The standards guide making all public buildings and facilities accessible to individuals with impairments. For example, they ensure everyone can access doors, use toilets, and negotiate stairs. In addition, compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act guarantees that persons with disabilities are not left behind or in the cold and solves various safety issues.

The Americans with Disability Act (ADA) mandates tactile warning surfaces to inform individuals with disabilities of changes in walking surfaces. For example, detectable warnings tell people when a sidewalk departs into a roadway or a level surface transitions into an elevated ramp.

When a wheelchair, walking stick, or other equipment makes contact with truncated domes, tactile surfaces offer aural feedback. For example, bright colours serve as visual indicators, while raised bumps provide tactile feedback felt under the feet.