The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) requires employers and service providers to take ‘reasonable’ steps in ensuring that disabled employees and users of their services are not at a ‘substantial’ disadvantage in comparison to those who aren’t disabled.
The objective in an inclusive environment is for all people – irrespective of age, gender or disability – to have independent access, not only into buildings but also to the rooms and spaces within them. Building owners, security managers, facilities managers and Health and Safety specialists now have a Duty of Care to ensure that accessibility is a key consideration within any new build or refurbishment project.
When it comes to internal security doors, the related performance-based requirements are detailed in Approved Document Part M, which guides specifiers working on new build projects or major refurbishments.
BS 8300: 2001 Design of Buildings and their Approaches to Meet the Needs of Disabled People: Code of Practice provides further guidance on the design of buildings that are convenient for use by disabled people.
Ease of use is paramount
The main message in both documents is that doors must be easy to use. Fundamentally, this comes down to the door ironmongery chosen. Door ironmongery should be fit for purpose, suitable for the application and meet the needs of disabled people. Security and Health and Safety managers need to make a careful selection in terms of hinges, locks, door furniture and door closers to ensure that all locking systems are going to be suitable.
Door closing devices, for example, can create many problems for both the semi-ambulant and partially-sighted. Part M states that self-closing devices should be minimised because they can disadvantage many people who have limited upper body strength, so too those who are pushing prams or carrying heavy objects. The difficulty for specifiers is that this doesn’t sit particularly well with other requirements such as restricting the spread of fire. What appears to be a conflict of interest can be solved with the correct ironmongery.
In many cases the ‘barrier effect’ generated by door closers can be mitigated or removed. Cam action or free swing mechanisms are two possible solutions if specified to meet Part M requirements. When a power three door closer is used, for example, Part M quotes a maximum figure of 30 Newtons pressure at 0 degrees (closed) and 22.5 Newtons between 30 degrees and 60 degrees open.
This recommendation is linked to ergonomic research carried out during the development of BS 8300 to determine the capabilities of disabled people in opening doors against the resistance of door closers. The maximum force of 30 Newtons allows the majority of wheelchair users to pull open a door and conveniently pass through.
Opening and closing force
Cam action door closer systems provide an easy opening action with fully-controlled closing. This mechanism reduces the effort needed to open a self-closing door, giving benefit to those less mobile or in wheelchairs. Cam action door closers are now available with an adjustable strength of power ratings one to four, meeting the performance requirements of BS EN 1154, BS 8300 and the Building Regulations Approved Document Part M guidelines for opening and closing force.
Free swing door closing devices allow the door to be used without the continual resistance of the door closer. When used in conjunction with a separate fire alarm or smoke detection system the door can be held open in normal circumstances but, in the event of a fire, the door closing mechanism will release allowing the door closing device to operate in the conventional way.
Some door closers are supplied with a ‘back check’ action. This provides resistance within the door closer to prevent the door leaf from being thrown open. In turn, that prevents damage to the door, door frame and door handles caused by people kicking or throwing the door open and also by the door being violently blown open by a sudden gust of wind.
The angle and resistance of the back check can be varied according to end user need. When using a door closer with a back check facility, it is well worth remembering that this facility puts extra strain on the door hinges. Allow for this within your specification documents.
Smooth operators
When it comes to locks and latches, smooth operation is essential particularly for those with poor manual dexterity or manipulative problems and they should also be easy to reach (fixed at an optimum height of 1,000 mm from the finished floor level).
Knob furniture is not recommended as it presents a challenge to grip and manipulate for those with joint problems. Where fitted with a latch, a door’s opening furniture must be able to be operated with one hand using a closed fist (for example, a lever handle).
Lock and latch furniture ought to have rounded ends to ensure the minimum risk of injury, while level handles should be a minimum of 19 mm in diameter with a minimum length of 125 mm overall. It’s also recommended that the end of the lever is returned towards the face of the door. This avoids loose clothing being caught and aids grip, in that it helps prevent the user’s hand slipping from the lever. This is particularly important as many disabled persons use the lever handle to support themselves.
When selecting upright mortice locks, consideration should be given to the accessibility of the keyway. Some lock cases, for example, are designed so that the key is positioned above the handle rather then below it. This distinctive feature makes them far easier to use and is in line with recommendations from BS 8300, which states: “To ensure that people with impaired vision and/or dexterity have unobstructed access to the keyway, the cylinder should either be above the lever handle or the minimum distance between the handle and the keyway of the locking mechanism should be 72 mm.”
Talk direct to manufacturers
When creating a complete door solution for a major project it may be worthwhile for the security manager to consult manufacturers direct. A complete specification service will assist the client in ensuring that the products chosen are compatible, provide the required performance and reliability for the application and meet the necessary budget targets.
Although ironmongery may represent a small proportion of the cost of a building, its correct specification can ultimately have a huge impact on how users interact with and perceive their surroundings. It can also play a huge role during security and/or Health and Safety- related incidents.
