Wheelchair door access in the UK is a concern for any owner of a public access building. As well as providing ramps, steps, handrails, grab rails, and disabled bathroom facilities, your door must be wheelchair-friendly too. Below is a look at the regulations, to date, for wheelchair door access. In the UK, your door access must be DDA compliant, and rules and regulations are constantly being updated. To ensure that you install the correct door it is recommended that you use a certified installer such as Go Access Ltd. Below are some tips from us that will serve you well when preparing to update and modernise your premise to make it safe for wheelchair users.
Wheelchair Door Access Rules and Regulations
When fitting wheelchair-friendly doors, powered doors are the preferred solution. Doors that slide are the best option as they prevent accidental collision. Doors must have a maximum opening force of 20N at their leading edge. The door opener should be easy to operate by a closed fist, and the opener must be visually apparent. This can be achieved by using a different colour; the door opener should be made from a material that is not cold to the touch.
The door clearance width varies according to the angle approach to the door itself. A straight door must have a clear width of 800mm; when the approach to the door is angled, this can increase to 1200mm or 1500mm depending on the angle and the exact situation of the approach to the door. Wheelchair door access is not simple, and it is important to know your facts and get things right the first time. Guessing the type of approach you have to the door for example is not acceptable.
Revolving doors are generally not considered to be wheelchair friendly, unless they include complaint bypass doors. Side panels need to have vision panels, and a visibility zone of between 500 and 1500 mm. An unobstructed space on the side of the door where the door pull is situated is required, and it must measure at least 300mm. Controls to open your doors must be a minimum of 750mm off the ground and a maximum of 1000mm above floor level.
These are just some of the stringent rules and regulations you need to abide by when installing wheelchair access doors on your premise. You must also consider the ramp leading to your doors when there are currently steps in place. Adding a ramp over your steps is not acceptable. A ramp must be set at a certain maximum angle, and it must be comprised of a non-slip material.
When updating your premise to ensure that it is wheelchair-friendly, getting the professionals involved will save you time, effort, and confusion. Searching online to ensure you do things correctly is not always foolproof. Regulations are forever changing, and you may find that you have read out of date material, or even material from a different country. The UK has its own set of regulations, as well as having to comply with EU regulations.