Effective Clear Width Calculator - SDS Specialist Door Solutions

What is Effective Clear Width?

The Building Regulations Approved Document Part M (BS 8300-2:2018), states that ‘doors to the principal, or alternative accessible, entrance should be accessible to all, particularly wheelchair users and people with limited physical dexterity’.

This document goes on to state that ‘once open, all doors to accessible entrances should be wide enough to allow unrestricted passage for a variety of users including wheelchair users…’

In order to ensure that a doorset provides unrestricted access, we use the term ‘Effective Clear Width’.

How is Effective Clear Width measured?

Effective Clear Width is the width of the opening measured at right angles to the wall in which the door is situated from the outside of the door stop on the closing side, to any obstruction on the hinge side. Therefore, if the door only opens to 90 degrees, then the ironmongery projection must be taken into account, but if the door opens beyond 90 degrees, then the measurement can be taken from the door stop to the door leaf, as shown in Diagram 9.

Direction and width of approach	Measurements in mm
Straight-on (without a turn)	New building: 800 Existing building: 750
At right angles to an access route at least 1500mm wide	New building: 800 Existing building: 750
At right angles to an access route at least 1200mm wide	New building: 825 Existing building: 750
External doors to buildings used by the general public	New building: 1,000 Existing building: 750

Effective Clear Width calculator.

What is Effective Clear Width?

How is Effective Clear Width measured?

Direction and width of approach

Measurements in mm

What are the minimum Effective Clear Widths?

Projects.

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Choose SDS for your next project. Get in touch with our specialist team to find out more about how our UK-designed and manufactured, fully compliant, healthcare doorsets can meet the needs of your project.