DC Commercial Door Solutions installs and adjusts the door hardware that makes commercial entrances easier to use: automatic door operators, push plates, accessible levers and pulls, closers, and thresholds. Our commercial door accessibility service is for property managers, business owners, and contractors in Washington, DC who need ADA-related door upgrades or have an entrance that is hard to open.
ADA Commercial Door Accessibility
Commercial Door Accessibility Solutions for DC Properties
What Makes a Commercial Door Accessible
Accessibility at a door comes down to a few practical questions: Is the opening wide enough? Can the hardware be used with one hand, without tight gripping or twisting? How much force does it take to open the door, and does it close slowly enough to get through? Is the threshold low enough to roll over? The 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design, along with DC building code and the accessibility standards it references, set out detailed requirements on each of these points. Our work is the hardware side: installing, replacing, and adjusting the door components that those requirements are about.
Commercial Door Accessibility Upgrades We Provide
Automatic door operators
Low-energy swing door operators can be added to many existing manual doors, so the door opens at the press of a button and still works as a normal door the rest of the time. We also install and service full-power swing and sliding systems. See our automatic door systems page.
Push plates and push buttons
We install and replace wall-mounted and bollard-mounted push plates, wireless and hard-wired actuators, and touchless wave switches, and position them so they can be reached without standing in the path of the door.
Accessible door hardware
Round knobs are difficult for many people to use. We replace them with lever handles, pulls, and push/pull hardware that can be operated with one hand and without tight grasping, pinching, or twisting of the wrist. Where an egress door needs it, we install panic bars and exit devices. See also commercial door hardware.
Door closer adjustment and replacement
A closer set too strong makes a door heavy to open; one set too fast closes the door before a person can clear it. We adjust closing speed, latch speed, and spring power, and replace closers that cannot be adjusted into a usable range. On fire-rated doors the closer still has to close and latch the door reliably, so adjustment there is a balance. See door closer repair.
Thresholds
High, worn, or damaged thresholds are a barrier for wheelchairs and a trip hazard for everyone. We replace thresholds with lower-profile, beveled types where the opening allows.
Clear opening and door swing
Worn pivots or hinges that leave a door dragging or not opening fully reduce the usable width of the opening. We correct alignment so the door opens fully and freely, and can advise when a narrow opening needs a different door, frame, or hardware arrangement.
Door Details Commonly Reviewed for Accessibility
The points below are commonly referenced from the 2010 ADA Standards. They are a general guide only; the requirements that apply to a particular door depend on the building, its use, its age, and local code.
- Clear opening width Generally at least 32 inches clear with the door open 90 degrees.
- Hardware Operable with one hand, without tight grasping, pinching, or twisting, and mounted within a set height range.
- Opening force Interior hinged doors are generally limited to 5 pounds of force; fire doors and exterior doors are treated differently.
- Closing speed A door with a closer should generally take at least 5 seconds to move from 90 degrees to 12 degrees from the latch.
- Thresholds Generally no higher than 1/2 inch, with beveled edges.
- Maneuvering clearance Clear floor space on both sides of the door, which is a matter of building layout more than hardware.
What We Do and What We Do Not Do
We install, repair, replace, and adjust commercial doors and door hardware, and we can tell you what we observe about how a door operates. We do not perform ADA compliance surveys, issue compliance certifications, or provide legal opinions, and installing hardware does not by itself make a building compliant. For a formal determination, consult a qualified accessibility specialist, architect, or the local code official. Many clients bring us in to carry out the door-related items on a survey or punch list prepared by one of those professionals.
Who Our Commercial Door Accessibility Service Is For
- Property managers responding to a tenant request, complaint, or accessibility survey
- Retail, restaurant, and medical tenants building out or renovating a space
- General contractors who need the door and hardware scope completed
- Building owners who simply want entrances that are easier for everyone to use
How an ADA Door Upgrade Visit Works
A commercial door accessibility visit usually follows four steps:
- We walk the entrance with you and note how each door operates: opening force, closing speed, hardware, threshold, and how far the door opens.
- We separate what can be adjusted on the spot, such as a closer or a dragging door, from what needs new parts.
- You receive a written quote for the ADA door upgrades you choose, such as automatic door operators, push plates, or lever hardware.
- We schedule installation around your business hours and test every door with you before we leave.
If a locked entrance is part of the route, we coordinate the operator with the lock or card reader so the door unlocks before it opens. See commercial lock installation and access control systems.
Government, Education & Commercial Properties We Serve
We provide accessibility-related door upgrades for government buildings, schools, and commercial properties throughout Washington DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia.
- Government Buildings & Facilities Automatic operators, push plates, lever hardware, and closer adjustments for public entrances and interior doors.
- Schools & Educational Facilities Accessibility improvements to main entrances, restrooms, and classroom doors for students, staff, and visitors.
- Universities & Colleges Operator and hardware upgrades for academic buildings, libraries, and residence halls.
- Commercial & Multi-Family Properties Office buildings, healthcare facilities, retail properties, hotels, apartment buildings, condominiums, and property management companies.
We carry out the door and hardware work. We do not certify ADA compliance.
Serving Washington DC
DC Commercial Door Solutions provides commercial door accessibility upgrades throughout Washington, DC, including Downtown, Dupont Circle, Capitol Hill, and Georgetown, where many older buildings have heavy entrance doors, raised thresholds, and narrow vestibules. We also serve nearby Maryland and Northern Virginia.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you certify that my building or entrance is ADA compliant?
No. We install, adjust, and repair door hardware that supports accessibility, but we do not provide ADA compliance inspections or certification. A qualified accessibility specialist, architect, or code official makes that determination.
Can an automatic opener be added to my existing door?
In many cases, yes. Low-energy operators are designed to be fitted to existing swing doors. We check the door, frame, available power, and how the door is used before recommending one.
My entrance door is too heavy to open. Can that be fixed?
Often it can. A heavy door is commonly caused by a closer set too strong, a worn pivot or hinge, or a dragging threshold. If adjustment and repair are not enough, a power-assist or automatic operator is the next option.
Where should a push plate be installed?
It should be reachable from a clear floor space and located outside the swing of the door. We position actuators to suit the opening and the applicable requirements for the building.
Do lever handles need to replace round knobs?
Accessible hardware is generally expected to work with one hand without tight grasping or twisting, which round knobs do not allow. Replacing knobs with levers is one of the simplest door accessibility upgrades.
Can you adjust a door closer so the door is easier to open?
Yes. Closing speed and spring power can be adjusted on most commercial closers. On exterior and fire-rated doors the door still has to close and latch properly, so we set it as light as the opening allows.
What is an ADA door operator?
“ADA door operator” is the common name for a low-energy automatic door operator, also called an automatic door opener or handicap door opener. It opens a swing door when someone presses a push plate. We install and service these operators; we do not certify ADA compliance.
Contact DC Commercial Door Solutions
If you need an automatic operator, push plate, accessible hardware, or a door that is simply easier to open, call DC Commercial Door Solutions at (202) 517-2407 or book an appointment online. You can also contact us with questions, or read more about DC Commercial Door Solutions.