Where doors are equipped with a power door operator and are not linked to emergency power, it is recommended the doors be capable of opening with a force of not more than 22 N when reverted to manual operation.

Protection

All doors equipped with a power door operator opening outward into a path of travel, corridor, or hallway are to be protected with a guard rail or barrier mounted at right angles to the wall containing the door. It is best to protect any door—power operated or not—with a guard rail or barrier if it swings outward onto a path of travel, especially if located in a zone subject to high occupant loads in order to limit the probability of causing harm to someone.

It is advisable to install kick-plates on the lower part of doors where they may be subject to damage from mobility devices or other equipment (kick-plates are also one of the many features forming a part of the RHFAC survey criteria).

Security

Where door security entry devices, such as card access readers, are provided, they should (if not otherwise required) unlock the door immediately and output an audible (beep) and visible (light) signal to indicate access has been granted (Figure 7). Security devices used for opening doors need to be as accessible as the door opening hardware. It is recommended door security devices linked to a power door operator override and actuate the power door operator or be mounted near the power door operator actuator within 300 mm, as to be activated in series of one another.

Conclusion

At the end of the day, we all need to use doorways, and if you have learned anything from this article, it is doors should be easy to:

• find or locate using visual contrasting from their surroundings;
• identify with proper signage;
• approach using a large, level, unobstructed area;
• operate or open with minimal effort and close slowly
  and softly;
• pass through using low to no thresholds and wide clearances;
• protect if power operated or subject to damage; and
• access if equipped with security features.

Samantha Proulx, CET, RHFAC, BCIN, is the principal of ABE Factors Inc. She is a leading Canadian accessible built environment specialist, and inter-provincially trained building code consultant with over a decade of experience in educating and working alongside communities, developers, project managers, and design industry professionals on creating and maintaining inclusive, functional, and compliant spaces that can be entered, experienced, and exited safely by everyone. She can be reached at samantha@abefactors.com.