The purpose of doors

'Keep Out!' is the first message conveyed by a closed door. A door is necessarily a barrier, its primary purpose being to exclude people and animals, wind and rain, smells or smoke and fire.

As a general principle 'less is more': less doors mean more accessibility.

The needs of people

• People in wheelchairs need doors to have level access, a clear opening width of at least 750mm for internal doors (more for external doors), space to manoeuvre if they have to turn to enter the doorway and space at the leading edge to enable the door to be opened.

• People who are blind or partially sighted, relying on touch or on contrasts of tone and colour, need to be able to find the door and the handle. For people who are blind or partially sighted, doors and door handles are among the most important features of a building because the feel of the door conveys much information about the quality of the building itself.

• People with impaired hearing need to be able to know when their own doorbell rings and to be able to communicate if arriving at a door with an entryphone

• People with arthritis or limited manual dexterity need to be able to turn doorhandles and to lock or unlock doors to WCs

Designing for accessibility

Since 1987, all new non-domestic buildings have been required, wherever practical, to have level thresholds to facilitate access for people with disabilities. Since 1999, the requirement for level access has applied equally to all new dwellings.

Creative designs which challenge conventional dogma can be successful provided that the door can be easily located, is easily distinguished from its surroundings by contrasts of tone and colour and is easy to open.

Doors have to move and therefore require careful construction and maintenance if they are to serve their function throughout the life of a building.

Modern technology can greatly complicate the considerations for the design of a successful door. With this in mind, let us examine the issues related to the doors themselves.

• Doors which are heavy to push or pull may be made easier to open with semi-automatic openers, operated via a push pad, or fully automatic systems which open the doors as someone approaches. In both cases, it is important to ensure that people are not struck by the doors opening towards them and that the doors do not close so fast as to cause injury

• Pairs of double doors frequently have a total opening width of about 1200-1400mm, with each leaf giving an opening of only 600-700mm. The possible solutions to this problem include:

1. magnetic door holders which are very effective for making fire doors unobtrusive because they are held out of the way and released only when the fire alarm operates

2. 'hospital doors' in which one leaf has a clear opening width of at least 750mm and the other narrower leaf is opened only when the full width of the doorway is required

3. semi-automatic or fully automatic swing doors

• At doors which are used frequently, vision panels allow people to see and to be seen. They can have a wide range of shapes and sizes but should extend from a height of not more than 500mm for wheelchair users

Door furniture

• Round door handles may be difficult to turn whereas lever handles, with a diameter of about 20-25mm, are generally easy to use. Metal door handles can be cold, and problematic for those with arthritis, whereas nylon covered handles are warmer to the touch

• WC locks with small rotating knobs or sliding bolts often require strong fingers whereas a latch with a lever handle is easier to operate

• Doors can be damaged if used by people in wheelchairs, who tend to push doors open with the footrest of the chair. A plastic or metal push plate can eliminate this problem

Revolving doors

Revolving doors are useful because they reduce draughts at entrance halls and reception areas. Conventional revolving doors are too small for wheelchairs and should always be adjacent to an alternative door.

Security doors

Special security doors may be required, instead of doors with keys, in particular circumstances. For example, people with dementia can be prevented from wandering by doors with two sets of handles, because they lack the co-ordination to turn two handles at once.

Historic buildings

Ingenuity is often required to overcome the barriers presented by doors and doorways in historic buildings. Alterations to improve accessibility should, preferably, be reversible so that no damage is caused to the historic fabric. Sometimes historic entrance doors can be left unchanged and held open when the building is in use, with new inner doors to serve the functions of security and weather protection.

Conclusions

References

The following are particularly useful because they describe the reasons for recommending good practice:

Access for Disabled People to School Buildings, Building Bulletin 91, DfEE, 1999
Barrier-free Design, by James Holmes-Siedle, Architectural Press, 1996
Building Sight, by Peter Barker, Jon Barrick and Rod Wilson, RNIB, 1995

Captions:

The needs of people

The traditional front door step is an obstacle for families with young children and for wheelchair users

This front door to an infants' school, with a step up and a raised sill, was almost impossible to negotiate with a wheelchair

The handrails to the steps and ramp of this cafe are clearly visible but may be cold to the touch. The vertical door handle can be used by people of all heights

Patterns on walls and doors can be very confusing for people with impaired vision

Design for accessibility

Vision panels, to enable people to see and be seen, can be designed with many shapes and sizes. The red rails prevent people from tripping on the magnetic door holders

'Hospital doors' with one leaf opening at least 750mm and an adjacent panel to be opened when required can provide greater accessibility than two doors of equal width

Glass doors and screens can be very elegant but need adequate manifestation of the glass

This semi-automatic door is operated via a push pad on the steel post in the foreground

Historic buildings

Heavy historic front doors can be fixed open when required, with newer inner doors which are easier to open. At the Dulwich Picture Gallery, an alternative route is available for people with wheelchairs

Automatic sliding doors can provide convenient and safe access in buildings. The white sign provides good manifestation of the glass when the building is closed

Sliding folding doors are among the many possible options for automatic doors

At a narrow stepped entrance to a listed building, a de-mountable ramp with steps can be fitted without alteration to the historic fabric. In this drawing, the colours are exaggerated to clarify the design options

Lifts

Stainless steel lift doors show up clearly among the bright colours at The Lowry, Salford Quays

Lift doors and controls should be designed to meet the needs of people with disabilities. Here, the reflections on the glass and stainless steel are very confusing

The plan of a two-wing revolving door shows how through access can be provided without draughts for people with wheelchairs

A two-wing revolving door with a diameter of 3.7 metres showing the through route for a wheelchair

Two-wing revolving doors, with a diameter of about 4.8 metres, provide draught-free access to a hospital for large numbers of people, including those with wheelchairs or children's buggies.