6 Properties of a Disability Doors

People with disabilities are an important part of any community and they deserve to live and go about their daily activities like any of us. The most difficult part of a disabled life is unable to open doors to their house, grocery stores, hospitals etc. They need assistance and that might not be available all the time. Normal doors need to be opened by a steady hand, something that is impossible for elderly citizens.

Hence, the need for Disability doors. These doors are specifically designed for easy access. Some doors are automatic and can be operated by a switch or remote. 

Properties of a Disability doors: 

Lightweight: The door should be lightweight, making it easy to open manually. Disability doors can be wood, metal or glass based, but it should be light and should have handled in the right places. A person in a wheelchair should be able to access the handle, and so should an elderly person. The door should be easy to push and should automatically close. However, it should be able to hold itself for enough time for the person to pass. 

Heavy-duty hinges and springs: This provides sufficient opening time for the person to pass comfortably through the door. These hinges and springs should be durable and easy to operate. 

Automation: Automatic doors are ones that need not be opened manually. They operate on the basis of a switch that is both an open and close switch. These types of doors are seen in bathrooms and other places that require privacy. 

Sensors: They are a part of automatic disability doors. Such doors come with sensors such as motion sensors and proximity sensors. These sensors allow the door to open only when they sense the presence of a human being and then close the door once they have left the door. They are expensive when compared to button controlled doors and are high maintenance. Replacing the sensor can be equally expensive, if not taken care of. 

Card Readers and Scanners: Certain commercial buildings have card readers to open a door. Such technology can be useful to disabled people if they have the card to enter the premises or the room.

Disability doors have been made mandatory at all commercial buildings such as schools, offices and healthcare centers. There are various options available in terms of energy usage. Full energy disability doors use a lot of electricity and are fixed with sensors and other automation technology that is fully equipped to work without any assistance. Low energy alternatives use less energy and might need a bit of manual work to access the door. But they are equally reliable and efficient. 

A few doors are equipped with a system such as if the sensor isn't working, the door is automatically converted into a normal swing door, and not locked. This is easy as it doesn't render the door inaccessible.

The disability doors manufacturers provide technicians for installation and repair of the door. They are usually available round the clock.