Wide Doors For Wheelchair Access

A standard wheelchair is designed to fit through a 32 inch wide door.

Wide doors for wheelchair access.

Position the door so it opens into a room rather than a narrow hallway. The use of swing away hinges and expandable doors can increase door width by at least 2 inches. When designing or remodeling a home for wheelchair access be sure to make doorways 36 wide. For example an 18 wide seat would be a 23 wheelchair.

Depending on how the door is hung in the frame door thickness door handles and hinges you will need to add this on to get the clear opening required. The larger doors are also particularly cumbersome to open and close for anyone in a wheelchair. These doors are plenty wide enough but also offer the added benefits of strength durability and fantastic looks. New construction and wheelchair access.

However these regulations often create a different issue in that the large door can turn reduce a room s accessibility. Lower the curb on the shower for easy wheelchair access. Leave the sink open underneath for. The australian human rights commission also show what needs to be taken into account when considering wheelchair access in design.

Making doorways more wheelchair accessible. There are heavy duty wheelchairs for bariatric users that are wider as much as 40 inches. Wheelchair accessible door width specifications in the uk are very stringent as are the conditions for installing a wheelchair ramp. While a 32 wide opening is the minimum for wheelchair access as homebuilder phil garner discovered after he was disabled wider openings provide much easier access.

Your wheelchair access ramp must be of a certain gradient and it must also be made of a non slip surface. Due to the width of many wheelchairs it can be difficult to find a wheelchair accessible door. In new construction most builders recommend door width of 32 inches to 36 inches and a hallway width of 46 inches for design purposes comfort and ease of mobility. A widened doorway requires a 900mm wide door which when being opened into a room or corridor can obstruct wheelchair access.

Make the bathroom doorway 36 wide. Door width for wheelchair access the width of a building s doorway may cause the owner to have to spend money to remodel the doorways if they are not wide enough for wheelchairs. Living at home with a wheelchair or taking care of individuals on wheelchairs can be challenging. Heavy duty power wheelchairs can be as wide as 32.

Finding a contractor to do it and paying out of pocket can be expensive for small mid size businesses. Position the toilet with enough room around it for wheelchair access.