Review Force Needed for Opening of Automatic Doors in Code on Accessibility in the Built Environment

Mr Ong Hua Han asked the Minister for National Development whether the Ministry will consider updating the Code on Accessibility in the Built Environment to (i) strongly encourage the provision of automatic doors with a more stringent set of criteria for any exceptions and (ii) reduce the door opening initial force for interior hinged doors from 30 Newtons to 22 Newtons in line with similar accessibility codes in Hong Kong and New Zealand.

The Code on Accessibility in the Built Environment (Code) recommends for buildings to have at least one power-operated or automatic door at the main entrance to a building. Where possible and practicable, buildings should provide sliding or swinging automatic doors instead of manual doors.

The Code also stipulates that interior hinged doors of new buildings and existing buildings that undergo addition and alteration works with plan submission to the Building and Construction Authority should have a maximum initial opening force of 30 Newtons. This is similar to the requirements in some jurisdictions, such as the United Kingdom. We will consider the suggestion to reduce this to 22 Newtons in our regular reviews of the Code.