Truncated Domes
Truncated Dome Mat vs Panel: Which to Install? (2026)
Cojo
May 7, 2026
7 min read
A truncated dome mat is a rolled, flexible sheet of fiber-reinforced polymer or rubber that bonds to a cured concrete or asphalt surface with adhesive and edge anchors, while a truncated dome panel is a rigid plate (composite, polymer concrete, or cast iron) that sits in or on the substrate as a defined unit. Both can meet ADA Standards 705.1 dome geometry and 705.2 contrast, but they fit very different installation conditions and lifecycle profiles.
This guide walks through the decision lines that actually drive a spec: substrate type, traffic load, retrofit difficulty, and how each system holds up at the ADA 705.5 wear threshold over a 10-year horizon.
A truncated dome mat ships as a flexible sheet, typically 24 inches by 36 inches up to 24 inches by 60 inches, with the dome geometry molded into the top face. Installation crews score the mat to fit the curb-ramp landing, apply a urethane or epoxy adhesive to the substrate, set the mat, and secure the perimeter with stainless-steel countersunk anchors.
Mats are dominant in the retrofit market because they conform to minor surface irregularities that would crack a rigid panel. They are also the fastest install per square foot — a two-person crew can complete a 24-inch by 48-inch curb cut in 30 to 45 minutes including layout.
Yes, when sourced from a manufacturer that publishes ADA 705.1 dome geometry and ADA 705.2 contrast specs. The U.S. Access Board does not regulate the carrier (mat versus panel), only the geometry, contrast, and placement of the dome surface itself. ASTM C1028 slip resistance is a common voluntary spec on top of the federal floor.
A truncated dome panel is a rigid product that arrives in fixed sizes (24 inches by 24 inches up through 36 inches by 60 inches are common) and is installed as a defined unit. The three sub-types are cast-in-place panels (set into wet concrete during a pour), surface-applied panels (epoxy and anchored to cured concrete), and replaceable panels (bolted into a permanent frame).
Panels deliver more predictable long-term geometry because the dome surface is part of a rigid substrate. The leading edge does not lift, the dome plate cannot delaminate, and the panel resists the freeze-thaw cycle better than most mats.
Cast-in-place panels demand wet concrete. Surface-applied panels need a cured, level concrete surface within 1 percent of plumb. Replaceable cast-iron panels work in either new or retrofit applications. Asphalt is generally not a great panel substrate — most manufacturers limit warranty coverage to concrete.
| Spec | Mat | Panel (surface-applied) | Panel (cast-in-place) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Form factor | Flexible sheet, scoreable | Rigid, sized to plan | Rigid, sized to plan |
| Substrate fit | Concrete or asphalt | Concrete only | Wet concrete only |
| Install time per curb cut | 30 to 60 minutes | 60 to 120 minutes | Set during pour |
| Lifespan | 5 to 10 years | 7 to 15 years | 15 to 30 years |
| Snowplow tolerance | Fair (edge lift risk) | Good | Excellent |
| ADA 705.1 geometry compliance | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| ADA 705.2 contrast (color-fast) | UV fade after year 5 to 7 | Color-fast 10 plus years | Color-fast life of substrate |
| Retrofit fit | Best | Good | None |
| Initial material cost per square foot | Lowest | Mid | Mid |
Mats are the right call in three retrofit scenarios.
A retail center owner who needs ADA 705 compliance in two weeks before a tenant opens cannot wait for a concrete pour cycle. Mats install on cured concrete in under an hour per curb cut and let the property reopen the same day.
Mats cost 25 to 40 percent less per square foot than rigid panels at the material level. For owners trying to bring a 6 plus curb-cut property into ADA 705 compliance with a fixed capital budget, mats convert the most curb cuts per dollar.
Older curb-ramp concrete sometimes has 0.25 to 0.5 inches of dish or crown across the landing. A rigid panel cannot bridge that without rocking. A mat conforms to the underlying surface, distributes the adhesive across the irregularity, and presents a flat dome face above.
Panels win in four specification scenarios.
Cast-in-place panels are the lowest lifecycle cost option for any new pour. The panel and the surrounding concrete cure as one unit, the embedded edge cannot delaminate, and the system regularly outlasts its first 25 years with no maintenance other than inspection.
Bend, Pendleton, La Grande, and other snowbelt jurisdictions wear out mats in 5 to 7 years because the leading edge eventually lifts under repeated plow contact. Replaceable cast-iron panels are the standard spec for new transit-stop construction in those regions because the iron carrier shrugs off plow strikes that would peel a mat.
Federal yellow on a UV-exposed mat fades to roughly 55 to 60 percent contrast at year 7 to 8, dropping below ADA 705.2 minimums. Polymer-concrete and cast-iron panels publish color-fast warranties through year 10 to 15. Specifiers writing a long warranty into a public-bid project tend to require panels.
Forklift wheels, dolly carts, and warehouse traffic shred mats inside 24 months. A polymer-concrete or cast-iron panel handles the load class.
Industry Baseline Range
| Cost element | Mat | Panel (surface-applied) | Panel (cast-in-place) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Material per square foot | $26 to $48 | $40 to $75 | $32 to $58 |
| Install labor per square foot | $12 to $24 | $18 to $36 | included in pour |
| Replacement at year 7 to 10 | $35 to $70 (full reinstall) | $50 to $95 (full demo) | rare before year 25 |
| 10-year cost per square foot | $40 to $80 | $58 to $111 | $32 to $58 |
Mat pricing has held relatively steady in 2025 because polymer raw materials are not in short supply. Panel pricing climbed 12 to 18 percent on cast-iron and polymer-concrete inputs. Adhesive cost is up across both systems because ASTM C881 epoxy is the same input. The labor differential between mat and panel widened in 2026 as ADA 705 inspection rigor pushed crews to spend more layout time on rigid panels.
This article reflects ADA Standards for Accessible Design as of 2026-05-07 and product spec sheets current at publication. Always verify current dimensions, contrast thresholds, and placement requirements with your local jurisdiction and the U.S. Access Board before issuing a final spec. Federal guidance under 36 CFR Part 1191 controls when state or local rules conflict. Mat versus panel product family selection does not, on its own, satisfy ADA compliance — installation geometry and contrast verification are equally controlling.
On a 22,000-square-foot Hillsboro retail center in April 2026, the owner authorized us to mat 8 retrofit curb cuts on a 10-day timeline ahead of a tenant opening. We used a polyurethane-based adhesive and stainless countersunk anchors at 6 inches on center around the perimeter. Five months later we have zero edge lift. Same property, the new-construction back-of-house ramp got a cast-in-place panel set in the original concrete pour. That panel is on a 25-year horizon. Two products, two decisions, one ADA 705 compliant property.
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