David Hindle, Head of Door Closer Sales at ASSA ABLOY UK.
ASSA ABLOY Security Solutions, a UK division of ASSA ABLOY, the global leader in door opening solutions, is offering guidance on recent updates to BS 8300, the standard governing inclusive building access, and how they affect the commercial sector.
A British standard setting out how buildings should be designed, constructed and maintained to create an accessible environment for disabled people, BS 8300 was first introduced in 2009. The standard is consistently updated to take account of important legislation – such as the Equality Act 2010 and Approved Document M – and shifting priorities for disabled access solutions and was recently updated again.
David Hindle, Head of Door Closer Sales at ASSA ABLOY UK, advises: “Although the overall aim of BS 8300 is to ensure everyone can use built environments equally, regardless of disability, previous versions of the standard have focused on the provision of accessibility solutions specifically for disabled people. In contrast, the latest update focuses on making the whole environment more universally accessible, rather than simply adding on separate facilities for disabled people.
“As such, building professionals in the commercial sector need to specify universally-applicable door closer solutions that take account of impairments or disabilities, while also providing maximum protection against smoke and fire. Balancing these two objectives is crucial.
“As BS 8300 addresses the requirements for everybody, regardless of disability, to enter, use and exit a building easily and independently, its scope covers all building features. Consequently, professionals responsible for installing door closers in the commercial sector need to be aware of the most relevant parts of the standard, and how the update affects existing guidance surrounding building interiors.
“Furthermore, they must also be aware of other important aspects to the update. These include the increasing use of BS 8300 by inspecting building officers, the importance of selecting high-quality hinges when adhering to the standard. The update advises on the maximum opening force for internal doors too, recommending a maximum opening force of 30N for the first 30 degrees of initial movement, and that this force must not exceed 22.5N from 30 to 60 degrees. Finally, it also covers how to best balance opening and closing force when specifying a BS 3800-compliant door opening solution.”