Powermatic R100: Disability access and compliance with Approved Document M

Approved Document M ‘Access to and use of Buildings’ is a UK Building Regulations document that provides guidance on making buildings accessible and usable, regardless of a person’s physical ability.

It provides information about the use of facilities for disabled visitors or occupants, and their ease of movement through buildings, including to toilets and bathrooms.

The guidance refers to the use of automatic door closers, addressing how a person with a disability will make their way around a building with doors that automatically close. As such, Approved Document M guidance affects the specification of fire doors and fire door closers.

Unlike other jamb-mounted devices, the Samuel Heath Powermatic R100 concealed door closer facilitates a door’s compliance with Approved Document M. In this article we will explore Approved Document M and the specification of door closers in more detail, and how the Powermatic R100 offers a compliant solution for specifiers.

The Samuel Heath Powermatic R100 concealed door closer

controlled concealed door closer CE marked fire door closer hotels health education care heritage BS EN 1154 CE marked BS8300 ADM Approved Document M
Powermatic R100 controlled concealed door closer for fire doors

Approved Document M: Automatic door closers

Here is a summary of points from Approved Document M that relate to door closer specifications and how they should comply with providing sufficient accessibility for people with physical disabilities.   

1. Door closers should have a maximum opening force of 30N when measured at 0° (closed) and 22.5N when measured between 30° and 60° (open) of the opening cycle.

Let’s break that down:

  • Door opening force is the measurement of force needed to open a door. It is measured in Newtons (N).
  • To open a door up to 30° from a closed position, no more than 30N opening force should be needed to comply with Approved Document M guidance.
  • To open a door between 30° and 60°, no more than 22.5N opening force should be needed to comply with Approved Document M guidance.

2. Controlled door closing devices with a power size below 3 are not considered suitable for use on fire doors. A door closer’s power size indicates the width and weight of door that it is suitable for.

3. Doors to rooms can have delayed action or swing free closing devices but they are not considered suitable for doors on circulation routes.

4. These regulations apply to the entire doorset in-situ and, therefore, no door closer can claim compliance on its own. The specification of the door closer must, however, facilitate a door’s compliance with UK Building Regulations and Approved Document M guidance.

Powermatic R100: the door closer that facilitates Approved Document M compliance

  • The Powermatic R100 concealed door closer from Samuel Heath is the only jamb-mounted door closer with the operating efficiencies to facilitate a door’s compliance with the guidance outlined in BS 8300: 2009 and Approved Document M in England and Wales, Section 4 in Scotland and Part R in Northern Ireland.
  • The accessibility and performance requirements are largely achieved through the Powermatic R100 concealed door closer’s unique dual-mechanism devices.
  • The Powermatic R100 is suitable for doors up to 80kg in weight and 950mm wide which complies with the BS EN 1154 requirement for door closers to have a power size of 3 or above.
  • Single spring door closers cannot facilitate a door’s compliance with the guidance outlined in Approved Document M due to inherent weaknesses in operating efficiencies.
  • The Powermatic R100 meets accessibility requirements and offers adjustable closing speeds which is particularly advantageous for people with disabilities who are resident in care facilities. It does not need to be removed from the door to be adjusted.
  • The Powermatic R100 is suitable for both latched and unlatched installations.
  • It can also be used with electrically powered ‘holdopen’ devices.
  • The Powermatic R100 is the only Certifire approved jamb-mounted door closer Follow guidance in Approved Document M by specifying the Powermatic R100 concealed door closer.

Speak to Samuel Heath about specifying the Powermatic R100 concealed door closer to comply with UK Building Regulations and follow Approved Document M guidance.

Call 0121 766 4200 or email us at doorclosers@samuel-heath.com.

Samuel Heath: Keeping people and buildings safe.

Back To Top