Commercial partitions like restrooms, shower rooms, and fitting room doors might be one of the most taken-for-granted items in our daily lives — few people give them a second thought during use. However, for those with disabilities the calculus changes, as door hardware placement, function, and consistency play a greater role.
ADA Door Handle Height Requirements
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) provides a number of door and gate hardware requirements. With regards to ADA door handles, the code states that they should:
- Allow one-hand operation.
- Not require tight grasping, pinching, or twisting of the wrist.
- Hand-activated door hardware shall be centered between 30-44 inches above the floor.
- The door handle height should be tall enough to accommodate a through-hand movement.
- Door pulls are required on both sides near the latch.
Source: U.S. Access Board, Compartment Doors
In terms of matching door handle placement, most manufacturers do not consider back-to-back door handle requirements at the time of production, so they fail to produce hardware that is mirror-placed on both sides of the door. This causes installers and technicians to drill larger than necessary holes to accommodate the bolts from either side. This not only can lead to door handles easily loosening, but larger holes tend to be easily visible and unsightly.
A Go-to Solution
Waterson can provide back-to-back ADA door handles to solve these installation and aesthetic problems. In addition, our door closer hinges also satisfy ADA 5lbs opening force, thereby making Waterson an ideal commercial partition door solution. Waterson products are designed and manufactured by skilled technicians who can customize specific needs into each design.
Looking ahead for more ADA details? Go further with ADA Door Closer Requirements here.
Waterson Heavy Duty ADA Door Closers
Waterson spring loaded gate closers 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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Please note that Waterson Closer Hinges start from a size of 4″x4″. If you’re in need of smaller self-closing hinges, we’d recommend checking out some other resources! Also, we only provide single acting closer hinges. Thank you.
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