Extract
from Part M of the building regulations
Doors
to accessible entrances
Design
considerations
2.8
Doors
to the principal, or alternative
accessible, entrance should be accessible to all, particularly wheelchair
users and
people
with limited physical dexterity
Entrance doors may be manually operated without powered assistance, or
power operated under manual or automatic control. Entrance doors should be
capable of being held closed when not in use.
2.9
A
non-powered manually operated
entrance door, fitted with a self-closing device capable of closing the door
against wind forces and the resistance of draught seals is unlikely to be
openable by many people, particularly those who are wheelchair users or who
have limited strength.
2.10
A
powered door opening and closing
system, either manually controlled or automatically operated by sensors, is
the most satisfactory solution for most people. An automatic sliding door
arrangement is particularly beneficial as it avoids the risks associated with
automatic swing doors and its use can make it possible to reduce the length of
any entrance lobby.
2.11
Once
open, all doors to accessible
entrances should be wide enough to allow unrestricted passage for a variety of
users, including wheelchair users, people carrying luggage, people with
assistance dogs, and parents with pushchairs and small children. It should be
noted that double buggies are wider than wheelchairs and that, where relevant
to the building type, this should be borne in mind when determining an
appropriate effective clear width for an entrance door. There may be
circumstances in existing buildings where it is not practicable or
cost-effective to adopt the preferred effective clear widths for new
buildings. In such cases, the argument for adopting the minimum dimensions for
existing buildings should be made in the Access Statement.
2.12
People
should be able to see other
people approaching from the opposite direction, thereby allowing sufficient
reaction time for both parties to avoid a collision. Any exceptions for
reasons of privacy or security should be argued in the Access Statement.
Provisions
2.13
Doors
to accessible entrances will
satisfy Requirement M1 or M2 if:
a.
where required to be self-closing, a power-operated door opening and closing
system is used when through calculation and experience it appears that it will
not be possible otherwise for a person to open the door using a force no
greater than 20N at the leading edge;
b.
the effective clear width through a single leaf door, or one leaf of a double
leaf door, is in accordance with Table 2, and the rules for measurement are in
accordance with Diagram 9;
c.
unless it can be argued otherwise in the Access Statement, e.g. for reasons of
security, door leaves and side panels wider than 450mm have vision panels
towards the leading edge of the door whose vertical dimensions include at
least the minimum zone, or zones, of visibility between 500mm and 1500mm from
the floor, if necessary interrupted between 800mm and 1150mm above the floor,
e.g. to accommodate an intermediate
horizontal rail (see Diagram 9).
Note:
The
effective clear width is the width of the opening measured at right angles to
the wall in which the door is situated from the outside of the door stop on
the door closing side to any obstruction on the hinge side, whether this be
projecting door opening furniture, a weather board, the door or the door stop
(see Diagram 9). For specific guidance on the effective clear widths of doors
in sports accommodation, refer to ‘Access for Disabled People’
Manually
operated non-powered
entrance doors
Design
considerations
2.14
Self-closing
devices on manually
operated non-powered swing doors disadvantage many people who have limited
upper body strength, are pushing prams or are carrying heavy objects.
2.15
A
space alongside the leading edge
of a door should be provided to enable a wheelchair user to reach and grip the
door handle, then open the door without releasing hold on the handle and
without the footrest colliding with the return wall.
2.16
Door
furniture on manually operated
non-powered doors should be easy to operate by people with limited manual
dexterity, and be readily apparent against the background of the door.
Provisions
2.17
Manually
operated non-powered
entrance doors will satisfy Requirement M1 or
M2 if:
a.
the opening force at the leading edge of the door is no greater than 20N;
b.
there is an unobstructed space of at least 300mm on the pull side of the door
between the leading edge of the door and any return wall, unless the door is a
powered entrance door (see Diagram 9);
c.
where fitted with a latch, the door opening furniture can be operated with one
hand using a closed fist, e.g. a lever handle;
d.
all door opening furniture contrasts visually with the surface of the door and
is not cold to the touch.
Powered
entrance doors
Design
considerations
2.18
Activation
(e.g. motion sensors and
push buttons), safety features and the time-lapse allowed for entry and exit
through powered door systems should be carefully considered to suit the needs
of people who cannot react quickly.
2.19
Manual
controls for powered entrance
doors should be clearly distinguishable against the background and not located
so that a person, having used the control, needs to move to avoid contact with
the door as it opens.
2.20
Revolving
doors are not considered
accessible. They create particular difficulties, and risk of injury, for
people with assistance dogs, people with visual impairment or mobility
problems and for parents with children and/or pushchairs. If a revolving
door is used, an entrance door complying with 2.17 or 2.21 should be provided
immediately adjacent to it and signed
to
show that it is accessible.
Provisions
2.21
Powered
entrance doors will satisfy
Requirement M1 or M2 if:
a.
they have a sliding, swinging or folding action controlled:
–
manually by a push pad, card swipe, coded entry or remote control, or
–
automatically by a motion sensor or other proximity sensor, e.g. a contact
mat;
b.
when installed, automatic sensors are set
so that automatically operated
doors open early enough, and stay open long enough, to permit safe entry and
exit;
c.
when they are swing doors that open towards people approaching the doors,
visual and audible warnings are
provided to warn people of their
automatic operation when both opening and shutting;
d.
they incorporate a safety stop that is activated if the doors begin to close
when a person is passing through;
e.
they revert to manual control or fail safe in the open position in the event
of a power failure;
f.
when open, they do not project into any adjacent access route;
g.
any manual controls for powered door systems are located between 750mm
and
1000mm above floor level, operable
with a closed fist and, when on the opening side of the door, are set back
1400mm from the leading edge of the door when fully open and contrast visually
with the background against which they are seen.
Glass
entrance doors and
glazed
screens
Note:
Where
there appears to be a conflict
between the guidance in Part M and Part N, Part M takes precedence, see the
Notes to the Requirements.
Design
considerations
2.22
People
with visual impairment should
be in no doubt as to the location of glass entrance doors, especially when
they are within a glazed screen. The choice of a different style of
manifestation for the door and the glazed screen can help to differentiate
between them.
2.23
The
presence of the door should be
apparent not only when it is shut but also when it is open. Where it can be
held open, steps should be taken to avoid people being harmed by walking into
the door.
Provisions
2.24
Glass
entrance doors and glazed
screens will satisfy Requirement M1 or M2 if:
a.
they are clearly defined with manifestation on the glass at two levels, 850 to
1000mm and 1400 to 1600mm above the floor, contrasting visually with the
background seen through the glass (both from inside and outside) in all
lighting conditions;
b.
manifestation takes the form of a logo or sign at least 150mm high (repeated
if on a glazed screen), or a decorative feature such as broken lines or
continuous bands, at least 50mm high;
c.
glazed entrance doors, where adjacent to, or forming part of, a glazed screen,
are clearly differentiated from it by the provision of a high-contrast strip
at the top and on both sides;
d.
glass entrance doors, where capable of being held open, are protected by
guarding to prevent the leading edge
constituting
a hazard.
