Introduction Regulations Specification Refurbishment Support Q&A
DORMA – The Equality Act 2010
The Way Forward ToDesigning Accessible BuildingsA RIBA Approved CPD Seminar
Date: Thursday 12th April Venue: University of Brighton Presenter: Dick Watts
Introduction Regulations Specification Refurbishment Support Q&A
• Core Equality Act legislation
• DORMA, the company
• Common access issues
• Detailed specifications
• The Equality Act: Building Regulations -
Standards
• Case studies
• Details & support
DORMA – The Equality Act: The Way Forward
Introduction Regulations Specification Refurbishment Support Q&A
• A family owned company
• Founded in 1908
• First products – double action door hinges
• 1950’s began production of closers
• 1960’s first automatic door operator
• 1970’s Glass door hardware
• 1980’s global expansion
• 1990’s Security products
• 2000’s Movable walls
The Company
Introduction Regulations Specification Refurbishment Support Q&A
• Automatics Division
• Door Controls Division
• Glass Division
• Movable Walls Division
• Service Division
DORMA UK
Introduction Regulations Specification Refurbishment Support Q&A
The Equality Act: Chronology
• 1995: DDA bill passed
• 1996:- unlawful to discriminate against disabled employees- unlawful for service providers to treat disabled people less
favourably
• 1999: service providers must alter practice or provide alternative means of providing the service
• 2002: SENDA bill passed
• 2004: October 1st - service providers must make reasonable adjustments to physical features of their premises
• 2005: DDA amended and updated
• 2005: September 1st - (SENDA) education providers must make reasonable adjustments to physical features of their premises
• 2006: from December 1st Private Clubs must make reasonable adjustments to physical features of their premises
• 2010: DDA was incorporated within and superseded by the Equality Act
Disability Discrimination Act
Introduction Regulations Specification Refurbishment Support Q&A
• Commercial
• Retail
• Financial
• Residential
• Education
• Healthcare
• Transport
The Equality Act applies in all these areas
Introduction Regulations Specification Refurbishment Support Q&A
The Law
Where a physical feature makes it impossible or
unreasonably difficult for disabled people to use a service,
service providers since October 2004, have had to make
reasonable steps in order to:
• Remove the feature
• Alter the feature
• Provide a reasonable alternative means of avoiding the
feature OR
• Provide a reasonable alternative method of making the
service available to disabled persons
New buildings should therefore be designed to provide
access to services
Introduction Regulations Specification Refurbishment Support Q&A
Who is a service provider?
• Anyone who provides a service to the public or a section of the public
• Local councils and government departments
• High street outlets - Banks & Shops
• Leisure facilities- Cinemas, sports stadia,
pubs and restaurants
• Hospitals, clinics public utilities and places of worship
Introduction Regulations Specification Refurbishment Support Q&A
The Equality Act 2010 is civil legislation, relating to access to services rather than access to the building– buildings & products cannot therefore be “Equality Act compliant”!
How can the Equality Act be “complied” with?
What they can comply with are:
• Building Regulations – provide guidance to ensure minimum acceptable standard of construction for new buildings and existing buildings
• British/European standards - provide recommendations in the design of new and existing buildings to meet the needs of disabled people
Pic of building site
Introduction Regulations Specification Refurbishment Support Q&A
The Equality Act: Best Practice
• BS 8300:2009 + A1:2010(Latest guidance July 2010)
Design of buildings and their approaches to meet the needs of disabled people code of practice
• Building Regulations Access to and use of buildings
• Part M England, Wales
• Part R Northern Ireland
• Section 3 Scotland
Introduction Regulations Specification Refurbishment Support Q&A
Why follow this guidance?
• Commercial reasons- if people have difficulty in entering your business premises, they will seek alternatives
• Legal reasons- Building Regulations Part M - The Equality Act is LAW- Breach of the law could result in court, fines and bad PR for any business
• Moral reasons- Why should any individual be discriminated against?
• Life or Death- If specified solutions are wrong this
may create a ‘life threatening’ scenario
Introduction Regulations Specification Refurbishment Support Q&A
Where do you begin?
Planning and Design
• Entrances• Internal doors• Fire doors• Room access doors• Clear door widths – access• Accessible toilet doors• Escape doors
Common sense approaches and simple solutions for:• New build• Refurbishment including historical buildings
Introduction Regulations Specification Refurbishment Support Q&A
• Overhead door closers• Concealed door closers• Hold-open door closers• Low energy door closers• Lever furniture• Locks• Panic hardware
Internal Doors
• Fire doors - Corridor doors- Room access doors• Accessible toilets• Escape doors
Introduction Regulations Specification Refurbishment Support Q&A
Design Issues
Opening Forces BS 8300:2009 + A1:2010(Latest guidance July 2010)
&
Building RegulationsApproved Document Part M 2004(New guidance 3rd March 2005)
Agree that:
The force required to open the door should not exceed 30N between 0°-30°
and must fall below 22.5N between 30°- 60°
Introduction Regulations Specification Refurbishment Support Q&A
• It is critical to achieve both the desired maximum opening force as described in BS8300 & ADM while still maintaining the required closing force (BS EN 1154) to effectively close the door.
• Door closers of high efficiency and with rapid drop off of opening resistance should be specified to ensure compliance
Design Issues – Specification of door closers
Introduction Regulations Specification Refurbishment Support Q&A
Opening/Closing comparisons
5
10
15
20
25
30
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180Opening momentClosing moment
Door opening angle °
Do
or
clo
sin
g m
om
ent
[N]
Conventional rack & pinion closer with scissor armConventional rack & pinion closer with scissor arm (solid lines)
Cam action closer with slide channel (dotted lines)
Introduction Regulations Specification Refurbishment Support Q&A
Opening/Closing Comparisons
Introduction Regulations Specification Refurbishment Support Q&A
Design Issues
Other considerations affecting opening forces
• Locks• Seals• Hinges• Air Pressure
Introduction Regulations Specification Refurbishment Support Q&A
Locks and latches
Critical specification issues
• Force required to activate the latch
• Independently sprung handle & latch
72mm min
Introduction Regulations Specification Refurbishment Support Q&A
• Seals •Hinges
• Air Pressure
Design Issues
Cm =P . A . w
2Cm = closing moment of door closer [Nm]P = air pressure [Nm2] {Pascals}A = door surface area [m2]w = door width [m]
Introduction Regulations Specification Refurbishment Support Q&A
• Seals• Hinges• Air • Pressure
Design Issues – Adjustable Power Door Closers
Introduction Regulations Specification Refurbishment Support Q&A
New Guidance
Other issues
Building RegulationsApproved Document Part M 2004(New guidance 3rd March 2005)
BS 8300:2009 + A1:2010(Latest guidance July 2010)
Introduction Regulations Specification Refurbishment Support Q&A
Handles
Critical specification issues
• Physical shape of door handle & Location of locking device - Consider manual dexterity problems• Bolt through fixing – Handles used for support• Visual definition of handles – high contrast – Texture of handles - Consider impaired vision
45
95
3
4
95
19
1
2
Introduction Regulations Specification Refurbishment Support Q&A
New Guidance - Backcheck
• “In some locations in a building, a controlled door closing device incorporating a backcheck is sometimes
used to prevent damage to adjacent walls or furniture and to the closer mechanism if a door is flung open with some force. However, when the door is opened slowly, the resistance effect is minimal. With some controlled door closing devices, the backcheck starts to become effective when the door is open
at 70°”.
• “thinking” backcheck – The resistance developed by this backcheck system is directly proportional to door acceleration.
Introduction Regulations Specification Refurbishment Support Q&A
New Guidance - Maintenance
• “Without regular maintenance of all door
fittings, the resistances to opening and closing can increase to an extent that the ability of disabled people to pass through the door may be affected. The opening force at the door opening angles described above should therefore be checked at regular intervals”.
Introduction Regulations Specification Refurbishment Support Q&A
Design Issues
Other issues
Building RegulationsApproved Document Part M 2004(New guidance 3rd March 2005)
BS 8300:2009 + A1:2010(Latest guidance July 2010)
Introduction Regulations Specification Refurbishment Support Q&A
• Must be fully closed at the time of fire
• Must close with the minimum forces as described in BS EN 1154
• Therefore it can present a problem with regards to accessibility
Fire Doors – surface mounted closers
Introduction Regulations Specification Refurbishment Support Q&A
Fire Door Systems
Electro–magnetic hold-open closers
• Surface mounted
• Concealed
• Floor spring
• Hold-open magnets with independent closers
Hold-Open Closers@ Evalina Hospital, London
Introduction Regulations Specification Refurbishment Support Q&A
Fire Door Systems – surface mounted
• A universal ‘hold open’ for internal fire doors• Electro- mechanical tested to EN1155• Hold open 800 - 1200 • The release force mechanism can be adjusted without tools
Introduction Regulations Specification Refurbishment Support Q&A
Fire Door Systems – floor spring
• Inconspicuous solutions
• Virtually invisible
• Electro-Hydraulic hold-open unit
• For fire and smoke check doors
• Hold open 75° - 175°
Floor Spring Hold-Open Closers@ Hairmyers Hospital, Hamilton
Introduction Regulations Specification Refurbishment Support Q&A
Fire Door Systems – hold open magnets
• Surface or flush mounted
• For use with fire certified closers
• Performance is dependent upon doors being closed at the time of fire
• A CLOSING DEVICE IS NEEDED
• Single swing doors require closing devices that conform with BS EN 1154
Independent Hold Open Magnets & Closers @ Baltic Mill, Gateshead
Introduction Regulations Specification Refurbishment Support Q&A
Fire Doors – concealed closers
Some sites demand a more integrated approach
• Listed buildings
• Change of use – new fire regulations
• An aesthetically pleasing solution
• DORMA systems can be integrated into the door leaf and frame
Concealed closer@Penny Hill Park Hotel, Bagshot
Introduction Regulations Specification Refurbishment Support Q&A
Refurbishment – historical buildings
Introduction Regulations Specification Refurbishment Support Q&A
Low Energy Door Operator
• Assistance on demand• The Low Energy system gives the user help ONLY when required• A low traffic solution• Can be retro fitted• Remote wireless push pads• Radio and Infra-red hand held controllers
Room Access
Introduction Regulations Specification Refurbishment Support Q&A
Free Swing Door Closer
• Closer is disengaged during normal use• Allows room occupant to leave the door ajar
• On activation of the fire alarm the magnet releases and engages the door closer
Room Access
Introduction Regulations Specification Refurbishment Support Q&A
Room Access
1
2
5
3
4
1. Wall partition or other obstruction2. 300 mm clear (may be reduced if door is opened by remote automatic control)3. Door hung from corner of room4. Short return might enable the door to swing open beyond 90º5. Doorset
Introduction Regulations Specification Refurbishment Support Q&A
Door Widths
BS8300:2009 + A1:2010 Minimum effective clear widths of door leaf (mm)
Direction and width of approach New buildings (mm)
Existing buildings (mm)
Straight-on (without a turn or oblique approach) 800 750
At right angles to an access route at least 900mm wide N/A 800
At right angles to an access route at least 1200mm wide 825 775
At right angles to an access route at least 1500mm wide 800 750
External doors to building used by the general public 1000 775
Introduction Regulations Specification Refurbishment Support Q&A
Accessible toilets
• Visual definition of the WC is important
• Automatic outward swing door is best
• Occupied sign and disabled push pad are essential
Introduction Regulations Specification Refurbishment Support Q&A
Escape doors
• Consideration must be given to those ‘less able’ in the event of building evacuation
• Crash bars must be fitted at the recommended height
• Alternative methods of opening escape
doors must be provided
Introduction Regulations Specification Refurbishment Support Q&A
Escape doors
• Full door-width touchbars require less force to operate
• Electrical operating functions for specialised applications
• Can be fitted to low energy door operators.
• Ensure people can leave unaided through emergency exit doors
Introduction Regulations Specification Refurbishment Support Q&A
Summary
• DDA Legislation• New build design issues
- Opening forces required
- Fittings• Overcoming problem areas within
existing buildings• Maintenance programme• Security requirements• Best practice
Project specific issues can be reviewed
with our specification team
Introduction Regulations Specification Refurbishment Support Q&A
Thank you
DORMA UK LtdWilbury Way
HitchinHertfordshire
SG4 0ABT – 01462 477 600F – 01462 477 601www.dorma-uk.co.uk
Introduction Regulations Specification Refurbishment Support Q&A
DORMA – The Equality Act 2010
The Way Forward ToDesigning Accessible BuildingsA RIBA Approved CPD Seminar
Top Related