Doorways: Requirements and Widths

Here is some info that you should find helpful when planning the doorways for your home, both entrance...exit and internal doorways. This is one of the key adaptions that has to be right...I cant count the times i have rapped my knuckles on door frames that are too narrow   It could have a little to do with my spacial awareness but it cant be that bad! lol

Entrance Doorway
Considerations:
Doors should be suitable and substantial to have rails and pulls attached to them to help assist with pulling or closing the door...(automatic opening doors are an option too)
They should swing open more than 90 degrees (door stops can be fitted where required)
Ensure that there is enough space to maneuver the wheelchair past the door swing.
350mm high door plates can be fitted to the bottom of the door to prevent damage.

Entrance doors should be ideally 1000mm door set with a minimum clear opening width of 840mm. The door opening should be 900mm.



If a door entry system is installed it should be positioned on the latch side of the door with the activation pad within 200mm of the door frame and at a height between 750 and 1000 mm.
The letterbox height is also ideally between 750mm and 1000 mm.
A wire basket should ideally be fitted to catch the letters in so they are easy to retrieve
The doorbell at ideally 1000mm
Two spy holes: One fitted at 1000mm and the other at 1400mm

Internal Doors
There should be a minimum width of 840mm wide with an opening of 900mm. The width needs to be a clear opening not obstructed by the door frame or the architrave.
There should be a clear space of 300mm between the opening edge of the door and the wool.
If the doorway needs to be self closing, it needs to be fitted/adjusted with a delay so the wheelchair has time to pass through before the door closes.
The spring on the door should not exceed 15N or should have an electrically powered hold open device 
Rising butt hinges can assist the person close the door if a self closing system is not fitted.
Swing doors can be considered where space is tight.
Thresholds should not be provided at internal door openings as the can restrict free movement in a chair.
Low profile cover strips can be used.

Sliding Doors
Sliding doors should operate smoothly and easily.
Minimum clear opening of 850mm
An easy to grip vertical handrail should be fitted 800mm from the ground.
Door travel must be stopped at a point that allows adequate finger space between the handle and the frame in both open and closed position.



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