Automatic Doors For Disabled Access- What To Consider

Automatic Doors for disabled access are an essential and sometimes overlooked requirement in building design. Action Auto Door are specialists in automating disability access doors and can install automatic doors for disabled access in commercial premises and homes across Australia.

We are a NDIS Registered provider and install automatic doors for those requiring modifications in the home and for businesses looking to provide equal and clear access for customers and employees.

When looking to install Automatic doors for disabled access there are a number of factors that need to be considered.

Automatic Doors For Disabled Access – In the Home:

Is the door a fire rated door?

Units and commercial buildings doors are on most occasions fire doors. This can be checked by looking at the hinge edge of the door leaf for a small metal plate, this will say the type of fire rated core of the door and the hours it is rated to.  Not all automatic door openers have met fire door standards. We will only provide you with an operator that is tested for fire doors. This is essential to keep your door complaint with the fire standards for your building.

Is there enough room to mount an automatic door operator above the door frame?

Depending on the opening it is advisable to have 250mm above to fit most operators but it is possible to go as low as 130mm with the low-profile models. If you have less than this don’t worry, we can normally find solutions like mounting the operator on the door itself or mount the door with a push arm from the other side. We work by a case by case basis to find the best fit. 

Automatic Door Disabled Access
No space above door
Automatic Swing Door Operator
Ideal space above door

Are you completing any other home modifications? 

Often when installing an automatic door for wheelchair access other modifications may need to be made to the home. A common occurrence when automating a front door or security screen is the addition of a wheelchair access ramp. 

When designing or installing a ramp it is important to ensure that the door will still be able to swing out and function correctly after a ramp has been installed. We have come across times where new doors needed to be installed or cut to size. Discuss your requirements with your builder to ensure the ramp and automatic swing door will function together seamlessly. 

Are you installing a brand new door?

When installing a brand new door with automation in mind you need to ensure you are putting in a spring-less pivot door. Many modern homes have large pivot doors as they look modern and functional. 

The issue when adding an automatic swing door opener to a pivot door is the automatic door motor fights against the internal spring. This leads to the motor overworking and burning out. If you have a pivot door already installed we can make changes to correct the functionality but this will often incur an extra cost. If you can install a hinge door at the beginning of the design process this will save you in future costs when automating your swing door. 

Locks – Can an automatic door open by key?

Yes – the door will work as it did before the install, if a key opened the door the key will still work and the door can be pushed open. 

Do you require push button or wireless access?

We can supply hand held push buttons to open the door, WIFI or Bluetooth access by a phone and depending on a wheelchair set up link it to the wheelchair. We work out the best solution for your needs.

Automatic Doors For Disabled Access – In Business:

There are legal obligations for buildings to provide equal access to all. The Equality Act 2010 states that all service providers have a duty of care to make reasonable adjustments to their premises to ensure that physical barriers are removed to prevent people with a disability from accessing a service.

In Australia one in five people have a disability this equates to around 4 million people. Of the 4 million people with a disability, 84% have a physical condition or limitation that restricts there everyday activities. These statistics show the importance of providing safe easy access for everyone in the community.

Automatic doors for disabled access may be a mandatory requirement and we can provide advice and recommendations in regards to meeting building standards BS8300 “Design of buildings and their approaches to meet the needs of disabled people”.

Disabled Toilet Doors are often automated in businesses, there are a number of building specs and plans available to ensure businesses are meeting the requirements for safe and easy access. Some things to consider are whether you are automating a swing or sliding door and whether you require an operator that has a battery back up in the case of a power failure. We discuss the minimum requirements and door widths for wheelchair access in our blog.

Automatic Sliding Doors for business a common feature at the entries of shopping centres, hospitals and commercial offices. These are an overlooked feature of buildings today as they are common in building design. While we may take them for granted they are an important feature in design and planning when considering automatic doors for disabled access in business. Automatic Sliding doors can also be installed in homes. 

Action Auto Door and Gates provide automatic doors and gates for homes and business. We are specialists in automatic swing doors, automatic sliding doors and automatic disabled toilet doors. Please contact us for more information.

Automatic Entry Door Systems
Automatic Doors Disability Push Button
Automatic Swing Door System

Home Modifications For Elderly or Disabled

Home Modifications for elderly or disabled people can have a huge impact on quality of life. By modifying and adding automatic doors to your home to increase accessibility and mobility you are ensuring you regain and keep your independence at home.

Action Auto Door specialise in home modifications for elderly and disabled clients and are experts in automatic doors. We work with licensed builders to assist with any other home modification needs. 

We provide installation services across Australia- New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, ACT, South Australia, Tasmania and Northern Territory

Home Modifications Elderly and Disabled

Home modifications for elderly or disabled can be as simple as adding a handrail in the bathroom or a ramp to your front door. They can also involve complex structural changes and modifications that require the input of occupational therapists, architects and builders.

Automatic doors in commercial buildings are commonly seen in shopping centres and businesses. People think of automatic doors in the home and the first thing that comes to mind is a garage door opener.

We can automate all doors in your home whether that be a garage door or the front door of your home to make entering a simple and fluid process.

Automating your door takes away the need for a traditional key for entry. This improves access for people in wheelchairs and walking devices and those that may have trouble using a traditional key to lock and unlock their front door.

We can supply a range of solutions to automatically open your door.

These include:  handheld push buttons, keypads, smart phone applications via Bluetooth or WIFI, wireless card readers that open when you are within range of the doorway.

Home Modifications Elderly or Disabled
Automatic Swing Doors
Assistive Technology for the Disabled

All of these options have been tested and are proven to be secure and safe. Allowing the elderly and those with a disability to feel safe and secure at home. 

Automatic door openers can not only be added to front entry doors but also internal swing doors and internal sliding doors. All doors have the ability to be automated in your home to provide freedom of movement and independence.

Home modifications for the elderly or disabled do not always need to be complex or expensive. There are many government grants and initiatives that may assist with funding of your home modifications

Home Modification funding programs include:

National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) – Funding available for those under 65 with a disability

Department of Veterans Affairs – Mobility & Functional Support (DVA) – Home Modifications may be available to eligible veterans

Accident-Compensatory Insurance Schemes – If you are covered by a compensatory scheme as a result of an accident you may be eligible for home modifications

Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) – Home Modifications may be covered for those over 65+ who are eligible.

State-Based Funded schemes – State programs may provide funding for home modifications for the elderly or those with a disability.

Action Auto Door are an NDIS Registered Provider and work closely with occupation therapists, support workers and self-managed NDIS participants to ensure the best outcomes for independent living.

Contact us for more information

Automatic Door Entry Systems- What Do They Cost?

Automatic Entry Door Systems come in a range of options to suit your needs and budget. We look at what your options are when it comes to Automatic Entry Door Systems and how much you may need to budget. Contact us for further information regarding specific costs for your home or business. We install Australia Wide.

Automatic Entry Door Systems
Automatic Swing Door System
Automatic Door Entry System
  • Residential or Commercial? The first question is whether the Automatic Entry Door System is for your home or for a commercial building. While the same Automatic Swing Doors Openers can be used on a residential or commercial doors there may be some requirements that differ that could increase or decrease the cost of your Automatic Entry Door System.This includes the weight of the door, whether it is a fire door and the accessibility.
  • Is Power Available? If an electrician is required to install power near your Automatic Entry Door System this can often lead to an increase in cost. If the power is already accessible near the door this can be cost saving as there is less labour involved.
  • Type of DoorCosts can change depending on the type of door that is being automated. In the home you may be looking to get your Front Entry Swing Door automated this would require installation of an operator like the Ditec Dab 105. If you have sliding doors in your home there are a range of options to automate these entry doors. Automatic Entry Door Systems are a great addition to homes for the elderly or disabled as they allow easy entry and movement through the home. In commercial businesses Automatic Entry Door Systems are used in a range of settings. We can help price options for disabled toilet door entry systems, sliding door entry systems, swings doors, gate openers, boom gates and garage door openers. 
  • Quality – Like with any product there are a range of Automatic Door Entry Systems on the market. If you want a cheap product from overseas or a more expensive product from one of the bigger retailers prices can range from $500 to hundreds of thousands. If you are looking for a quality product that has been tested to stringent European and Australian standards yet is still affordable Action Auto Door can help. Contact us today and we can help you pick a quality Automatic Entry Door System that suits your needs and budget.
Action Auto Door is a Registered NDIS Provider and installs in all Australian States and Territories

Wheelchair Door Width Australia – What are the Requirements?

Wheelchair Door Width Australia -the building codes state that the doorway must:

  • clear the opening of a doorway on a continuous accessible path of travel
  • shall be 850 mm when measured from the face of the opened door to the doorstop (as seen in below picture)
  • Where double doors are used, the 850 mm minimum clear opening shall apply to the active leaf.” (AS 1428.1-2009. 13.2)
wheelchair door width australia

This means that the wheelchair door width in Australia required from the side of the door to the frame is 850 mm as shown in the picture.

To work out the size of your doorway you need to consider door hardware as well. 

  •  Depending on how the door is hung in the frame, door thickness, door handles and hinges you will need to add this on to get the clear opening required.

The Australian Human Rights Commission also show what needs to be taken into account when considering wheelchair access in design.

Is it a requirement to automate wheelchair access doors in Australia?

Automatic disabled toilet door

This comes down to each door and the setup. A number of standards come into play depending on if it’s a toilet door, entry door, fire rated door, fire exit door, commercial or residential.

You then you have to look at the hardware on the door itself like the door handles, door closers and locks.

If the door exceeds the maximum force required set out in the standard, you can over come this problem by installing an electric automatic operator to swing or slide the door.

The standard states:

AS 1428.1—2009 13.5.2 Design and performance

(e) For doors other than fire doors and smoke doors where a door closer is fitted,

the force required at the door handle to operate the door shall not exceed the

following:

(i) To initially open the door. …………………………………………………….. 20 N

(ii) To swing or slide the door …………………………………………………….20 N.

(iii) To hold the door open between 60° and 90°……………………………..20 N.

Depending on the setup of the disabled access door it is often a good idea to automate them and add privacy wall mount controls.  

  • This then allows anyone in a wheelchair or with a disability to open the door via a push button and lock the door via the inside push button for privacy.  

We believe that this is a positive design feature. It ensures that those with impaired mobility can live more positively knowing that they have easier access when visiting a bathroom or moving through commercial buildings.

Action Auto Door has extensive experience in disabled door entry systems and work with local builders to widen doors in homes and businesses to meet Australian Standards. For more information on wheelchair door widths in Australia and automating your disabled access doors contact us today.

 

Disabled toilet door sign
Wheelchair-Door-Width-Australia2
Automatic Swing Door

Why You Need An Automatic Swing Door Opener

Automatic Swing Door Openers are useful additions to your home and business .We tell you why it is important to install an automatic swing door opener for ease and functionality.

 

1.Easy Access

If you look around you will notice automatic swing door openers are everywhere. Working in a hospital most doors are automated so patients can be wheeled from ward to ward safely. An Automatic Swing door opener makes sure this happens quickly and easily. Shopping centres, offices, bathroom doors, factories all have automatic doors for easy access. Entry doors in the home can also be automated to make access in the home easy.

 

2. Safety

Automatic Door Openers in Australia must meet quality standards and work on fire doors. Ensuring you are getting a product that is safe and compliant and will allow safe entry and exit from a building in case of a fire. Automatic swing door openers allow parents with prams, customers with trolleys, and those that are injured or frail to move about a business or home safely. 

 

3.Elderly

About 50% of the elderly in Australia have mobility issues. Opening front doors of the home can be difficult. Automatic Swing Door Openers can make life easier for the elderly or frail. A door can lock and open by wireless or with the push of a single button. This allows those with mobility issues to be able to live independently and safely longer.

 

4. Disabled Access

Automatic Swing Door Openers are an important home modification for those with a disability Over 4 million Australians .have a disability and many would like to be able to live independently at home. Installing automated doors in the home can allow greater freedom and independence. 

 

5. Legal Responsibility

Building and discrimination laws state that businesses must provide the best possible access to their services and buildings.

If you have heavy and difficult doors to open it may be your legal responsibility to automate these doors to ensure easy access for all.

For more information contact us today!

Automatic Swing Doors
Automatic Swing Doors

NDIS Home Modification- Automatic Doors and Automation

As part of your National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) plan you can request funding for a NDIS Home Modification to help maintain a safe and independent life at home. Automatic Doors and gates can be funded under home modification and assistive technology categories in your NDIS plan .

Action Auto Door are an NDIS registered provider and install automatic doors and gates in homes through out Australia. With extensive experience in NDIS applications we can help you with the right information to ensure you gain funding through the NDIS. 

Who To Contact In The Planning Stages?

Your first point of contact is to set up a planning meeting with a local service provider and explain the importance of receiving your home modification funding in your NDIS plan.

Your NDIS funding relies on setting goals and having these approved. In order to receive NDIS home modification funding you must set out a goal in your plan. For example “ It is very important for me to continue living independently and safely in my home”.

Once your plan is approved by the NDIS you will require a qualified occupational therapist to perform a home assessment and discuss what you need.

What Home Automation Modifications Can Be Approved?

A common home modification example for the elderly or disabled is  “I cannot lock the front door of my home as I cannot turn a key “ – this example would relate to ensuring your safety and an automatic swing door opener could be installed. It would open the door automatically via a device , remote, RFID, app on tablet etc and the door can be locked all the time.

This might be used in conjunction with a video intercom that can also release the door from a different room, a video intercom could be used these can also work with tablets and phones. There are also options to completely automate your home allowing you total freedom from the interface of your phone or tablet. Lights, music , shutters , gates and other fixtures can all be automated.

Contact us today as a NDIS Registered Provider we can help with any home modification questions. We provide automatic door and home automation services across Australia.

Assistive Technology for the Disabled

What is the best Automatic Gate Opener?

We often get asked what is the best automatic gate opener for my home or business?  There are a few things to consider but it really comes down to the site/property and the conditions.

Your 2 main options are an Automatic Sliding Gate or an Automatic Swing Gate

Automatic Sliding Gate Openers

Advantages:

  • Automating a sliding gate is normally cheaper than a swing gate
  • Sliding gates don’t get affected by wind like swing gates
  • Take up less space on your driveway when opening and closing

Disadvantages:

  • Main issue is having the space in one direction of the gate posts, you need the width of the gate plus 30-40cm.
  • You might have room to do a double sliding having half the width plus 30-40cm on each side, this does mean two motors and two gates, however.
Sliding gate picture with arrows

Automatic Swing Gate Openers

Advantages:

  • If you have a single gate you only have one gate and one motor, this means less cost on the installation.
  • Advantage to the double gate is that they take up less room, the ark/swing of the gates is less.
  • They are less affect by wind than a single gate
  • The weight of the gates is split so less stress than a single gate.

Disadvantage:

  • Usually more expensive to install as double the motors and you need to get power to the other side of the driveway to power the second motor.
  • The image shows the swing of a single (blue) or Double (red) gates.
Shows the swing ark of a single and double gate

If you do have a choice then the best automatic gate opener to choose is a sliding gate opener.  There is less stress on the gate as the weight is on two wheels rather than on the gate post and hinges.You might not have room either side of the opening to run the gate along or the driveway is uneven to run the gate track on if this is the case that an automatic swing opener is for you and works just as well. 

For more information and help on choosing the best automatic gate opener for your needs contact us today!

Automatic Door Opener – How Do They Work?

Below is a video of a recent install that shows an Automatic Door Opener in operation using the Ditec Dab105. The automatic door opener is being operated via a remote control, you can see me pressing it in the first time the door is opened.

This is the basics of how we install an automatic door opener and automatic door closer. 

1)First we install the Ditec Dab105  and mount above the doorway, this holds the motor and control board.

2) In this video the standard strike plate on door frame ( see below for image of a strike plate.)  was replaced with an electric one.

3) The FES20 electric door strike, allows the electric door motor to release the door lock by an electric pulse. The flap on the electric strike releases so the door locks tongue can get past it and let the door open automatically.

4) The door can open freely and will stay open between 5 to 30 seconds. We can set this up for your specific requirements.

5)The electric motor drives the door open and then the spring/motor pulls the door shut and locks the door. In most cases the existing locks will still work as they did before via key and handle from the outside and by the handle on the inside.

I hope this gives you some understanding of how an automatic door opener and closer works. We specialise in automatic swing door openers for residential and commercial requirements so please don’t hesitate to contact us for more information or check out our range of operators