Alcoves at Classroom Doors
Design Considerations
Alterations in existing older schools may include ADA modifications to classroom doors and adjacent related construction. Some non-compliant features that are commonly found include but are not limited to the following:
- Alcove Width: Doors are often recessed to the inboard side of an alcove that is only as wide as the door and trim. Due to the non compliant narrow width of the recess, the door does not have the required minimum 18” pull side maneuvering clearance at the corridor side of the classroom entrance.
- Door Opening Width: The minimum single leaf door opening width shall be a minimum of 32” wide with a clear opening between the face of the door and the stop of the jamb when the door is in an open position.
- Transoms: When a transom assembly exists; the glass is removed and the frame and trim remain in place. Provide a new fire rated hollow metal frame assembly with a fixed fire rated ceramic glass or fire rated infill panel assembly in alignment with underlying door/frame assembly with security film on classroom side of glazing.
- Sidelites: When a sidelite assembly exists; if required, replace existing glass with fixed fire rated ceramic glass or fire rated infill panel assembly with security film on classroom side of glazing.
- Hardware (knob type): Existing non-compliant knob type hardware shall be replaced with lever type hardware
- Historic Considerations: Maintain historic character where feasible. Examples: Provide wood trim matching existing adhered to the new hollow metal frame.
For all new and renovated Doors and Associated Construction, follow the New Construction Guidelines: Volume 3, Chapter 2.2.2 Doors and Hardware.
Strategies for an existing non-compliant recessed Classroom Entrance:
Relocating Door to Corridor Wall
- Preferred solution for existing non-compliant classroom entrance.
- Moving the door to within 8” of the corridor wall is in accordance with the required ANSI recessed door standard and the CBC accessibility design standard.
- Code required corridor egress clearances shall be maintained. Door swing shall not encroach on required clear corridor exiting width.
- This modification does not satisfy the 12” push side maneuvering clearance requirement when the door has a latch and closer, however, it has been accepted that this condition is usable from the push side. Compliant pull side clearance is more critical than the push side clearance in this configuration.
- Existing door shall be removed. Relocated and/or replacement doors and related adjacent construction shall meet the requirements of all related Codes and Standards.
- Existing door frame and trim shall remain in place. Confirm door width meets minimum 32” clear opening requirement.
- If transom exists, see note in Design Considerations section above.
- The classroom flooring shall be removed and replaced or repaired/refinished to extend to the new door location and a new compliant threshold shall be installed.
- If the classroom flooring is to remain and the existing corridor flooring is terrazzo or any other monolithic flooring system, it shall be repaired and a test area shall be provided to determine the matrix used for the patches.
- The classroom ceiling shall be removed and replaced or repaired/refinished to match existing.
- For additional alcove related information, see ADA Standard Detail Sheet ADA.08.
Increasing Existing Alcove Width
- This is not the optimal solution but may be an alternative option. Existing construction such as load bearing walls, historic built-ins and/or mechanical chases may limit the feasibility of this strategy.
- Existing door, frame and trim shall remain in place if it meets the fire-resistive rating requirements. Provide new fire-resistive rated door/frame where required.
- A portion of the existing wall shall be removed to accommodate the maneuvering clearances on both push and pull sides of the classroom entrance door. Provide new wall assembly to maintain required fire-resistive rating.
- The corridor/alcove flooring shall be removed and replaced to match existing.
- If the existing corridor flooring is terrazzo or any other monolithic flooring system, it shall be repaired and a test area shall be provided to determine the matrix used for the patches.
- The corridor/alcove ceiling shall be removed and replaced to match existing.
No Alteration due to Existing Restrictions
- There may be times when the limitations prohibit any alteration to the existing classroom entrance.
- Confirm door width meets minimum 32” clear opening requirement.
Automatic Door Operators:
- Automatic doors operators are not considered an option for interior doors at classroom entry locations. Modifying the location of the door is the preferred long term, low maintenance strategy.