Why is ADA Compliance so Important for Engineers?

When the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 was signed, it was regarded as a milestone for equality. It provided equality for the nearly 1 in 4 Americans that are recognized as disabled.

One of the major parts of this act is making public structures accessible for disabled people. As a result, the civil engineer became a vital part in complying with this act. But how vital are they?

The truth is, civil engineers are very important in the compliance with this law. They have to install ramps and other structures that allow disabled people to access a building. Also, civil engineers have to pay close attention to slopes in order to comply with ADA law.

But what if the engineers make a mistake and create a non-compliant plan? If the mistake was not fixed, and the building was constructed as is, the owner of the property, not the engineer, may be subjected to fines. First time fines are set at $75,000, and subsequent violations can reach $150,000. Adding on to this, fixing such mistakes to avoid subsequent violations may cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Mistakes in planning, grading, and construction can cost large amounts of money in fines and repairs. In turn, an engineering company’s reputation may be damaged, with businesses avoiding the company that makes a mistake. It is important for a civil engineer to be mindful of ADA law, as the cost of poor design is too much of a risk to take.