Internal Door Dimensions For Part M

Indy99 · 12-11-2017 09:34PM #1

In a single storey dwelling, must all rooms become "accessible habitable rooms"
For instance must all bedrooms, study, kitchen, utility rooms, etc comply with table 4 of Part M.
My suppliers and engineers seem to think that std 32" doors (810mm) will do the trick.
Any advice?
Thanks

BryanF · 13-11-2017 09:08AM

810 - 775 = 35mm door width excluding handle, this assumes doors can open beyond 90degs, and correct corridor widths apply

Indy99 · 13-11-2017 12:36PM

BryanF wrote: »

810 - 775 = 35mm door width excluding handle, this assumes doors can open beyond 90degs, and correct corridor widths apply

Thanks for the reply BryanF
The problem is that the clear width is measured from the doorstop, which is an extra 10-15mm
So when the door is open at somewhat more than 90degrees, the ope reduces to
810 (overall ope) - 35 (door width) - 10 ( door stop) = 765mm clear ope

Worse still most doors are 40 mm, which leaves 760mm clear ope

Am I right in thinking that a 32" or 810mm door does not comply with the regs in most situations?
Thanks

SC024 · 13-11-2017 09:50PM

Indy99 wrote: »

Thanks for the reply BryanF
The problem is that the clear width is measured from the doorstop, which is an extra 10-15mm
So when the door is open at somewhat more than 90degrees, the ope reduces to
810 (overall ope) - 35 (door width) - 10 ( door stop) = 765mm clear ope

Worse still most doors are 40 mm, which leaves 760mm clear ope

Am I right in thinking that a 32" or 810mm door does not comply with the regs in most situations?
Thanks

Vast majority of doors are 45mm thick in a domestic setting, 32" door wouldnt pass.

Indy99 · 14-11-2017 02:46AM

SC024 wrote: »

Vast majority of doors are 45mm thick in a domestic setting, 32" door wouldnt pass.

Thanks Sco24,
That is what I am thinking, and yes you are correct in the door leaf thickness of 45mm for most suppliers.
Effectively I need 34" (868mm) doors in most situations.
The maths is 868 mm ope, less door stop (10 or 15mm), less thickness of door leaf (45mm),
leaving us with an effective clear width of about 808mm.
It fairly cuts down the choice of door, and I presume will impact on price.

Metric Tensor · 14-11-2017 11:56AM

A hugely overlooked issue in many/most new builds in my experience. A blind eye seems to be turned in many cases!

Fair play for doing your due diligence OP.

Gumbo · 14-11-2017 06:14PM

It’s worth noting, you only require one accessible room at entrance storey along with an accessible WC.

I just measured mine out of curiosity.

I have oak pre finished doors, frames and architraves From deanta.

On the 32” glazed shaker, which are just under 45mm thick. When fully opened, it goes beyond 90 degrees. The clear effective ope is 760mm. That’s from the corner of the door to the door stop.

Metric Tensor · 14-11-2017 10:34PM

Lucky no BCO turned up to check kceire! ;-)

Gumbo · 14-11-2017 11:21PM

Metric Tensor wrote: »

Lucky no BCO turned up to check kceire! ;-)

My house was built in 1996 and this was an existing opening so I’m sure I am in compliance

The house didn’t even require a ground floor WC when it was originally built.

But if he had, I would have put the kettle on just in case

Indy99 · 15-11-2017 12:46PM

Hi KCeire
You have given me a small chance of hope!!
Building Regs require that a new dwelling be visitable, however my reading of section 3.3 implies that all habitable rooms on the ground floor comply with table 4.
You indicate that only 1 room needs to be accessible, plus the wc.
Is that correct?
Thanks

Gumbo · 15-11-2017 02:56PM

Indy99 wrote: »

Hi KCeire
You have given me a small chance of hope!!
Building Regs require that a new dwelling be visitable, however my reading of section 3.3 implies that all habitable rooms on the ground floor comply with table 4.
You indicate that only 1 room needs to be accessible, plus the wc.
Is that correct?
Thanks

Yes.

Indy99 · 15-11-2017 07:26PM

kceire wrote: »

Yes.

Thanks for keeping my hope alive, but it must be something to do with my age, and a lifetime of trying to stay abreast with what the DOE says and what the DOE means, I have no idea where the BRegs indicate that only i room needs to be accessible.

Any chance you could point me in the right direction?

My alternative to not believing it, is to rip out 12 doorframes, and slice off another 50mm of blockwork for each door ope!!

Thanks

Gumbo · 15-11-2017 08:04PM

Indy99 wrote: »

Thanks for keeping my hope alive, but it must be something to do with my age, and a lifetime of trying to stay abreast with what the DOE says and what the DOE means, I have no idea where the BRegs indicate that only i room needs to be accessible.

Any chance you could point me in the right direction?

My alternative to not believing it, is to rip out 12 doorframes, and slice off another 50mm of blockwork for each door ope!!

Thanks

Section 3.3.1 is the main objective of Part M Circulation within dwellings.
My interpretation is that if the main objective can be complied with here they you are ok.
The dwelling has to be accessible, and one accessible room at entrance level is sufficient in my opinion.

mickdw · 15-11-2017 08:16PM

Ive been sending layouts for years to Building Control in Mayo Co Co with accessible path shown as going in front door, into main habitable area, bathroom and one bedroom only. They have never had an issue with that.
2'10'' doors should be getting reasonably common now as they are regularly used now.
I know one chap who fitted a fancy hinge that swung the door leaf clear of the opening to get out of bother. Seemed to keep all sides happy.

Metric Tensor · 15-11-2017 09:12PM

Any links or details on the hinge Mick? I have a specific situation for which it might be perfect!

Lumen · 16-11-2017 07:07PM

Metric Tensor wrote: »

Any links or details on the hinge Mick? I have a specific situation for which it might be perfect!

Accessibility offset hinge?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nIXhcJJXlto

Metric Tensor · 16-11-2017 07:40PM

Thanks Lumen!

Do I have to play that music in the background every time the door is opened?! ;-)

mickdw · 16-11-2017 07:49PM

Metric Tensor wrote: »

Any links or details on the hinge Mick? I have a specific situation for which it might be perfect!

I can't find it now. It was a bit different to the one above but same idea. The particular one he used was more of a complex mechanism if I remember right.

Internal Door Dimensions For Part M

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