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Guide
to Accessible Entrances*
The
Americans' with Disabilities Act of 1990 has greatly effected the Design
Professionals task of getting people into a building space, while
maintaining aesthetic appeal. The Building Owner and Management
Professional has an equally daunting task of preserving valuable floor
space, while keeping costs under control. We hope the information
contained in this web page will be helpful to both.
Automatic doors can save
the Building Owner money, by greatly lowing the cost of remodeling. The
Design Professional can provide the Owner with a functional and
aesthetically pleasing entrance that will comply with ADA regulations.
The Building Owner can deduct up to $15,000.00 per year for expenses
associated with architectural barrier removal.
Civil penalties can be
awarded to individuals who bring lawsuits, up to $50,000.00, if a
business or public accommodation fails to comply. Public accommodations,
include public and private businesses that buy or sell products and
services. These include businesses, such as hotels, theaters, banks,
retail stores, transportation centers, educational facilities,
restaurants, as well as other public buildings and private businesses
dealing with public accommodations.
All existing buildings
and facilities must have barriers removed by January 26, 1992 if readily
achievable, without undue hardship, difficulty or expense. All new
construction, after January 26, 1993 must be accessible to individuals
with disabilities.
*Reference
FEDERAL REGISTER/VOL. 56 NO. 144/FRIDAY, JULY 26, 1991/RULES AND
REGULATIONS.
Automatic
Doors
Accessible entrances
do not need to be automated. However, it is very often much less
expensive to automate an entrance, than to provide the necessary
maneuvering clearances required for manual doors. Automatic entrances
are exempt from these maneuvering clearances.
Automatic doors are also
exempt from the low manual opening forces, that non-automated entrance
doors must comply with to meet ADA. The spring closing force of an
automated entrance may be higher, enabling doors to be kept closed in
windy locations.
A power failure to the
door operator is not a normal condition and need not to be considered to
comply with the law..
Low Energy Door
Operators for Accessible Entrances
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DORMA ADA Door Operators | record-usa
ADA Door Operators
Types
of Doors
Accessible entrances
should be either swinging or sliding. Revolving doors are excluded in
paragraph 4.13.2*. However, it should be noted, that very large diameter
automatic revolving doors, may comply. The Egress Committee of the
National Fire Protection Agency, has issued a written opinion, that
large diameter revolving doors should be considered hinged entrance
doors. The Veterans Administration has also conducted a study of large
diameter revolving doors, for use in their facilities. The VA has
concluded that they are acceptable for use by disabled persons entering
their buildings. However, the door must be of sufficient size and fully
automatic.
An independent Design
Professional should be consulted, before using automatic revolving doors
for accessible applications.
*Reference
FEDERAL REGISTER/VOL. 56 NO. 144/FRIDAY, JULY 26, 1991/RULES AND
REGULATIONS.
Maneuvering
Clearances
Doors which are not
automatic or power assist must have the following maneuvering
clearances, as shown below, according to paragraphs 4.1.6, 4.3.3,
4.13.6, 4.13.7 and 4.13.12*.
- Front
Approaches - Swinging Doors
- Maneuvering
Clearances - Front Approach Pull Side
Maneuvering
Clearances - Front Approach Push Side
- Hinge Side
Approaches - Swinging Doors
- Maneuvering
Clearances - Hinge Side Approach Pull Side
Maneuvering
Clearances - Hinge Side Approach Push Side
- Latch Side
Approaches - Swinging Doors
- Maneuvering
Clearances - Latch Side Approach Pull Side
Maneuvering
Clearances - Latch Side Approach Push Side
- Other
Clearances - Swinging Doors
- Minimum
Door Width Clearance
Maximum
Doorway Depth
Minimum
Vestibule Depth - Doors Swinging in Opposite Direction
Minimum
Vestibule Depth - Doors Swinging in Same Direction
*Reference
FEDERAL REGISTER/VOL. 56 NO. 144/FRIDAY, JULY 26, 1991/RULES AND
REGULATIONS
Important
Considerations
- One half of
public entrances into a building must be accessible.
- Notes:
- 1) Public entrances
at pedestrian tunnels, parking garages, sky bridges and elevated
walkways can not be included as part of the minimum number of
accessible entrances required.
2) Loading and service entrances are not considered to be public
entrances. If a service entrance is the only entrance into a
building it must be accessible.
3) If access is provided directly from a parking garage,
pedestrian tunnel, sky bridge, or elevated walkway into a
building, at least one entrance from each must be accessible.
4) Multiple occupancy structures, such as strip malls, an
accessible entrance must be provided into each tenant's space.
One door at
each accessible entrance must meet access requirements.
Where possible,
accessible entrances must be located at entrances used by the majority
of occupants and visitors.
One accessible
entrance should be located at the ground floor.
- Each
accessible entrance must be marked with proper signage.
- Note:
Signage must be installed, so that the person with a disability
does not have to reverse their direction or retrace their approach
to the accessible entrance.
All doors
within a building, serving an accessible egress route or an area of
rescue, must be accessible.
-
- Accessible
doors must have a minimum
clear opening width of 32",
measured from the face of the door opened to 90 degrees to the
surface of the latch sided door stop. If no latch side door stop
exists, than measure to the latch side jamb surface.
- Notes:
1) Doorways deeper
than 24" must have a minimum clear
opening width of 36"
2) When an existing building is altered, the clear opening may be
reduced 5/8", if it is structurally or technically impossible
to provided a minimum 32" clear opening.
- When pairs
of doors are used at least one door in that pair must be
accessible.
- Note:
If neither door in a pair will meet the minimum 32"
clearance, as an individual, automatic doors can be used to
operate both doors simultaneously. Provided both doors, when
opened simultaneously provided at least a 32" clear opening.
- Doorways
must have a maximum threshold height of 1/2".
- Notes:
1) Thresholds or floor height changes must be beveled and must
have a maximum 1:2 slope.
2) Exterior sliding doors may have a 3/4" threshold height.
3) Existing thresholds in remodels may remain if they are not
higher than 3/4" and have a beveled edge.
- Doors
in series or forming a vestibule shall have minimum
vestibule depth of 48" plus the
width of the door leaf swinging into the vestibule.
- Notes:
1) Doors in series or forming a vestibule must swing in the same
direction.
2) Doors in series or forming a vestibule may only swing in
opposite
directions,
if they swing away from the vestibule area.
-
- Handles,
locks, latches, pulls and other door hardware must be easily
operable by the disabled.
- Notes:
1) Must operate easily with one hand, without grasping tightly, or
twisting of the wrist to operate.
2) Lever operated or push type mechanisms and "U" shaped
handles are recommended.
3) Hardware required for passage must not be higher than 48"
off the floor.
4) Sliding door operating hardware must be exposed and usable from
both sides of the door.
Doors with
manual closers must not close faster than 3 seconds from 70 degrees to
3" from the latch.
- Maximum
opening force for sliding, folding and swinging interior doors is
5 Lbs.
- Notes:
1) The ADA has no determined maximum opening force as of now, but
8 Lbs. is strongly suggested and required by some state and local
accessibility codes.
2) Automatic doors are exempt from these manual opening forces.
This can be a great benefit at windy locations, which require
greater forces to keep the door closed.
3) Fire rated doors are exempt if greater forces are required by
state or local fire codes.
- Automatic
doors must comply with ANSI 156.10. Low energy or power assist
door operators must comply with ANSI 156.19.
- Note:
Power assist doors lower the force necessary to open a door. They
do not open a door automatically. Automatic doors and low energy
door operators open a door for the pedestrian.
- *Reference
FEDERAL REGISTER/VOL. 56 NO. 144/FRIDAY, JULY 26, 1991/RULES AND
REGULATIONS.
Historic
Preservation
Buildings that are
protected by historic preservation must have at least one accessible
public entrance. If it is determined that no public entrance can
comply, then access can be provided at any entrance. The route to the
accessible entrance must be well marked from the primary entrance to
the building.
Alterations
and Renovations
If the building
already has accessible entrances, an entrance that is renovated or
altered does not have to be accessible. However, if it effects the
usage of a primary area in a building, it must comply.
*Eastern Door Service its
employees and associates are not architects, engineers or building
code experts. You should consult the proper experts before
purchasing an automatic entrance door.
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