Change in level is the accessibility-code term for a vertical difference between two walking surfaces; codes limit how large it can be before it must be beveled or ramped for safe, accessible passage.
In depth
Accessibility standards define specific limits. Under the Illinois Accessibility Code, vertical changes without edge treatment must be less than a quarter inch; changes between a quarter inch and a half inch must be beveled at a slope no steeper than 1:2; and anything greater than a half inch requires a ramp, curb ramp, or lift. Settled concrete at building entrances and along sidewalks is a common way properties fall out of compliance.
Correcting a change in level by raising the settled slab restores a compliant, accessible route, often faster and cheaper than reconstruction. (Always verify the current codes that apply to a specific site.)
How Acme applies it. Acme’s trip-hazard resource walks through the Illinois Accessibility Code and ICC step-height rules, showing how a settled sidewalk can push an entry step or landing out of code and how raising restores compliance.
Related terms: Trip Hazard, Differential Settlement, Sunken Concrete, Concrete Leveling
Frequently asked questions
What change in level is allowed by accessibility code?
Under the Illinois Accessibility Code, changes under a quarter inch need no treatment, a quarter to a half inch must be beveled at 1:2, and over a half inch requires a ramp or lift. Verify the codes in force for your site.
Can raising concrete fix an accessibility violation?
Often, yes. Lifting a settled slab back to level can bring a walkway, landing, or entry step back within code, restoring an accessible route without reconstruction.