Front approaches to push side of swinging doors, if equipped with both closer and latch, shall have maneuvering space starting at the hinge side and that extends 12 inches (305 mm) minimum beyond the latch side of the door and 48 inches (1220 mm) minimum perpendicular to the doorway.
For push-side approaches, ADA door clearances vary slightly: Push Side Approach (Front): A clear space of 48 inches in depth is required from the doorway to allow users to maneuver. In this case, no additional latch-side clearance is required.
1. Determine the mounting height of the push plate on the door. (According to the International Building Code 2018 and 2010 ADA standards, push plates shall be installed 34 inches (864 mm) minimum and 48 inches (1219 mm) maximum above the finished floor).
Standard fire regulation states that the gap along the top and sides of the door should be no more than 4mm. The gap along the bottom of the door should be 8mm or below.
The push side of the door means the door will swing away from you when opened. When the door closer is mounted on the pull side of the door, the door swings toward you when opened.
A fingerplate, also known as a pushplate, is a plate that is fixed to a door near the handle or keyhole to prevent soiling of the door, such as through fingerprints. It can be made of metal, plastic, ceramic or glass. Due to this, fingerplates have historically been placed on the interior side of the door.
Space at least 60″ deep in front of a door will accommodate a forward approach, except in case of hinge approaches on the pull side. On the pull side of hinge approaches, 36″ minimum latch-side clearance is required if the depth is 60″ minimum (The depth can be 54″ minimum if the latch-side clearance is at least 42″.)
Regardless of the door frame and door con- struction, and the level of fire rating of swinging doors, NFPA 80 limits the maximum clearance dimension between the bottom edges the doors and the floor surface to 3/4-in.
Door openings shall have a minimum clear opening width of 32 inches; however, if the doorway is more than 24 inches deep, then a minimum clearance of 36 inches is required. The clear opening is measured from the face of the door to the stop of the frame while the door is opened to 90 degrees.
Overview of Push Plates
You can install them on both sides of swinging doors for instance. Alternatively, you can install them on the push side of a one-directional door. One-directional doors can feature a pull handle on one side and a push plate on the opposite side.
The height of finger plates depends on the pull handle it's being used in conjunction with. The finger plate should be tall enough to cover the bolt fixings of the pull handle e.g. a 300mm centre pull handle would typically be installed with a 350mm high push plate.
Subtracting two inches from the door width typically provides a pleasing reveal around the kickplate. Determine the appropriate height (C) by measuring from the bottom of the door to the bottom of the first door panel, opting for standard heights of 6" or 8" based on your preference.
Front approaches to pull side of swinging doors shall have maneuvering space that extends from the hinge side of the door to 18 inches (455 mm) minimum, 24 inches (610 mm) preferred, beyond the latch side of the door and 60 inches (1525 mm) minimum perpendicular to the doorway.
To assure passage of people using wheelchairs, or crutches, the opening must be at least 32 inches wide. If it is not readily achievable to provide a minimum 32 inch wide opening, then the opening should be as wide as possible.
The ADA requires that operable parts of door hardware be a minimum height of 34 inches and a maximum height of 48 inches, with a maximum required force of 5 pounds. That means the door closer resistance must be 5 pounds or less to accommodate users' various upper extremity abilities.
TRIMMING TO SIZE
A well fitted door should have a 2mm gap on either side and at the top. The gap at the bottom will depend on the thickness of your flooring/carpet. Plane the door as required, using an electric plane will help you get an even finish, and sand for a smooth finish.
One critical aspect to emphasize is the gap between the door and the floor, which should be between a half-inch and three-quarters of an inch for optimal functionality.
If wheelchair seating is beside fixed seats, clear floor space 30 in by 48 inches (760 mm by 1220 mm) minimum must be provided. If wheelchair seating is across the front of fixed seating, the minimum required clear floor space is 42 in by 48 inches (1065 mm by 1220 mm).
As a general guide, 5 to 10mm clearance horizontally & vertically is sufficient. This allows sufficient room to plumb, level & square the frame.
This document states 'requirement M4(1) will be met when a new dwelling makes reasonable provision for most people, including wheelchair users, to approach and enter the dwelling' and that 'the door has a minimum clear opening width of 775mm' for principle communal entrances.
The purpose of a push plate is to provide a durable surface for pushing doors open, protecting the door from wear and tear while offering a hygienic and easy-to-clean surface.
Margins (sometimes also called “rebates”) are the spaces between the door and the door frame. These are often important if you're looking at issues with your hinge jamb. Again, these spaces can be broken down into specific types: the hinge margin, strike margin, top (header) margin, and bottom (sweep) margin.
A crash bar (also known as a panic exit device, panic bar, or bump bar) is a type of door opening mechanism which allows users to open a door by pushing a bar.