Access Pathway Through an Opening

[Gizmo]

Does a door or gate have to open a minimum of 90 degrees, even though the minimum requirement of 32" is met?

Now I understand that there must be a minimum of 32" in the clear when the door is open "at least" 90 degrees, but if I can get 40" of clear pathway when the door is open 85 degrees, what's the purpose of requiring the door to open 5 more degrees. Again, I want some logical debate to why, I've already went round and round with an inspector who just keeps reiterating; "because I say so". :banghd

 

[cda]

Forgot to say a lot of standards have been in place for many many years.

Also some numbers are a compromise and some are pulled out of the air.

 

[Gizmo]

Forgot to say a lot of standards have been in place for many many years.Also some numbers are a compromise and some are pulled out of the air.

Sounds like a quote of one of my favorite philosophers... "The good thing about Standards, is that there are so many to choose from". I love the irony!

 

[JPohling]

The code simply states that the measurement for the clear opening dimension (32" min) shall be measured from the stop to the door open 90 degrees. I do not see anything that specifies the door needs to open 90 degrees. I would agree that if you use a wider door that achieves the minimum clearance at less than 90 degrees it would meet the intent of the code.

 

[LGreene]

I wrote about this a while back:

http://idighardware.com/2010/01/3130/

http://idighardware.com/2010/01/3164/

http://idighardware.com/2010/03/3546/

 

[mtlogcabin]

what's the purpose of requiring the door to open 5 more degrees.

Minimum egress width required based on the occupant load exiting through the door would be the main reason I can think of.

Example you have a room with an occupant load of 360 people and only two 36 inch doors for exiting the room. The designer realizes the two doors are in adequate and decides to provide two 40 inch doors to meet the minimum width requirement. The doors will have to open 90 degrees to achieve compliance.

Remember 32 inches is for accessibility but you also have to comply with minimum exit width requirements for the occupant loads of the space

 

[Gizmo]

Good point... how does one come up with the minimum clear width space. This is an issue on an historical landmark auditorium that is currently being renovated for both Fire egress and ADA accessibility. The architect is having me install a lever handle on the entry door which is 2.5" thick and nearly 100 years old. Since the handle sticks out a few inches from the surface of the door, it hits the wall preventing it from opening a full 90 degrees. I used a CUSH closer to eliminate the need for a floor stop, and suggested that we use a Flush Pull on the door so that the door could open to a full 90 degrees. But the architect somehow thinks that the door must have a lever. I know he wrong, but there's nothing I can do when someone of authority has it in their head that they think they are right. Now I don't believe that this door not opening those few extra inches is going to change anything, but I would like to know how to figure out the calculations.

 

[mtlogcabin]

Exit width is calculated at .2" per person

Example a door with a 35" clear width would calculate @ 35 divided by .2= 175 person occupant load

Stairs are calculated @ .3" per person

 

[JPohling]

Pocket the wall where the lever makes contact. done deal

 

[Gizmo]

Pocket the wall where the lever makes contact. done deal

I seriously think that the State of California's Historical Society would have a coronary if I cut a hole in the 24" thick concrete wall at the main entry of this High School's 100 year old Auditorium. ;-)

 

[mtlogcabin]

Have the architect provide you with the required maximum occupant load exiting through this door and the minimum exit width required. Swing an arch from the edge of the jamb or door stop which ever produces the narrowest width and if the face of the door in it open position is out of the swing of the arch then it should be fine.