A trip hazard is an uneven vertical change between concrete surfaces, such as a raised sidewalk edge, that puts pedestrians at risk of tripping and can expose property owners to liability.
In depth
When concrete settles unevenly, adjacent slabs no longer meet flush and a lip forms at the joint. Even a small raised edge is enough to catch a foot, a cane, a walker, or a wheelchair, and the young, elderly, and mobility-impaired are most at risk. Beyond safety, uneven concrete creates real liability for property owners, HOAs, management companies, and municipalities.
Polyurethane raising removes trip hazards by lifting the low slab back flush with its neighbor, an economical and fast alternative to replacement that also restores appearance.
How Acme applies it. Acme highlights that between 2008 and 2013 the City of Chicago alone spent nearly $6,000,000 on sidewalk-related settlements and judgments, underscoring the liability that trip hazards create.
Related terms: Change in Level, Differential Settlement, Sunken Concrete, Concrete Leveling
Frequently asked questions
How big does a lip have to be to be a trip hazard?
Accessibility codes generally treat vertical changes over about a quarter inch as needing correction, because even small edges can catch a foot or a mobility device.
How are trip hazards fixed?
Polyurethane concrete raising lifts the settled slab back level with the adjacent surface, eliminating the lip quickly and at a fraction of the cost of replacement.