The ADA plays a central role in determining design requirements for accessible public spaces in the United States — and doors are no exception. In this article, we explain the importance of the ADA, break down ADA door requirements, and take a closer look at how these requirements apply to some leading interior door designs.
Door Accessibility and Interior Design
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was passed and signed into law on July 26, 1990. The ADA extends civil rights protections to disabled individuals, requires that employers make reasonable accommodations for disabilities, and institutes accessibility requirements for all public accommodations.
Consequently, the ADA’s requirements shape contemporary interior design for public spaces. The Department of Justice adopted the first ADA Standards for Accessible Design in July 1991, known as the “1991 ADA Standards” and adopted revised ADA Standards in 2010, known as the “2010 ADA Standards.“
Below, we review the most important ADA door standards. At Raydoor, we have experience developing many custom and boutique solutions that satisfy ADA requirements, and we find that the technical considerations discussed below need not sacrifice artful, visually stunning design.
ADA Door Guidelines
All requirements and example images in this section are sourced from the 2010 ADA Standards, Chapter 4: Accessible Routes.
While the requirements discussed below highlight key ADA door standards, they are intended for educational purposes only. We recommend working with a vendor with experience specifying ADA-compliant designs.
1. Width
The ADA requires a door opening to have a clear width of at least 32 inches. Deeper openings (> 24 inches deep) must provide a clear opening of 36 inches.
- For swinging doors, the ADA door clearance measurement is taken from the face of the door to the stop of the frame when the door is open at a 90-degree angle.
- For double doors, at least one active leaf must meet this minimum width requirement.
2. Height
Door openings must have a clear height of at least 80 inches to comply with ADA standards.
3. Threshold
Thresholds at doorways must not exceed ¾ inch in height for exterior sliding doors or ½ inch for other door types to comply with ADA standards. Additionally:
- Changes in level up to ¼ inch can be vertical without edge treatment, but those between ¼ inch and ½ inch must have a beveled slope of 1:2.
- If the level change exceeds ½ inch, a ramp must be installed.
- In all cases, the maneuvering space (see below) must be level, with a slope no steeper than 1:48.
4. Clearance and Maneuvering Space
Clearance and maneuvering space are essential around doors to ensure individuals using wheelchairs or mobility devices can approach the door unimpeded, access door hardware, open the door, pass through, and close it behind them.The required space varies by door type and the approach direction. For example, for doors that swing toward the user, a minimum clearance of 18 inches is needed at the pull side. For doors that swing away, a minimum clearance of 12 inches is required on the push side if the door has a closer and latch.
The following table provides a more detailed look at ADA requirements for swinging doors.
| Type of Use: Approach Direction | Type of Use: Door or Gate Side | Minimum Maneuvering Clearance: Perpendicular to Doorway | Minimum Maneuvering Clearance: Parallel to Doorway (beyond latch side unless noted) |
|---|---|---|---|
| From Front | Pull | 60 inches (1525 mm) | 18 inches (455 mm) |
| From Front | Push | 48 inches (1220 mm) | 0 inches (0 mm) (Add 12 inches (305 mm) if closer and latch are provided.) |
| From hinge side | Pull | 60 inches (1525 mm) | 36 inches (915 mm) |
| From hinge side | Pull | 54 inches (1370 mm) | 42 inches (1065 mm) |
| From hinge side | Push | 42 inches (1065 mm) (Add 6 inches (150 mm) if closer and latch are provided.) | 22 inches (560 mm) (Beyond hinge side.) |
| From latch side | Pull | 48 inches (1220 mm) (Add 6 inches (150 mm) if closer are provided.) | 24 inches (610 mm) |
| From latch side | Push | 42 inches (1065 mm) (Add 6 inches (150 mm) if closer is provided.) | 24 inches (610 mm) |
As shown by the required clearances below, sliding and folding designs offer greater flexibility due to their ability to open and close without added space for swinging.
| Approach Direction | Minimum Maneuvering Clearance: Perpendicular to Doorway | Minimum Maneuvering Clearance: Parallel to Doorway (beyond stop/latch side unless noted) |
|---|---|---|
| From Front | 48 inches (1220 mm) | 0 inches (0 mm) |
| From side (Doorway with no door only.) | 42 inches (1065 mm) | 0 inches (0 mm) |
| From pocket/hinge side | 42 inches (1065 mm) | 22 inches (560 mm) (Beyond pocket/hinge side.) |
| From stop/latch side | 42 inches (1065 mm) | 24 inches (610 mm) |
5. Operating Force
Door hardware must not require more than five pounds of force to operate and must also be operable with one hand.
6. Pulls, Handles, Thumb Turns, Locks, and Other Hardware
Accessible doors must feature hardware that is easy to operate with one hand and does not require tight grasping, pinching, or wrist twisting. Suitable designs include lever-operated mechanisms, push-type mechanisms, and U-shaped handles. For sliding doors, the operating hardware must remain exposed and functional from both sides when the door is fully open.
Door closers must be adjusted such that the time required to move the door from a position of 90 degrees open to a position of 12 degrees from the latch is five seconds minimum.
All hardware must be installed no higher than 48 inches above the finished floor.
7. Surface and Projections
Projections on the face of a door must be positioned at least 34 inches above the floor or ground, and projections above this height may not extend more than four inches from the door’s surface. The push side of the door, within 10 inches of the floor or ground, must have a smooth surface that spans the entire width of the door.
ADA Compliance for Different Types of Interior Doors
The precise application of the ADA guidelines outlined above will depend on the precise design of the door in question.
1. Sliding Doors
The right solutions can fulfill ADA sliding door requirements while offering a sleek, space-saving solution. As shown above, sliding designs can simplify clearance considerations, and innovations like Raydoor’s ceiling track system can eliminate the need for raised thresholds, making it easier to align with ADA threshold requirements.
Soft-Closing Sliding Doors
Soft-close mechanisms are a popular upgrade in today’s sliding doors. They add a sense of luxury, reduce noises caused by operating the system, and they boost longevity by reducing daily wear and tear.
However, many soft-close mechanisms do not meet ADA standards for pull force, which typically require less than five pounds of force to open and close a door. That’s because the catch feature, which is designed to prevent slamming and ensure a smooth, controlled closing, often includes a spring and piston that can be quite stiff. As a result, this hardware often requires additional force to operate.
While some soft-close systems can be adjusted to meet ADA requirements, it’s essential to verify that the model you specify offers this adjustability.
2. Swinging Doors
Swinging doors remain a versatile option for ADA compliance, provided they account for proper clearances and hardware accessibility. For example, Raydoor’s swinging door systems prioritize seamless functionality, with bar-style pulls and adjustable closers for smooth operation.
3. Folding Doors
Folding door systems combine ease of use with striking visual appeal, all offering many of the same advantages as sliding doors for meeting ADA standards. Unlike sliding doors, which move along a track, folding doors stack to one side, creating a broader opening without requiring additional wall space for panels to slide. The optimal choice will depend on the space constraints and style of a specific design.
Explore RAYDOOR® ADA-Friendly Solutions
Ensuring ADA compliance for door design is a critical foundation for creating accessible and inclusive spaces. At Raydoor, we combine a deep understanding of accessibility standards with a commitment to elegant, functional design. Most of our products can be specified to meet ADA requirements by selecting compliant hardware.
With extensive experience aligning these technical requirements with clients’ aesthetic visions, Raydoor ensures that accessibility enhances, rather than limits, your design. We invite you to get started discovering Raydoor design here.
