Ada Sliding Door Opening Force

The ada standards do not specify the opening force for exterior doors though some state and local building codes may have requirements.

Ada sliding door opening force.

Of force to open. Typical maximum opening force for exterior doors ranges from 8 5 to 10 lbs. Door opening force fire doors shall have a minimum opening force allowable by the appropriate administrative authority. This applies to interior hinged doors and gates as well as sliding and folding doors.

When sliding doors are fully open operating hardware shall be exposed and usable from both sides and should open close with a maximum force of 5 lbs. Door opening force is the measurement of how many pounds of force are required to open a door. Interior accessible doors should require no more than 5 lbs. Opening force for exterior doors is not specified in the ada standards but exterior doors that need to be accessible should have the minimum force possible.

The requirements for door opening force are found in the americans with disabilities act accessibility guidelines adaag icc ansi a117 1 standard on accessible and usable buildings and facilities and the massachusetts architectural access board requirements 521 cmr. The opening force of exterior swing doors is impacted by wind loading and other exterior conditions gasketing hvac systems energy efficiency and the weight of doors. These forces do not apply to the force required to retract latch bolts or disengage other devices that hold the door in a closed position. Spring hinges door spring hinges shall be adjusted so that from the open position of 70 degrees the door shall move to the closed position in 1 5 seconds minimum.

The maximum opening force for sliding and folding doors is also 5 pounds. Doorways shall have a minimum clear opening of 32 in 815 mm with the door open 90 degrees measured between the face of the door and the opposite stop. The minimum force needed to ensure proper closure and positive latch usually exceeds the accessible limit of 5 pounds of force lbf required at other doors. Do not jerk it open.

Both standards note that the 5 pound force limitation does not apply to the force required to retract latch bolts or disengage other devices that hold the door in a closed position refer to this decoded article for more information on the forces for operable hardware.