How Much Maneuvering Clearance is Require?

This past week we were finishing a 15-hour training program for three of our new ADA audit architects.  They each have over 20years of architectural experience. 

We were on-site looking at entry doors into the transient lodging mobility rooms.  The push and pull maneuvering clearance came into question because that maneuvering clearance was not parallel with the door.  Let's answer that first question of why do we need maneuvering clearance.  The answer is we need to get the wheelchair up to the door hardware to open that door.  The opening of the door will be either a push or a pull.  When the wall adjacent to the latch side of the door is not parallel, we have  a recessed wall condition.  When the recess is less than 8 inches deep in either the push or pull, then one has a compliance.  The maneuvering clearance table (404.2.4.1) will give one the minimum maneuvering clearance parallel to the doorway beyond the latch side.

In this situation, there was compliance on the 12 inch push side but not on the 18 inch pull side.

Any questions?  You can leave your comment here or post them on our FB page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Access-Technologies-Services-Inc/268659564730.  You can also contact us at hfalstad@accessts.net or call us at (702) 649-7575.  We look forward to hearing from you.

Hank

The above are opinions of Hank Falstad, AIA, Managing Senior Associate of Access Technologies Services, Inc. (ACCESS).  See our web site for additional information:  www.accessts.net.