DOORS AND HARDWARE • AUGUST 200610

NEW ADAGUIDELINES CORRELATEWITH IBC

B Y R O N R A T E L L

WITH MANY BABY BOOMERS ENTERING THEIR60s and encountering more health and mobility-related problems, the Americans with Disabilities

Act (ADA) is certain to take on more importance than ever. As some join the 54 million men, women and children with disabilities in America, businesses will see an increase in the number of people who choose to spend their money at places that accommodate their mobility needs. Those busi-nesses that provide a positive customer experience will be in a better position to capture the millions of dollars spent by this growing market.

More than 15 years after the ADA was passed, many facilities remain inaccessible to those with disabil-

ities. Often, a business owner only becomes

aware of noncompliance following an accident or a complaint. As a result, business owners

devote unnecessary time and money to defending themselves and their businesses, while the building’s

openings remain noncompliant.

It makes good business sense to stay up-to-date on the latest ADA guidelines as aging baby boomers will increase the number of people who need greater accessibility.

WITH WITH WITH

AUGUST 2006 • DOORS AND HARDWARE 11

one area that has caused some confusion has been the differences in terminology and organization between aDa guidel ines, model building codes and ansi standards. in an effort to reconcile differenc-es from the model building codes, including the international building Code (ibC), the United states access board has updated the aDa accessi-bility guidelines (aDaag).

the ibC, which a growing number of states and local jurisdictions are using, contains provisions for acces-sibility that cover much of the same areas as the original aDaag, first set forth in 1991. it references the tech-nical criteria of the ansi a117.1 stan-dard, a voluntary consensus standard issued by the american national standards institute. a side-by-side comparison of the new aDaag, the original aDa standards and the ibC is available at the access board’s web-site, www.access-board.gov/ada-aba/comparison/index.htm .

the comparison includes an appen-dix containing requirements that were added to the americans with Disabilities act accessibility guide-lines (aDaag) by the access board, subsequent to the Department of Justice adoption of the standards for accessible Design in 1994, through september 2002. the DoJ is in the process of updating its aDa stan-dards according to the new aDaag, but until the material in the appen-dix has been incorporated in the DoJ accessibility standards, it is not enforceable.

Closing in on Compliance.

although the latest guidelines aren’t official yet, and differ from the origi-nal mainly in format or organization, it makes sense to become familiar

with the changes and implement them before they become mandatory. not only will this avoid questions as cur-rent and planned projects move toward completion while work on the changes is completed, but it also will ensure that they remain compliant and contempo-rary further into the future.

many types of door hardware affect the ease of accessibility for a person

with a disability. Doorknobs in public buildings have been replaced in large measure by lever trim that does not require the ability to grip and turn. exit devices are designed so they make it easier to open a door. howev-er, door closers and power operators are probably the most common types of hardware that are used to achieve aDa compatibility for openings.

Wireless actuator for power door operator is an example of the products designed to simplify ADA compliance.

DOORS AND HARDWARE • AUGUST 200612

New ADAAG DOJ StANDArDS fOr AcceSSible DeSiGN iNterNAtiONAl builDiNG cODe

CHAPTER 4: ACCESSIBLE ROUTES ANSI Chapter 4. Accessible Routes

401 General ANSI 401 General

404.3 Automatic and Power-Assisted Doors and Gates. Automatic doors and automatic gates shall comply with 404.3. Full-powered automatic doors shall comply with ANSI/BHMA A156.10 (incorporated by reference, see “Referenced Standards” in Chapter 1). Low-energy and power-assisted doors shall comply with ANSI/BHMA A156.19 (1997 or 2002 edition) (incorporated by reference, see “Referenced Standards” in Chapter 1).

4.13.12 Automatic Doors and Power-Assisted Doors. If an automatic door is used, then it shall comply with ANSI/BHMA A156.10-1985. Slowly opening, low-powered, automatic doors shall comply with ANSI A156.19-1984. Such doors shall not open to back check faster than 3 seconds and shall require no more than 15 lbf (66.6N) to stop door movement. If a power-assisted door is used, its door-opening force shall comply with 4.13.11 and its closing shall conform to the requirements in ANSI A156.19-1984.

ANSI 404.3 Automatic Doors. Automatic doors and automatic gates shall comply with Section 404.3. Full powered automatic doors shall comply with ANSI/BHMA A156.10 listed in Section 105.2.4. Power–assist and low–energy doors shall comply with ANSI/BHMA A156.19 listed in Section 105.2.3.

EXCEPTION: Doors, doorways, and gates designed to be operated only by security personnel shall not be required to comply with Sections 404.3.2, 404.3.4, and 404.3.5.

See also IBC 1008.1.3.2 Power-operated doors and IBC 1008.1.3.3 Horizontal sliding doors

404.3.1 Clear Width. Doorways shall provide a clear opening of 32 inches (815 mm) minimum in power-on and power-off mode. The minimum clear width for automatic door systems in a doorway shall be based on the clear opening provided by all leaves in the open position.

4.13.5 Clear Width. Doorways shall have a minimum clear opening of 32 in (815 mm) with the door open 90 degrees, measured between the face of the door and the opposite stop (see Fig. 24(a), (b), (c), and (d)). Openings more than 24 in (610 mm) in depth shall comply with 4.2.1 and 4.3.3 (see Fig. 24(e)).

EXCEPTION: Doors not requiring full user passage, such as shallow closets, may have the clear opening reduced to 20 in (510 mm) minimum

NOTE: Figures 24(a) and 24(b) illustrate a 32 inch minimum opening on a hinged door, with Figure 24(a) demonstrating that the measurement is taken from the face of the door to the opposite stop.

Figure 24(c) shows a 32 inch minimum clear width of a sliding or pocket door, measured from the leading edge op the open door to the opposing stop/jamb.

Figure 24(d) illustrates the same measurement for a retracted folding/accordion door.

Figure 24(e) illustrates a doorway without a door. The clear width is 32 inches minimum, and the maximum depth of the opening is 24 inches.

ANSI 404.3.1 Clear Opening Width. Doorways shall have a clear opening width of 32 inches (815 mm) in power–on and power–off mode. The minimum clear opening width for automatic door systems shall be based on the clear opening width provided with all leafs in the open position

404.3.2 Maneuvering Clearance. Clearances at power-assisted doors and gates shall comply with 404.2.4. Clearances at automatic doors and gates without standby power and serving an accessible means of egress shall comply with 404.2.4.

EXCEPTION: Where automatic doors and gates remain open in the power-off condition, compliance with 404.2.4 shall not be required.

ANSI 404.3.2 Maneuvering Clearances. Maneuvering clearances at power–assisted doors shall comply with Section 404.2.3.

AUGUST 2006 • DOORS AND HARDWARE

For interior doors, a standard mechanical closer can provide the least costly path to compliance if the applica-tion allows using the size with the lowest power (size 1). this requires a force of less than five pounds to open the door, which meets aDa guidelines. another approach is to use a closer with adjustable spring power, if it is set at the same maximum required opening force. For corridor doors, where the hVaC system may create a high pres-sure differential, this light force may not be sufficient to close and latch the door properly. in such cases, while a power operator probably should be used to meet aDa guidelines, it also is likely to provide greater convenience for all users.

For exterior doors neither aDa nor ansi a 117.1 list an opening force limit for exterior doors. because these doors may be subject to high wind conditions, a power operator is often the best way to ensure that the door operates effectively and still complies with aDa. When selecting a power operator, it may be necessary to consid-er product design and its effect on the application. most power operator designs are driven by a motor and gears, which may or may not be separated by a clutch.

Power operators are available with features and options that can meet a variety of accessibility, aesthetic, securi-ty and life safety needs. Products that are designed pri-marily for automatic opening can be opened manually when needed. even fully automatic sliding doors (high-energy doors) can be pushed open manually in an emer-gency. many types of power operators also can be tied into a building’s fire alarm system so they will fail-safe and close automatically if the alarm is activated. Under these conditions, they still can be opened manually to allow safe egress.

business owners or others with questions regarding aDa accessibility can get more information at: the ameri-cans with Disabilities act home Page (www.ada.gov), national organization on Disability (www.nod.org), and the United states access board (www.access-board.gov).

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Ron Ratell is an expert on regulations relevant to the Americans with Disabilities Act and can be reached at (317) 805-5704 or via email at ron_ratell@irco.com.

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