Solving ADA Recessed Door Clearance Challenges

ADA door swing clearance plays a critical role in accessible design, especially when dealing with recessed door conditions. Understanding how door hardware, frame placement, and wall obstructions affect compliance is essential for AEC professionals working on code-compliant projects.

What Door Swing Clearance Requirements Should AEC Professionals Focus on

The 2010 ADA Standards provide clearance requirements for recessed door design and ADA door swing clearance. According to Chapter 404.2.4.3:

Clear Opening Width Requirements

• 32″ minimum clear width (door at 90°)
• 36″ minimum if the opening is more than 24″ deep
• No projections below 34″ above the finished floor
• Projections between 34″–80″ cannot exceed 4″

Maneuvering Clearance Requirements

• Forward-approach push side clearance needed if any obstruction is within 12″ of the doorway
• Latch-side projections must extend over 8″ beyond the door face and stay perpendicular
• Exception: if the door has only a latch or only a closer, clearance doesn’t need to extend past the latch edge

Together, these rules define the space required around a door to maintain safe approach, proper swing, and full ADA compliance.

Door Opening Considerations

A high-end student living in the midtown area,  Kinetic, offers beautiful 1 – 5 bedroom apartments. Each unit utilizes 3-0 x 7-0 single doors, 45-minute rated, going from the parking deck to the main elevator lobbies. The position of the frames at these openings in large shear walls and the self-closing request were causing an issue with ADA recessed door clearance.

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Ideal Push Side Solution

An ADA consultant from Accessibility Services, a program of the United Spinal Association, recommended Waterson door swing clearance hinges to recess push-side entry doors. These recessed door clearance hinges are ideal because they don’t require as much clearance as traditional door closers. ADA standards require a minimum 12-inch clearance for recessed doors over 8 inches with traditional closers. However, Waterson hinges are not classified as a door closer because of the different deisgn, so they are excluded from this rule.

Project Details

• Kinetic
• Size:  9 doors,  3-0 x 7-0 single doors, 45-minute rated
• Waterson Solution:  K51M-450-A3-US19
• Distributor:  The Cook & Boardman Group | GA, USA
• Awarded:  August 2023

Want to know more about ADA? Here is a post related to ADA bathroom stall door requirements

Waterson ADA Recessed Door Clearance Hinges

Waterson swing clear self closing hinges combine the function of an overhead closer and a hinge into a single, sleek component—complete with optional hold-open and door-stop features. Designed for commercial openings, gates, and glass doors, these hinges are easy to install and adjust to meet ADA and ICC A117.1 standards for opening force, while ensuring quiet and secure closure. Crafted from durable stainless steel, they are NFPA 80 compliant, UL 3-hour fire-rated, and built to perform reliably in both interior and all-weather exterior environments. See all our features.

In addition to these performance advantages, Waterson offers flexible customization services. As a direct manufacturer, we can tailor hinge sizes, finishes, and especially hinge leaf designs to meet the specific structural needs of your doors. This makes our hinges an ideal solution for door manufacturers seeking custom options that integrate seamlessly with their existing frames.

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