ADA Entrances vs Doors - What's the Difference?
The 2010 ADA Standards uses the terms “entrance” and “door”. What’s the difference?
The 2010 ADA Standards define an entrance as “Any access point to a building or portion of a building or facility used for the purpose of entering. An entrance includes the approach walk, the vertical access leading to the entrance platform, the entrance platform itself, vestibule if provided, the entry door or gate, and the hardware of the entry door or gate.” The graphic below is representative of an entrance.
Facility Entrance Elements
The 2010 ADA Standards defines public entrance as “An entrance that is not a service entrance or a restricted entrance.” The photo on the right is representative of a public entrance.
The 2010 ADA Standards defines restricted entrance as “An entrance that is made available for common use on a controlled basis but not public use and that is not a service entrance.” Examples would be entrances for security personnel or employees only.
The 2010 ADA Standards defines service entrance as “An entrance intended primarily for delivery of goods or services.” An example would be the door on the rear side of a quick service restaurant. See the photo below for a representation.
Rear Service Entrance for a Quick Service Restaurant
One thing to remember about the service door is if that door is considered part of an egress route from inside the facility, the route from that door to a site arrival point needs to be accessible.
2010 ADA Standard 206.4, Entrances, states, “Entrances shall be provided in accordance with [Standard] 206.4. Entrance doors, doorways, and gates shall comply with [Standard] 404 and shall be on an accessible route complying with [Standard] 402.” 2010 ADA Standard 404 covers requirements for ADA accessible Doors, Doorways, and Gates. The graphic below is a summary of these requirements.
Accessible Door Requirements
There are two exceptions to 2010 ADA Standard 206.4, Entrances:
EXCEPTION 1: Where an alteration includes alterations to an entrance, and the building or facility has another entrance complying with [Standard] 404 that is on an accessible route, the altered entrance shall not be required to comply with [Standard] 206.4 unless required by [Standard] 202.4.2 [Primary Function Area].
EXCEPTION 2: Where exceptions for alterations to qualified historic buildings or facilities are permitted by [Standard] 202.5, no more than one public entrance shall be required to comply with [Standard] 206.4. Where no public entrance can comply with [Standard] 206.4 under criteria established in [Standard] 202.5 Exception, then either an unlocked entrance not used by the public shall comply with [Standard] 206.4; or a locked entrance complying with [Standard] 206.4 with a notification system or remote monitoring shall be provided.