Accessible Exterior surfaces and Interior Doors

• The prominence and visual relationship of the door with its surroundings;
• Angle and width of approach to the door;
• The type of threshold needed to allow convenient wheelchair manoeuvring;
• The ease of operation of the principal entrance door;
• The minimum effective clear width through the doorway.

Visual Clarity

The principal entrance door should contrast visually with its immediate surroundings and should be well lit and have clear signage. The door and the surrounding wall should contrast adequately, in tone and colour, with each other.

Approach to Doors

All public passageways that lead to doors in the restaurant or dining room, lounge, bar and the disabled guest’s bedroom should be at least 1200mm wide while the passageways inside the disabled guest’s bedroom should not be less than 900mm wide opposite the doors.

The direction and angle of approach from the access route must also be taken into consideration while installing doors as this have an impact on the manoeuvring space needed to negotiate the doorway. As general guidance, where direction of approach to the door requires turning at a right angle, the approach path should not be less than 1000mm wide and the clear opening width of the door should be at least 950mm.

Opening Width

The clear opening width of an entrance door should be greater than 900mm. Where double leaf doors are used at least one of the leaves should have a clear opening width of 900mm.When specifying a door size, take into account the extent to which the door will actually open, allowing for the projection of the door furniture or wall configuration. For example, some doors may not open beyond 90° due to obstruction caused by projection of the door closure mechanism, as depicted in the adjoining photograph. Standard revolving doors and turnstiles should not be used as wheelchair users cannot negotiate these.

Wheelchair Manoeuvring Space

The space into which the door opens should be un-obstructed on the side next to the leading edge for at least 300mm, unless the door opens automatically, or it is reasonable to anticipate assistance.

Door Closures

The door closers should be adjusted to the minimum force necessary to open the doors. For disabled people to have independent access through single or double swing doors, the opening force, when measured at the leading edge of the door, should be not more than 25 Newtons from 0° (the door in the closed position) to 30° open, and not more than 22 Newtons from 30° to 60° of the opening cycle. A regular maintenance contract should be set up to ensure that the door closers are checked at regular intervals.

Glass Doors

Glass doors should be clearly distinguishable particularly for visually impaired people. This can be achieved by detailing, the use of a colour strip or other features (manifestation). However, the manifestation chosen must be clearly visible with the background against which it will be viewed. This applies equally during the day, at night or under artificial lighting.

Thresholds

Door thresholds should be flush to avoid the danger of a person tripping up when entering or leaving a building. Where thresholds are unavoidable, they should not be higher than 15mm and must be beveled.

Door Hardware

Door fittings must be easy to identify and use. Lever handles are preferred because they are easier to grip and turn than round knobs. Door handles should be located between 900mm and 1100mm above floor level.

Fire Resistant Doors

Fire resistant doors and doors used along the emergency evacuation route are generally heavy and the force required to open these is much higher than 25 Newtons, making it difficult for disabled people to negotiate these doors independently. There are, however, magnetic and other types of door holders available that can be connected to fire alarms so that they will hold the doors open normally but will release the doors when the fire alarm is activated.

Signage

Where possible, and at least in the disabled guest’s room and in toilets in the lobby, signage that incorporates raised letters and Braille should be installed on the wall adjacent to the door (not the door), between a height of 1400mm and 1700mm from the furnished floor surface, to aid recognition by people with vision impairments. These signs are always read close up and it is essential that they are clear, brief and unambiguous, and should preferably involve clear pictograms of the facility.

Door entry systems

Where door entry systems are installed they should be located on the latch side of the door with the activation pad positioned within 200mm of the door frame (or aperture where there is a glazed façade), at a height of between 750mm and 1000mm from the finished floor level.

Summary

• ƒƒDoors should contrast visually from the immediate surroundings, such as the door should contrast in colour from the surrounding wall.
• All doors should provide a minimum clear opening width of 900mm.
• Where direction of approach to a door requires turning at a right angle, the approach path should be at least 1000mm wide.
• An unobstructed wheelchair manoeuvring space that is at least 300mm wide should be available on the side next to the leading edge of the door.
• Door closures should be adjusted so that the doors do not require an opening force of more than 22 Newtons.
• Glass doors should be marked with colour strips or other manifestations.
• Thresholds should be avoided and, where unavoidable, these should not exceed 15mm in height and must be beveled.
• All door operating hardware should contrast in colour from the door and be installed between the heights of 900mm and 1100mm from the floor level. Lever handles are preferable to round knobs.
• Room numbers and other signage should not be installed on the door but on the adjacent wall between heights of 1400mm and 1700mm from the floor surface. The signage should incorporate raised letters and, where possible, Braille.

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8. Pool Accessibility, Spa Accessibility and Health Club Accessibility
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Ref :   Universal Design India Principles – ITC Hotels