1. Introduction Regulations Specification Refurbishment Support Q&A DORMA – The Equality Act 2010 The Way Forward To Designing Accessible Buildings A RIBA Approved CPD Seminar Date: Thursday 12 th April Venue: University of Brighton Presenter: Dick Watts

2. Introduction Regulations Specification Refurbishment Support Q&A Core Equality Act legislation DORMA, the company Common access issues Detailed specifications The Equality Act: Building Regulations - Standards Case studies Details & support DORMA – The Equality Act: The Way Forward

3. Introduction Regulations Specification Refurbishment Support Q&A A family owned company Founded in 1908 First products – double action door hinges 1950s began production of closers 1960s first automatic door operator 1970s Glass door hardware 1980s global expansion 1990s Security products 2000s Movable walls The Company

4. Introduction Regulations Specification Refurbishment Support Q&A Automatics Division Door Controls Division Glass Division Movable Walls Division Service Division DORMA UK

5. Introduction Regulations Specification Refurbishment Support Q&A The Equality Act: Chronology 1995: DDA bill passed 1996:- unlawful to discriminate against disabled employees - unlawful for service providers to treat disabled people less favourably 1999: service providers must alter practice or provide alternative means of providing the service 2002: SENDA bill passed 2004: October 1 st - service providers must make reasonable adjustments to physical features of their premises 2005: DDA amended and updated 2005: September 1 st - (SENDA) education providers must make reasonable adjustments to physical features of their premises 2006: from December 1 st Private Clubs must make reasonable adjustments to physical features of their premises 2010: DDA was incorporated within and superseded by the Equality Act Disability Discrimination Act

6. Introduction Regulations Specification Refurbishment Support Q&A Commercial Retail Financial Residential Education Healthcare Transport The Equality Act applies in all these areas

7. Introduction Regulations Specification Refurbishment Support Q&A The Law Where a physical feature makes it impossible or unreasonably difficult for disabled people to use a service, service providers since October 2004, have had to make reasonable steps in order to: Remove the feature Alter the feature Provide a reasonable alternative means of avoiding the feature OR Provide a reasonable alternative method of making the service available to disabled persons New buildings should therefore be designed to provide access to services

8. Introduction Regulations Specification Refurbishment Support Q&A Who is a service provider? Anyone who provides a service to the public or a section of the public Local councils and government departments High street outlets - Banks & Shops Leisure facilities - Cinemas, sports stadia, pubs and restaurants Hospitals, clinics public utilities and places of worship

9. Introduction Regulations Specification Refurbishment Support Q&A The Equality Act 2010 is civil legislation, relating to access to services rather than access to the building– buildings & products cannot therefore be Equality Act compliant! How can the Equality Act be complied with? What they can comply with are: Building Regulations – provide guidance to ensure minimum acceptable standard of construction for new buildings and existing buildings British/European standards - provide recommendations in the design of new and existing buildings to meet the needs of disabled people Pic of building site

10. Introduction Regulations Specification Refurbishment Support Q&A The Equality Act: Best Practice BS 8300:2009 + A1:2010 (Latest guidance July 2010) Design of buildings and their approaches to meet the needs of disabled people code of practice Building Regulations Access to and use of buildings Part M England, Wales Part R Northern Ireland Section 3 Scotland

11. Introduction Regulations Specification Refurbishment Support Q&A Why follow this guidance? Commercial reasons - if people have difficulty in entering your business premises, they will seek alternatives Legal reasons - Building Regulations Part M - The Equality Act is LAW - Breach of the law could result in court, fines and bad PR for any business Moral reasons - Why should any individual be discriminated against? Life or Death - If specified solutions are wrong this may create a life threatening scenario

12. Introduction Regulations Specification Refurbishment Support Q&A Where do you begin? Planning and Design Entrances Internal doors Fire doors Room access doors Clear door widths – access Accessible toilet doors Escape doors Common sense approaches and simple solutions for: New build Refurbishment including historical buildings

13. Introduction Regulations Specification Refurbishment Support Q&A Overhead door closers Concealed door closers Hold-open door closers Low energy door closers Lever furniture Locks Panic hardware Internal Doors Fire doors - Corridor doors - Room access doors Accessible toilets Escape doors

14. Introduction Regulations Specification Refurbishment Support Q&A Design Issues Opening Forces BS 8300:2009 + A1:2010 (Latest guidance July 2010) & Building Regulations Approved Document Part M 2004 (New guidance 3rd March 2005) Agree that: The force required to open the door should not exceed 30N between 0°-30° and must fall below 22.5N between 30°- 60°

15. Introduction Regulations Specification Refurbishment Support Q&A It is critical to achieve both the desired maximum opening force as described in BS8300 & ADM while still maintaining the required closing force (BS EN 1154) to effectively close the door. Door closers of high efficiency and with rapid drop off of opening resistance should be specified to ensure compliance Design Issues – Specification of door closers

16. Introduction Regulations Specification Refurbishment Support Q&A Opening/Closing comparisons 5 10 15 20 25 30 020406080100120140160180 Opening moment Closing moment Door opening angle ° Door closing moment [N] Conventional rack & pinion closer with scissor armConventional rack & pinion closer with scissor arm (solid lines) Cam action closer with slide channel (dotted lines)

17. Introduction Regulations Specification Refurbishment Support Q&A Opening/Closing Comparisons

18. Introduction Regulations Specification Refurbishment Support Q&A Design Issues Other considerations affecting opening forces Locks Seals Hinges Air Pressure

19. Introduction Regulations Specification Refurbishment Support Q&A Locks and latches Critical specification issues Force required to activate the latch Independently sprung handle & latch 72mm min

20. Introduction Regulations Specification Refurbishment Support Q&A SealsHinges Air Pressure Design Issues Cm = P. A. w 2 Cm= closing moment of door closer [Nm] P= air pressure [Nm 2 ] {Pascals} A= door surface area [m 2 ] w= door width [m]

21. Introduction Regulations Specification Refurbishment Support Q&A Seals Hinges Air Pressure Design Issues – Adjustable Power Door Closers

22. Introduction Regulations Specification Refurbishment Support Q&A New Guidance Other issues Building Regulations Approved Document Part M 2004 (New guidance 3 rd March 2005) BS 8300:2009 + A1:2010 (Latest guidance July 2010)

23. Introduction Regulations Specification Refurbishment Support Q&A Handles Critical specification issues Physical shape of door handle & Location of locking device - Consider manual dexterity problems Bolt through fixing – Handles used for support Visual definition of handles – high contrast – Texture of handles - Consider impaired vision

24. Introduction Regulations Specification Refurbishment Support Q&A New Guidance - Backcheck In some locations in a building, a controlled door closing device incorporating a backcheck is sometimes used to prevent damage to adjacent walls or furniture and to the closer mechanism if a door is flung open with some force. However, when the door is opened slowly, the resistance effect is minimal. With some controlled door closing devices, the backcheck starts to become effective when the door is open at 70°. thinking backcheck – The resistance developed by this backcheck system is directly proportional to door acceleration.

25. Introduction Regulations Specification Refurbishment Support Q&A New Guidance - Maintenance Without regular maintenance of all door fittings, the resistances to opening and closing can increase to an extent that the ability of disabled people to pass through the door may be affected. The opening force at the door opening angles described above should therefore be checked at regular intervals.

26. Introduction Regulations Specification Refurbishment Support Q&A Design Issues Other issues Building Regulations Approved Document Part M 2004 (New guidance 3 rd March 2005) BS 8300:2009 + A1:2010 (Latest guidance July 2010)

27. Introduction Regulations Specification Refurbishment Support Q&A Must be fully closed at the time of fire Must close with the minimum forces as described in BS EN 1154 Therefore it can present a problem with regards to accessibility Fire Doors – surface mounted closers

28. Introduction Regulations Specification Refurbishment Support Q&A Fire Door Systems Electro–magnetic hold-open closers Surface mounted Concealed Floor spring Hold-open magnets with independent closers Hold-Open Closers @ Evalina Hospital, London

29. Introduction Regulations Specification Refurbishment Support Q&A Fire Door Systems – surface mounted A universal hold open for internal fire doors Electro- mechanical tested to EN1155 Hold open 80 0 - 120 0 The release force mechanism can be adjusted without tools

30. Introduction Regulations Specification Refurbishment Support Q&A Fire Door Systems – floor spring Inconspicuous solutions Virtually invisible Electro-Hydraulic hold-open unit For fire and smoke check doors Hold open 75° - 175° Floor Spring Hold-Open Closers @ Hairmyers Hospital, Hamilton

31. Introduction Regulations Specification Refurbishment Support Q&A Fire Door Systems – hold open magnets Surface or flush mounted For use with fire certified closers Performance is dependent upon doors being closed at the time of fire A CLOSING DEVICE IS NEEDED Single swing doors require closing devices that conform with BS EN 1154 Independent Hold Open Magnets & Closers @ Baltic Mill, Gateshead

32. Introduction Regulations Specification Refurbishment Support Q&A Fire Doors – concealed closers Some sites demand a more integrated approach Listed buildings Change of use – new fire regulations An aesthetically pleasing solution DORMA systems can be integrated into the door leaf and frame Concealed closer @Penny Hill Park Hotel, Bagshot

33. Introduction Regulations Specification Refurbishment Support Q&A Refurbishment – historical buildings

34. Introduction Regulations Specification Refurbishment Support Q&A Low Energy Door Operator Assistance on demand The Low Energy system gives the user help ONLY when required A low traffic solution Can be retro fitted Remote wireless push pads Radio and Infra-red hand held controllers Room Access

35. Introduction Regulations Specification Refurbishment Support Q&A Free Swing Door Closer Closer is disengaged during normal use Allows room occupant to leave the door ajar On activation of the fire alarm the magnet releases and engages the door closer Room Access

36. Introduction Regulations Specification Refurbishment Support Q&A Room Access 1. Wall partition or other obstruction 2. 300 mm clear (may be reduced if door is opened by remote automatic control) 3. Door hung from corner of room 4. Short return might enable the door to swing open beyond 90º 5. Doorset

37. Introduction Regulations Specification Refurbishment Support Q&A Door Widths BS8300:2009 + A1:2010 Minimum effective clear widths of door leaf (mm) Direction and width of approachNew buildings (mm) Existing buildings (mm) Straight-on (without a turn or oblique approach) 800750 At right angles to an access route at least 900mm wide N/A800 At right angles to an access route at least 1200mm wide 825775 At right angles to an access route at least 1500mm wide 800750 External doors to building used by the general public 1000775

38. Introduction Regulations Specification Refurbishment Support Q&A Accessible toilets Visual definition of the WC is important Automatic outward swing door is best Occupied sign and disabled push pad are essential

39. Introduction Regulations Specification Refurbishment Support Q&A Escape doors Consideration must be given to those less able in the event of building evacuation Crash bars must be fitted at the recommended height Alternative methods of opening escape doors must be provided

40. Introduction Regulations Specification Refurbishment Support Q&A Escape doors Full door-width touchbars require less force to operate Electrical operating functions for specialised applications Can be fitted to low energy door operators. Ensure people can leave unaided through emergency exit doors

41. Introduction Regulations Specification Refurbishment Support Q&A Summary DDA Legislation New build design issues - Opening forces required - Fittings Overcoming problem areas within existing buildings Maintenance programme Security requirements Best practice Project specific issues can be reviewed with our specification team

42. Introduction Regulations Specification Refurbishment Support Q&A Thank you DORMA UK Ltd Wilbury Way Hitchin Hertfordshire SG4 0AB T – 01462 477 600 F – 01462 477 601 www.dorma-uk.co.uk

43. Introduction Regulations Specification Refurbishment Support Q&A DORMA – The Equality Act 2010 The Way Forward To Designing Accessible Buildings A RIBA Approved CPD Seminar