ADA Doors and Hardware
Commercial doors and hardware for superior accessibility
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires most businesses’ doors to meet certain standards. These rules are meant to make your business simple to access and navigate for those with disabilities. The rules don’t just benefit those in wheelchairs, but also those with all sorts of handicaps or disabilities. For example, did you know round doorknobs are not ADA-compliant because those with arthritis and other wrist and hand disabilities cannot easily turn them?
ADA door rules might be a bit more complicated than you thought. Thankfully, the team at CLAD is standing by to walk you through the requirements, retrofit your doors for compliance, or help you choose brand new doors and hardware that meet ADA standards.
ADA Compliant Doors
Do you need ADA compliant doors? The ADA requires that you have at least one accessible door at your entrance, in accessible rooms such as accessible bathrooms or offices, and even in restricted or secured entrances to the building or a smaller space.
CLAD can provide you with some of the best doors and hardware from leading manufacturers. These doors perform as expected, have better security and safety features, and will operate for longer without needing repairs or replacement. Some of the manufacturers we trust include:
- Von Duprin: This brand offers both high-quality doors and hardware.
- LCN Hardware: Their door closers are excellent and often ADA compliant.
Retrofit Your Doors for ADA Compliance
It’s not always necessary to replace your door in order to make it ADA compliant. In some circumstances, we only need to replace or upgrade the hardware on the door in order to meet regulations. Frequently, we add low energy automatic door openers to manual doors for ADA compliance. These ADA compliant door openers convert manual doors into automatic doors without completely replacing your door, which can help save money. Our openers can also be installed on external gates or implemented into more substantial access control systems for greater security, convenience, and accessibility.
Our Products & Services
- Exterior Commercial Door Installation & Repair
- Interior Commercial Door Installation & Repair
- Automatic Door Installation & Repair
- Fire Rated Door Installation & Repair
- Commercial Door Hardware
- Access Control Systems
- Electrified Door Hardware
- Metal Door Installation & Repair
- Storefront Repair & Installation
- ADA Doors and Hardware
- Commercial Locksmith Services
ADA Requirements
The Americans with Disabilities Act has several requirements for exterior and interior commercial doors. Those standards include:
- Opening force: Door hardware must not require more than 5 pounds of force to open. It also must not require the user to twist their wrist.
- Closing speed: Doors must close slowly to prevent injuring those who move slowly.
- Door width: Doors need to offer between 32 inches and 48 inches of width for wheelchair and other mobility device access.
- Maneuverability: Also for mobility devices, there must be ample clearance on both sides of the door.
- Window height: On doors with windows, the window must start at least 43 inches off the ground.
- Smooth surface: The bottom of the push side of the door must have a smooth surface, to a minimum of 10 inches off the ground.
There are other ADA requirements that your doors may need to meet, depending on your circumstances. For example, when you have double-leaf doors, the active leaf must meet the width requirements, and the other door standards apply to both leaves. Some of these requirements can be confusing or even appear contradictory, but CLAD can help you navigate the rules, update your equipment, and save you money.
Hardware Selection Based on Real Use Conditions
Not all ADA-compliant hardware performs equally in commercial environments. High-traffic doors require hardware that maintains consistent operation under heavy daily use while still meeting accessibility standards.
CLAD evaluates ADA hardware based on:
- Long-term durability under high-cycle usage
- Ease of operation for diverse users
- Compatibility with existing frames and door materials
- Integration with locking and access control systems
- Maintenance requirements over time
This ensures that compliance is maintained not only at installation, but throughout the lifecycle of the opening.
Field Experience with ADA Hardware Installation
ADA hardware performance is highly dependent on installation accuracy and site conditions. In commercial environments, we regularly encounter challenges that affect compliance, including uneven flooring, pressure differentials, and retrofitted openings in older buildings.
Based on field experience, critical installation factors include:
- Correct closer sizing to achieve compliant opening force
- Proper hinge alignment to prevent binding or drag
- Lever-style hardware placement within accessible reach ranges
- Accurate strike and latch alignment to avoid excessive resistance
- Verification of clear opening width after finish installation
Small deviations in alignment or hardware selection can result in non-compliance even if the hardware itself meets ADA specifications.
Choose CLAD for ADA Compliant Doors and Hardware
The team at CLAD is dedicated to providing top-quality doors and customer service. Talk to us about your ADA door and hardware needs and concerns today.
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Service Where You Need It
Bay Area Locations
- Livermore
- Pleasanton
- Dublin
- San Ramon
- Danville
- Fremont
- Walnut Creek
- Concord
- Milpitas
- Union City
- San Leandro
- Hayward
- And more
