Two Doors in Series ADA Compliance
ADA Inspections completed by ADA Inspections Nationwide, LLC, can include a Tier II Abbreviated Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Accessibility Survey or a Tier III full survey/inspection. Among the many components of these Surveys is the entrance(s)/exit(s) to the building. Look at the picture below. Does this entrance/exit look like it complies with ADA guidelines? Hint: Both sets of doors must be pulled to open when entering from the exterior.
HINT: Think about turning a wheel chair around in a circle.
Vestibule with Two Entry Doors in Series
ANSWER: The answer is NO, this entrance/exit does not comply with ADA guidelines. 2010 ADA Standard 404.2.6, Doors in Series and Gates in Series, states, “The distance between two hinged or pivoted doors in series and gates in series shall be 48 inches (1220 mm) minimum plus the width of doors or gates swinging into the space.” The graphic below is representative of this Standard.
Plan View of Two Doors in Series Opening in Same Direction
In other words, when there are two main entry/exit doors mounted in a series, as these are, the minimum recommended space between the doors is 48", including the width of any door swinging into the space. In this case, the inside door swings in towards the space between the doors. This would encroach on that space making it very difficult to turn a wheel chair. To comply with ADA guidelines both sets of doors should have been mounted to open away from each other. The graphic below is representative.
Doors in Series Opening in Opposite Directions
The installation you saw in the photo above is sometimes referred to as a vestibule. A vestibule is defined as a passage, hall, or room between the outer door and the interior of a building. When a vestibule at the entry to a facility has an interior and exterior door, they must comply with Standard 404.2.6 for space between the doors. This will depend on how the doors open. The graphic below represents a vestibule where the doors open towards each other.
Doors in Series Opening Toward Each Other
The graphic below is representative of when the doors open in the same direction.
Doors in Series Opening In Same Direction
It is possible for the doors in a vestibule to not be installed on walls opposite each other. Regardless of the orientation, the maneuvering spaces for each door must be taken into consideration as well as the directions the doors open/close. The graphic below is representative of these considerations and shows the maneuvering spaces (yellow) overlapping, which is acceptable.
Vestibule with Door Maneuvering Spaces Overlapping
The graphic below is another vestibule with a different door orientation that shows all maneuvering spaces for the two doors. Note again that the maneuvering spaces inside the vestibule are allowed to overlap.
Vestibule with Doors on Opposite Walls but Displaced