In previous “Accessibility Newsflashes” we have covered parking lots and the required Accessible Route to a facility. Much like a vexatious or “drive by” litigant, we are addressing this series by moving from the exterior, inward, looking at the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and California Building Code (CBC).
The next subject we would like to discuss is the entrance to a facility, including doorways, door hardware and the landing.
Entrances
- Accessible entrances are required to be part of the Accessible route and must be connected by this route from accessible parking and passenger loading zones, and public streets or sidewalks, should those be available to the general public.
- Landings are essential in maintaining an aggregate slope which complies with accessibility requirements. When landings do not adhere to the standards laid out by the ADA & CBC, individuals in wheelchairs may find gaining access to a facility overly challenging. This is one of the items our inspectors most often find to be out of compliance.
- A facility’s landing must be a minimum of 48” deep by 60” wide when the entrance door swings into the facility with a 2.0% maximum slope in each direction.
- A facility’s landing must be a minimum of 60” x 60” when entrance door swings outward.
Doors
- An Accessible door must be provided at each facility. The ADA & CBC require this door to adhere to the following requirements:
- Clear Width: Doorways shall have a minimum door leaf of 36” wide, yielding a minimum clear opening of 32” with the door open 90 degrees, measured between the face of the door and the opposite side door stop.
- Doors which are not automatic or power-assisted should adhere to the appropriate maneuvering clearances with a clear and level floor area on each side of the door.
- Thresholds: The thresholds at any accessible doorway must not exceed ½” in height for any type of door.
- Raised thresholds and floor level changes at accessible doorways shall be beveled if over ¼” elevation change with a slope no greater than 1:2.
- Door Hardware: As with all accessible door handles, pulls, latches, locks, and other operating devices on accessible doors, entrance hardware must be the type which allows it to be opened with a closed fist, easy to grasp with one hand and not requiring tight grasping, pinching, or twisting of the wrist to operate.
- Some of the acceptable designs most frequently utilized include lever and push-type mechanisms or something with a U-shaped handle. This hardware is required to be centered between 30″ – 44”above the finished floor.
- Door Closers: Doors which are equipped with a closer are required to have a sweep period which is adjusted so that from an open position of 70 degrees, the door will take at least 3 seconds to move to a point 3” from the latch, measured to the leading edge of the door.
- Door Opening Force: In general, a door is required to have a maximum force for pushing or pulling to open which is no greater than 5 pounds.
- Doors reserved for emergency use should be able to be opened with the minimum force allowable by the appropriate administrative authority.
- Door type: Revolving doors and turnstiles may not be the only available means of gaining access to a facility.
- If these doors are used for purposes of providing fully controlled access, an accessible door is to be provided adjacent to these doors. If doorways have two independently operated door leaves, then at least one leaf should meet the requirements of an accessible door and provide a minimum of 32” access clearance.
- The bottom of narrow style doors shall have a minimum of 10” high smooth surface that allows the door to be opened by a wheelchair footrest without creating a trap or hazardous condition.
- Two Doors in Series: The minimum space allowed between two hinged or pivoted doors in a series is 48” in addition to the width of any door swinging into the space.
- Doors in series shall swing either in the same direction or away from the space between the doors
- Clear Width: Doorways shall have a minimum door leaf of 36” wide, yielding a minimum clear opening of 32” with the door open 90 degrees, measured between the face of the door and the opposite side door stop.
Much of this information was generated from the Federal website outlining Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines for Buildings and Facilities (ADAAG). For additional information on Certified Accessibility Inspections or information on other Accessibility Issues, please contact Lars Andersen & Associates, Inc. by phone at 559-276-2790.
Fresno CASp 