When you’re tackling a wheelchair access door project, getting the specs on is crucial. But knowing what to use and why to use it isn’t easy to find. You’ll need to create a doorway that’s easy to pass through with opening and closing mechanisms that are just as easy to operate and require minimal force. It all boils down to ease of use.
In this guide, we’re breaking down exactly what you need to know. From must-have requirements to our top product picks, we’ve got the insights you need to create wheelchair-friendly spaces and door access.Wheelchair access door materials and mechanisms
When selecting doors for wheelchair access, you’ve got a balancing act on your hands. You need something lightweight for easy daily use, yet durable enough to stand up to the hustle and bustle of daily use.
Here’s where aluminium becomes your go-to material. It’s got the durability to withstand heavy use without much physical weight weighing down the door. This means less effort is needed to open and close it, which is exactly what you want in a wheelchair-accessible door.
Now, for an even smoother user experience, consider installing cavity sliders.
And don’t forget about the door closer – a cam action door closer is your best bet. It ensures the door shuts gently and quietly, without the need for any forceful pushing, pulling, or manhandling from the user.
Wheelchair door dimensions: door width, handle, and lock height
The doorway’s clear opening – meaning no handles, architraves, or other obstructions – should be at least 850mm. Our cavity door slider is spot on for this, with a standard 1m wide carcass, capable of fitting doors up to 1500mm wide.
The handle and lock placement is also very important and should be positioned between 0.90m and 1.00m from the floor to ensure they’re within easy, comfortable reach for most wheelchair users.
The best disabled door handles Now about the door handles. Reaching must be easy and using it must be easy and ideally it must be operable with just one hand. Round knobs can be tricky, so we recommend lever-type handles, push plates, or pull handles. And of course – we’ve got a wide range of these user-friendly door hardware options in stock
Thresholds and wheelchair access aren’t the best match
Avoid thresholds where possible and use weather-stripping at the bottom of the door instead.
Sliding doors with recessed runners are ideal because they’re not only easy to open but also create a flush threshold that’s easy to navigate over.
If a threshold is necessary, it shouldn’t be more than 20mm higher than the floor level, so that the wheelchair user can pass over it without too much difficulty.
Wheelchair access door solutions with Bris Aluminium
At Bris Aluminium, we’re committed to making spaces accessible and functional for everyone. Our range of wheelchair-friendly door solutions is designed to meet these needs without compromising on style, quality or durability.
If you’re looking to make your space more inclusive with the correct doors, closers and hardware, reach out to us. We’re here to help you find the perfect solution for your project and fit for the end-users.
Bris Aluminium is a locally owned and operated company which supplies Australia’s best aluminium partitions, door frames and windows. You can easily shop our product range online.
Our high-quality products are affordable, great value for money and customisable. We can help with superior office fit-outs for a variety of businesses and can assist with a range of residential space-saving solutions as well. To make things easier, detailed design drawings are also available online for every product we stock.
Bris Aluminium’s quality-assured certified products have a high level of adaptability and meet Australian standards including access requirements relating to disabilities.
Contact our friendly and professional team today on 1300 274 701 or enquire online here, so we can help to create the space you desire on time and on budget.
