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DOORSETS
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Home Page > The Laidlaw Service > Standards & Legislation
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disabled people and avoid the risk of litigation under the The Equality Act 2010 (formerly The DDA).
Building Regulations
England and Wales - Approved Document M - Access to and use of buildings
The 2004 edition of Approved Document M includes updated sections for non-domestic buildings. The main
requirement no longer makes specific reference to disabled people, but requires that reasonable provision is made
to ensure that buildings are accessible and usable. The aim is to make buildings more inclusive by satisfying the
Part M applies not only to new developments, but also to existing buildings that are subject to alterations,
extensions and changes of use.
First Name
Surname
In respect of handrails (and by implication balustrade top rails), the guidance in Approved Document M relates to:
The size, profile, spacing and termination of handrails.
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Guidance on meeting the functional requirements in the Building (Scotland) regulations 2004 is set out in Technical
Handbooks, one for domestic and the other for non-domestic buildings. All guidance that was previously in Part S
of the Technical Standards isnow distributed throughout the Technical Handbooks, although many of the issues
relating to accessibility are in Section 4 of the non-domestic volume.
In relation to handrails and balustrades, Section 4.3 deals with stairs and ramps and Section 4.4, pedestrian
protective barriers. The relevant heights of handrails shown in the Technical Handbook are shown in the diagram
below, but there is no guidance on the size and profile of any handrail, nor its spacing from an enclosing wall.
Northern Ireland - Part R (2000) - Access and facilities for disabled people
Guidance on meeting the requirements of the Building Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000 is currently as the 1999
edition of Approved Document M for England and Wales, except that the diameter of the circular handrail is shown
as between 38 and 50mm.
However, consultation on an updated version of the Technical Handbook is now concluded and the revised edition
is likely to be published later in 2006. This will generally reflect the guidance in the 2004 edition of Approved
Document M , but is likely to follow the most recent recommendations of the 2005 amendment of BS 8300.
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Since any alterations to a building need to comply with building regulations, the guidance in Approved Document
M , Section 4 of the Scottish Technical Handbook and Part R of the Northern Ireland regulations will be the first
reference point for suitable design solutions. However, for issues that are not covered in the regulations, the
recommendations in the most recent edition of BS 8300 should be followed.
British Standards
BS 8300: 2001 (incorporating Amendment 1 June 2005) - Design of buildings and their approaches to meet
the needs of disabled people - Code of Practice
BS 8300 provides good practice recommendations on the design of buildings so that they are convenient for use
by disabled people. It is widely used as a reference document for guidance on issues not specifically covered in
building regulations.
Although the standard is due for a full 5-year review, it was decided in 2005 to review the latest research and
feedback from industry on a number of topics that were causing concern within the industry and issue an amended
version of the standard in advance of the full review. The issues for handrails and balustrades were:
The dimensions for circular handrails and their spacing from an enclosing wall.
The definition of visual contrast in relation to light reflectance values (LRVs).
The application of not cold to the touch.
Circular handrails
Having reviewed the latest research evidence, the BSI committee decided not to change the dimensions in the
2001 edition of BS 8300, even though they differed from those in AD M (2004) (see diagram on page 28). As far as
England and Wales is concerned, the BS 8300 dimensions represent a suitable alternative to those in AD M.
Visual contrast
A persons perception of visual contrast between two surfaces appears to be strongly correlated with the difference
in the amount of light reflected from their surfaces, i.e. their light reflectance values (LRVs). In theory, a perfect
white has an LRV of 100 and jet black, 0, but these values are never achieved in practice. Whereas AD M (2004)
gives a rigid definition of visual contrast (where there is a 30 point difference in LRV), the 2005 amendment to BS
8300 recognises that visual perception is affected by the relative area of surfaces and whether they are textured,
curved, metallic or glossy.
The latest guidance is that, although a difference in LRV of 30 points is a reliable indicator of visual contrast, there
is anecdotal evidence that a difference of about 20 points may still be acceptable. Differences in LRV are most
important between small and large areas, e.g. a lever handle and a door, than between large areas, such as walls
and floors. High gloss should be avoided for doors and elements with a larger surface area.
Load Conditions
Areas, such as stairs, landings, corridors, ramps, external
balconies and edges of roofs, where people congregate
without overcrowding.
Restaurants and bars, retail and public areas not subject to
overcrowding and pedestrian areas in car parks.
Retail areas, theatres, cinemas, bars, auditoria, shopping
malls, discothques and assembly areas, subject to
overcrowding.
U.D.
horizontal line
load
U.D load on
the infill
Point load on
infill
[kN/m]
[kN/m2]
[kN]
0.74
1.0
0.5
1.5
1.5
1.5
1.5
1.5
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NB: The horizontal uniformly distributed line load should be assumed to act at a height of 1100mm above the floor
or pitch line, irrespective of the height of the actual barrier. The three load types are not additive, but need to be
treated as three seperate load cases.
FD30
Standard
FD60
Fire Performance
BS476 Pt.22
Smoke
Performance
BS476 Pt31.1
Sound Reduction
BS EN ISO: 140-3
& BS EN ISO: 717/1
28dBRw to 38dBRw
Mechanical
Strength
Heavy Duty
BS DD171
Surface
Performance
General Use
BS 3962, EN438
Intumescent
System
BS476 Pt.22
Smoke Seals
BS476 Pt.31.1
Performance
Internal
FD30
Standard
FD60
Fire Performance
BS476 Pt.22
Smoke
Performance
BS476 Pt31.1
Sound Reduction
BS EN ISO: 140-3
& BS EN ISO: 717/1
28dBRw to 38dBRw
Mechanical
Strength
Heavy Duty
BS DD171
Surface
Performance
Heavy Duty
BS 3962, EN438
Intumescent
System
BS476 Pt.22
Smoke Seals
BS476 Pt.31.1
Performance
Internal
FD30
Standard
FD60
Fire Performance
BS476 Pt.22
Smoke
Performance
BS476 Pt31.1
Sound Reduction
BS EN ISO: 140-3
& BS EN ISO: 717/1
28dBRw to 38dBRw
Mechanical
Strength
Heavy Duty
BS DD171
Surface
Performance
Heavy Duty
BS 3962, EN438
Intumescent
System
BS476 Pt.22
Smoke Seals
BS476 Pt.31.1
Performance
Internal
FD30
Standard
FD60
Fire Performance
BS476 Pt.22
Smoke
Performance
BS476 Pt31.1
Sound Reduction
Mechanical
Strength
Heavy Duty
Surface
Performance
BS EN ISO: 140-3
& BS EN ISO: 717/1
BS DD171
BS 3962, EN438
Intumescent
System
BS476 Pt.22
Smoke Seals
BS476 Pt.31.1
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The practice of fitting door leaves to frames sourced elsewhere is not in itself in contravention of any relevant
building regulations. However, it should be borne in mind that this may result in the non-achievement of required
performance, particularly for fire/smoke resistance and sound insulation. The project architect or contractor will
automatically assume responsibility for performance and statutory compliance in such circumstances. Single
sourcing of doors, frames and ironmongery from Laidlaws Orbis Timber Doorset Range ensures total regulatory
compliance and resultant peace of mind for clients, specifiers and contractors.
BS476 Pt22 will be superseded by the new European Standard BS EN 1634 Pt1 which is a far more onerous test.
The primary differences between BS476 Pt22 and BS EN 1634 Pt1 test standards are:
Temperature control method. Furnace temperature control under BS476 Pt22 uses 1.5mm thermocouples,
whereas BS EN1634 Pt1 uses plate thermocouples. Therefore to achieve the correct time/temperature curve the
furnace is running between 10% and 34% hotter relative to the same test run to BS476 Pt22 in the first 10 minutes.
Pressure Regime. BS476 Pt22 requires a neutral pressure axis at 1000mm from floor level. BS EN 1634 Pt1
requires a neutral pressure axis at 500mm from floor level. Lowering the neutral axis increases the pressure by
more than 35%, creating additional pressure at hinge and latch positions.
Cyclic Testing. There is no requirement for cyclic testing under BS476 Pt22, but BS EN 1634 Pt1 requires a
minimum of 500 cycles. "Direct Field of Application" is included within the new standard so that in the test report
certain changes to the assembly may be allowed subject to the test assembly exceeding the required time to
failure by a given amount. A transition period will apply during which both the BS476 Pt22 and BS EN 1634 Pt1
can be used for testing. This is likely to be between 5 and 10 years.
BS 8300
BS 8300 Design of Buildings and their approaches to meet the needs of disabled people Code of Practice is now
the statutory standard that provides guidance on good practice in the design of buildings so that they are
convenient for use by disabled people.
HTM 58 and 59
Hospital Technical Memoranda represent technical guidance to be applied in health buildings. The guidance
provided by HTM 58 (doorsets) and HTM 59 (ironmongery), particularly in relation to access by disabled people, is
not up-to date. It is recommended that Document M and BS8300 are followed.
800
750
800
750
825
775
1000
775
Laidlaw comment
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For single leaf, single swing doors, the 800 and 825mm clear opening widths can be safely achieved using 1100mm doorsets
Internal Doors
800mm
750mm
Laidlaw comment
The 800mm clear opening can be achieved using a 1000mm doorset, and
the 750mm clear opening using the 900mm doorset.
BS 8300: 2001
Location of Ironmongery.
BS 8300 provides this diagram in order to ensure the correct location of door furniture.
Note: where a full width mid-rail plate or lock are required the recommended pull handle size and or position will
need to be altered to avoid clashing with the plate or lock.
Laidlaw comment
Although BS 8300 gives a range of heights for lever handles and
horizontal pull handles, Laidlaw recommends a spindle height of
900mm. A pull handle length of 450mm, with a top fixing position of
1400mm is also recommended.
The 400mm height of the kicking plate provides greater resistance
to damage from wheelchairs.
Registered Office: Strawberry Lane, Willenhall, West Midlands WV13 3RS. Registered in England No. 4552005. VAT No. 911 466 537.
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