Access to and use of buildings: Approved Document M

HORIZONTAL AND VERTICAL CIRCULATION IN BUILDINGS O N L I N E V E R S I O N M1/M2 OTHER THAN DWELLINGS devices whose closing mechanism is only e. all door opening furniture contrasts activated in case of emergency. Low energy visually with the surface of the door; powered door systems may be used in f. the door frames contrast visually with locations not subject to frequent use or the surrounding wall; heavy traffic as the opening and closing action is relatively slow. g. the surface of the leading edge of any door that is not self-closing, or is likely 3.8 The presence of doors, whether open to be held open, contrasts visually or closed, should be apparent to visually with the other door surfaces and its impaired people through the careful choice surroundings; of colour and material for the door and its surroundings. For example, when a door is h. where appropriate in door leaves or side open, people with impaired sight should be panels wider than 450mm, vision panels able to identify the door opening within the towards the leading edge of the door wall, as well as the leading edge of the door. have vertical dimensions which include at least the minimum zone, or zones, of 3.9 Other design considerations for visibility between 500mm and 1500mm internal doors are as set out in 2.14 to 2.16 from the floor, if necessary interrupted under ‘Manually operated non-powered between 800mm and 1150mm above entrance doors’ and should be referred to the floor, e.g. to accommodate an for guidance. intermediate horizontal rail (see Note: Guidance is available in BS 8300 on: Approved Document K, Section 10); – electrically powered hold-open devices i. when of glass, they are clearly defined with manifestation on the glass that – swing-free systems complies with Approved Document K, – low energy powered door systems. section 7; Provisions j. when of glass or fully glazed, they are clearly differentiated from any adjacent 3.10 Internal doors will satisfy Requirement glazed wall or partition by the provision M1 or M2 if: of a high-contrast strip at the top and a. where needing to be opened manually, on both sides; the opening force at the leading edge k. fire doors, particularly those in corridors, of the door is not more than 30N from are held open with an electro-magnetic 0° (the door in the closed position) to device, but self-close when: 30° open, and not more than 22.5N from 30° to 60° of the opening cycle; – activated by smoke detectors linked to the door individually, or to a main fire/ b. the effective clear width through a smoke alarm system; single leaf door, or one leaf of a double leaf door, is in accordance with Table 2 – the power supply fails; and Diagram 9; – activated by a hand-operated switch; c. there is an unobstructed space of at l. fire doors, particularly to individual rooms, least 300mm on the pull side of the are fitted with swing-free devices that door between the leading edge of the close when activated by smoke detectors door and any return wall, unless the or the building’s fire alarm system, or door has power-controlled opening or when the power supply fails; it provides access to a standard hotel bedroom; m. any low energy powered swing door system is capable of being operated in d. where fitted with a latch, the door manual mode, in powered mode or in opening furniture can be operated with power-assisted mode. one hand using a closed fist, e.g. a lever handle; Access to and use of buildings other than dwellings Approved Document M Volume 2 30 O N L I N E V E R S I O N