Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), businesses and other public facilities must be accessible to those with handicaps. Every accessible entrance must have a door that accommodates individuals in wheelchairs and with other mobility issues. If you’re designing or renovating a building, investing in automatic doors can simplify all of your efforts to create an ADA-compliant building.

5 Ways Automatic Doors Are ADA-Compliant

1. Width Requirements

According to the ADA, accessible entrances must have a width of at least 32 inches, a size large enough to comfortably accommodate wheelchairs, scooters, and other mobility aids. Most styles of automatic doors, especially sliding models, easily achieve widths that far extend these requirements.

2. Operating Force

Accessible entrances should only require about five pounds of force to open. Automatic doors completely work around this requirement by opening the entrance without the need for any manual interaction. Instead, all you need to do to open the door is position yourself in front of it.

3. Closing Speed

Individuals who rely on mobility aids may not be able to clear an entrance as fast as a standard door closes. To avoid accidents, the ADA requires different types of doors to remain open for a reasonable amount of time. Automatic doors pause for a few seconds before they begin to close, allowing individuals enough time to pass through. Many of these systems also feature sensors that prevent doors from closing if someone is standing between them.

4. Space for Maneuvering

Even if a door meets the minimum width requirements, it can still be difficult for individuals to maneuver their equipment to enter and exit the building. Compared to swinging doors, automatic sliding doors don’t open outward or inward, letting users enjoy a greater area for stress-free maneuvering.  

5. No-Snag Surfaces

The ADA requires certain doors to feature smooth surfaces to prevent individuals from catching their clothing on the entrance. While this safety rule applies to traditional hinged doors, it is mostly a non-issue for automatic entrances. Made of glass and sleek structural frames, automatic doors present little to no risk of snagging.

Whether you want to improve your store’s customer convenience or need to plan an ADA-compliant business, look to Automatic Door Specialists for the resources to make the proper upgrades. Based in Waipahu, HI, this team has over 25 years of experience installing automatic doors on Oahu and neighbor islands. To learn more about their commercial door installation services, visit this AAADM-certified company online. For estimates and planning assistance, call (808) 678-8880.