At Coastal Contract Hardware, we specialize in door hardware. The knobs, handles, hinges, closers, locks, and other hardware used on your doors have a more significant impact on your experience than you might realize. This is especially true for people with disabilities, and as for such individuals, poorly designed hardware can make doors difficult or impossible to use. Because of this, the Americans with Disabilities Act, or ADA, has certain requirements for door hardware. In this article, our team will go over some key information you need to know about ADA-compliant hardware.
- Force Requirements – The first requirement for ADA-compliant hardware for doors is that the hardware must not require more than five pounds of force to operate. If the handle requires more force to turn, or the door requires more force to open, individuals with disabilities that affect their muscles or skeleton would not be able to use the door effectively.
- Use Requirements – Another requirement for ADA-compliant hardware is that the handles used to open doors must not require any tight pinching, grasping, or twisting of the wrist. People with arthritis and similar disabilities affecting the joints are not able to use their hands with the dexterity required to complete these motions, which is what makes such hardware non-compliant. Straight door handles are the best choice for accessible hardware, as they are the easiest for people with a wide variety of manual dexterity levels to use.
- Operational Requirements – Lastly, ADA-compliant hardware must be able to be operated using only one hand. This ensures that people who only have the use of one hand are able to use the door, which benefits both disabled people as well as able-bodied people who happen to be carrying something in their other hand.