to a cane, while the high-contrast color provides a visual cue. You see them at curb ramps, crosswalks, transit platform edges, stair landings, and anywhere a pedestrian route meets vehicle traffic. Installed correctly, they keep a site ADA compliant and keep pedestrians safe.

Three decisions drive which mat is right for your project: how it mounts, what it is made of, and what size and color you need. The selector handles all three in order.

Cast in place vs. surface mount

This is the single most important choice, because it depends on the state of your concrete:

Composite vs. cast iron

Once mounting is settled, durability is the next question. Most projects use composite tiles; cast iron is reserved for the toughest sites.

Composite is correct for the vast majority of installations. Reach for cast iron only where heavy vehicles cross the mats or where you need maximum service life.

Access Tile, Armor Tile & Advantage

As an authorized dealer, we stock only authentic, name-brand tactile surfacing — never off-brand generic mats. On the composite side you will choose between two trusted product lines, both fully ADA compliant:

• Access Tile — the most widely specified ADA tile, with a replaceable design that lets individual tiles swap out in minutes using a Torx driver. Available cast in place and surface mount.
• Armor Tile — proven glass and carbon composite with more than 30 years in the field, and a couple of extra surface-applied colors (Blue and Light Gray).
• Advantage cast iron — the heavy-duty, cast-in-place option engineered to take abuse from rolling loads and extreme weather.

Choosing the right size

The detectable warning must cover the full width of the ramp or landing and extend the required depth in the direction of travel, which is commonly 24 inches. We stock mats from 1 ft x 1 ft up to 3 ft x 5 ft, plus radius mats that follow the curve of a rounded curb return. A standard curb ramp often uses a 2 ft x 4 ft or 2 ft x 5 ft mat; larger areas are covered by combining multiple mats. When in doubt, measure the ramp opening and our team can confirm the layout with you.

Colors and visual contrast

Composite mats are stocked in Federal Yellow, Black, Brick or Safety Red, Colonial Red, and Dark Gray, with Armor Tile surface-applied also offered in Blue and Light Gray. Federal Yellow is the most commonly specified because it provides strong visual contrast against gray concrete, but always confirm the color your local jurisdiction requires. Cast iron ships in its natural grey patina, which darkens attractively over time.

ADA compliance and where mats are required

Under the ADA and the Public Right-of-Way Accessibility Guidelines (PROWAG), detectable warning surfaces are required wherever a curb ramp, blended transition, or pedestrian route meets a vehicular way, at transit platform boarding edges, and at the edges of reflecting pools without railings. In practice that means curb ramps, crosswalks, train and bus platforms, and similar transitions. Many states and agencies layer on additional specifications for dome spacing, color, and placement, so check your local requirements before ordering. Every mat we sell is certified ADA compliant.

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Frequently Asked Questions