ADA clearance side clearance next to a double-acting, self-closing traffic door without a mechanical closer.

[Ryan Schultz]

If you have a double-acting door, like the following, where's there's no powered mechanical closer, but the hinges are designed to 'close' the door, can you use the 0 inches beyond latch, dimension indicated below?

 

[steveray]

It does not have a latch so yes...

 

[Yankee Chronicler]

The 12-inch requirement applies if the door has a latch AND a closer. No latch ==> no requirement.

 

[walker.t]

but the hinges are designed to 'close' the door

You might not even have a closer…

If you want the door to close, but don't want a closer, you can install spring hinges. The US Access Board has determined that spring hinges are not considered "closers" for the purpose of this issue.
If you need adjustable speed spring hinges, there's a brand called Waterson; they're not cheap, but they work well.

I don’t know where that clarification from the U.S. Access Board can be found. Only reference I could find in A117.1-2017 was in the commentary for 404.2.7.2 Spring Hinges: “Although not considered as a ‘door closer’ in the general sense, spring hinges…”.

 

[Yikes]

I don’t know where that clarification from the U.S. Access Board can be found. Only reference I could find in A117.1-2017 was in the commentary for 404.2.7.2 Spring Hinges: “Although not considered as a ‘door closer’ in the general sense, spring hinges…”.

https://www.thebuildingcodeforum.com/forum/threads/elevator-shaft-rating.38062/post-303004

 

[walker.t]

Y

Post in thread 'Elevator shaft rating'

May 8, 2025

Can you point me to an exception in the ADA or A117.1 that says this? I understand that a spring hinge is not a closer like the devices mounted at the top of a door and frame, but considering that it exerts a force against the effort to open the door I would have thought it would be considered a closer for the sake of door maneuvering clearances.

See this post and its link to the U.S. Access Board commentary.
See also pdf page 115 here: https://www.access-board.gov/files/ada/guides/ADA-Standards-Guide_Chapters1-5.pdf

• Yikes

• 

Thank you.

Kind of funny (or sad) to see that this link leads to a post where you answered the same question asked by me before.

 

[Yikes]

Kind of funny (or sad) to see that this link leads to a post where you answered the same question asked by me before.

Hey, I've done that too