Every group of people is happy when everyday tasks can be carried out without difficulty. Opening functional doors, for example, requires a certain amount of effort, depending on the situation - desirable if it is easier. In this respect, accessibility is not only important for people with disabilities, but also for senior citizens and children. Numerous examples can be found.
With regard to doors, the two standards DIN 18040-1 and DIN 18040-2 define the key data.
Although standards are generally not available free of charge (obtained from Beuth-Verlag), both standards can be downloaded from the website of the Bavarian State Ministry of Housing, Building and Transport (short link: https://kurzelinks.de/jvxs).
Standardised and regulated
According to DIN 18040-1, doors must be
- clearly perceptible,
- easy to open and close and
- be safe to pass through.
- Lower door stops and thresholds are not permitted. If they are technically unavoidable, they must not be higher than 2 cm.
The standard contains the following table with geometric requirements for doors:
| All doors | |
| Clear width | ≥ 90 cm |
| Clear height above OFF | ≥ 205 cm |
| Reveal depth | ≤ 26 cm |
| Handle/handle: Distance to components, fittings and equipment elements | ≥ 50 cm |
| Signage (if available): Height above OFF | 120 - 140 cm |
| Manually operated doors | |
| Lever handle/handle: Height of pivot above OFF (centre of handle follower), height of handle horizontal or vertical. In justified individual cases, it is possible to deviate from the "85 cm" height. Other dimensions within a range of 85 cm to 105 cm are then acceptable. This is the case, for example, if the doors are not predominantly used by wheelchair users. | 85 cm |
| Automatic door systems | |
| Push button height (centre of button) above OFF | 85 cm |
| Push-button swing door/sliding door with side approach : Distance to main closing edges | ≥ 50 cm |
| Push-button swing door for frontal approach: Distance to opening direction | ≥ 250 cm |
| Push-button swing door with frontal approach: Distance closing direction | ≥ 150 cm |
| Push-button sliding door: distance on both sides | ≥ 150 cm |
Accessibility: Further requirements and recommendations
DIN 18040-1 specifies a number of other requirements and recommendations for doors. The most frequently asked questions in this segment include the function of door closers and the necessary movement areas in front of doors. We have summarised the key content of DIN 18040 for these two points:
| Door closers DIN 18040-1, No. 4.3.3.3 | The selection of door closers is of particular importance. Objective: People with motor impairments should be able to open/operate doors easily and, for example, have enough time to pass through the doors safely.
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| Areas / Movement areas in front of doors DIN 18040-1, No. 4.3.3.4 | Movement areas in front of doors must be adequately dimensioned. DIN 18040-1 shows the corresponding dimensions. Movement areas in front of doors must be dimensioned in accordance with Fig. 4 and Fig. 5. The standard contains numerous sketches. Movement areas for hinged doors - on the opening side: 150 cm x 150 cm For sliding doors - generally: [clear passage (≥90 cm) + at least 2x 50 cm left and right (= at least 190 cm] x [120 cm depth]. |
| Closing means DIN 18040-1, No. 4.3.3.3 | Closing devices with uncontrolled closing action (e.g. spring hinges) must not be used. |
| Swing doors DIN 18040-1, No. 4.3.3.3 | Swing doors must have closing devices (e.g. swing door closers in accordance with DIN EN 1154) that prevent the doors from swinging open. |
| Handle sets / handles DIN 18040-1, No. 4.3.3.3 | Handle sets must be designed to be easy to grasp for people with motor impairments, the blind and visually impaired. For example, curved or U-shaped handles or vertical brackets can be used for manually operated sliding doors. Not suitable are Turning handles, knobs, recessed handles (although this may be necessary in sports halls for safety reasons). |
| Orientation aids DIN 18040-1, No. 4.3.3.5 | Orientation aids on doors It must also be possible for blind and visually impaired people to find and recognise doors and their function. The standard gives examples of designs :
The standard lists the following examples: safety markings in strip form, with an average height of 8 cm and individual elements with a surface area of at least 50 % of the strip. Information on visual contrasts can be found in DIN 32975. |
| Communication systems DIN 18040-1, No. 4.5 | Door openers, bell systems, intercom systems, etc. must be designed to be barrier-free. Intercom systems must visually indicate that the other party is ready to hear. In the case of manually operated doors with electric door latch release, the release must be signalled visually. |
| Operating elements DIN 18040-1, No. 4.5.2 | Designed according to the two-senses principle (e.g. visual and tactile). Recognisability, avoidance of unintentional triggering, feedback when function is triggered, max. force for actuating switches/buttons 2.5-5 N. Accessibility of operating elements: Movement space for wheelchair users min. 150 cm x 150 cm; lateral distance to walls etc. min. 50 cm; only elements that can be approached from the front with a wheelchair can be driven under by at least 15 cm. |
| Doors of sanitary facilities | According to No. 5.3.1 of the standard, swing doors in sanitary facilities must not open into the room and must be unlockable from the outside. |