Door opening force is the measurement of how many pounds of force are required to open a door.
Ada sliding door opening force.
The opening closing force of swinging doors should be less than 5 lbs.
Of force to open.
When sliding doors are fully open operating hardware shall be exposed and usable from both sides and should open close with a maximum force of 5 lbs.
The opening force of exterior swing doors is impacted by wind loading and other exterior conditions gasketing hvac systems energy efficiency and the weight of doors.
This applies to interior hinged doors and gates as well as sliding and folding doors.
Open the door gradually.
Doorways shall have a minimum clear opening of 32 in 815 mm with the door open 90 degrees measured between the face of the door and the opposite stop.
The maximum opening force for sliding and folding doors is also 5 pounds.
Spring hinges door spring hinges shall be adjusted so that from the open position of 70 degrees the door shall move to the closed position in 1 5 seconds minimum.
Interior accessible doors should require no more than 5 lbs.
Both standards note that the 5 pound force limitation does not apply to the force required to retract latch bolts or disengage other devices that hold the door in a closed position refer to this decoded article for more information on the forces for operable hardware.
The ada standards do not specify the opening force for exterior doors though some state and local building codes may have requirements.
Door opening force fire doors shall have a minimum opening force allowable by the appropriate administrative authority.
Do not jerk it open.
The requirements for door opening force are found in the americans with disabilities act accessibility guidelines adaag icc ansi a117 1 standard on accessible and usable buildings and facilities and the massachusetts architectural access board requirements 521 cmr.
The force for pushing or pulling open interior swinging egress doors other than fire doors shall not exceed 5 pounds 22 n.
Typical maximum opening force for exterior doors ranges from 8 5 to 10 lbs.