If you own a business or building that is accessible to the public, it is critical you are familiar with the American Disability Act. The ADA was a law passed in 1992 requiring public places and business to be fully accessible to people with disabilities.  To comply with this law, there are a few requirements you must fulfill pertaining to your doors. We specialize in the installation of ADA compliant doors and locks, so we wanted to write a quick blog on the topic!

Accessible Doors

There are a variety of different types of doors you need to ensure are ADA compliant. Here are a few of the types of doors you need compliant: Building Entrances, the doors of each tenant within a mall or public building with multiple businesses, entrances to parking structures, and escape routes. If you have questions regarding what doors in your building need to be ADA compliant, give Secure Lock and Alarm a call today!

ADA Compliant Doors Width

ADA compliant doors are required to be a certain width. Doors that are ADA compliant are at least 32 inches in width. The minimum width was decided due to the common size of wheelchairs. Additionally, the width considered those who crutches who may need extra space to get through a door.

Threshold

A threshold is the strip of wood or metal that forms the bottom of the doorway. Thresholds don’t need to be raised for a variety of reasons. To stay in line with ADA compliance, thresholds cannot be over ½ an inch. Threshold can be ¾ of an inch if they have a beveled slope.

Door Functionality

To ensure all people can effectively use the door, the ADA made some specific regulations regarding how the door operates. For instance, an ADA compliant door no more than 5 lbs. of force to open and close the door. Furthermore, ADA compliant doors need to offer those using it easy, one-handed functionality. This means the handle must be able to turn both ways to open. Additionally,  the act of opening or closing the door cannot result in a pinch between the door and frame. For this reason, round knobs are generally considered not ADA compliant while lever handles are compliant.

Secure Lock and Alarm: Providing Businesses in Greater Boston ADA Door Compliance Solutions

Need an assessment of your businesses doors to ensure ADA compliance? Give the experts at Secure Lock and Alarm a call today! We can provide an in-person consultation regarding the doors you need to upgrade while recommending the most cost-effective solution. Learn more about our ADA complaint capabilities here or give us a call with your specific questions.