Doorways and Doors

OTHER REHABILITATION ISSUES IN SCI: HOME SAFETY AND MODIFICATIONS: DOORWAYS AND DOORS

DOORWAYS AND DOORS

Minimum clear width for doorways of 32 inches for wheelchair passage; clear width of narrow doorways can be increased by 1 ½ to 2 inches with offset or fold-back hinges, be removing the door, or installing a pocket door which slides into the wall when not in use
A 5 foot, level space inside and outside each doorway, especially near the top of a staircase; doors should open outwards, especially in small rooms, such as bathrooms.
Side-hung doors are suitable for people with limited arm and hand usage; remote control doors for other individuals - doors to consider: pocket-sliding, sliding, folding, automatic, remote controlled, equipped with opening and closing devices, pneumatically assisted doors, and pulley-operated openers and closers
Kick plates for protection from wheelchair footrests; 7 ½ inch high bottom frame of glass doors; mat wells for doormats to provide level surfaces
Handles, pulls, latches, locks, etc. with shapes that are easy to grasp with one hand and do not require tight grasping, pinching, or twisting of the wrist to operate; lever, push type, and U-shaped handles are available that slip over existing round doorknobs; auxiliary handles or rails can be installed that align with the door and are used to open the door
A clearance of 2 inches between the handle and the door; handles placed between 3 feet and 3 feet, 3 inches from the floor
Thresholds that are no higher than ¾ inch; wooden thresholds that are beveled on each side, or weather stripping, act as a mini-ramp.