Accessible doors under AS 1428.1: circulation space, door width and thresholds (NSW guide)
Doors are a common single fail on access reports. This page gives five checks per door on an accessible path of travel: approach direction and circulation space, clear opening width, threshold, hardware and controls, and contrast. Current NSW work is assessed against NCC 2022 Amendment 2 (which calls up AS 1428.1:2021) until NSW adopts NCC 2025 on 1 May 2027. Confirm every dimension in the Standard before relying on it.
Which doors have to comply?
Doors on the continuous accessible path of travel under NCC 2022 Volume One Part D4 and the Premises Standards Access Code. Mark compliant doors on drawings. See the edition note in AS 1428.1:2009 vs 2021.
Door circulation space, explained by approach direction
The clear floor area needed depends on approach direction (front, latch side or hinge side) and whether the user pushes or pulls. Latch-side clearance is the space most often lost to a wall return or joinery unit. Corridor doors fail most because of side-approach constraints.
AS 1428.1:2021 permits door circulation spaces to overlap other circulation spaces in some cases (where the 2009 edition treated them separately). Automatic doors may be excluded from some increased circulation requirements. Confirm the exact clauses in the 2021 Standard.
Clear opening width (how wide is "wheelchair accessible"?)
AS 1428.1 requires a minimum clear opening for doors on an accessible path, commonly 850 mm, measured from the door stop to the face of the open leaf (not the leaf size). Hardware projections reduce the clear width. For double doors, one leaf must meet the clear opening. Sliding doors are measured differently. Most houses are not assessed to AS 1428.1 unless livable, adaptable or SDA rules apply. See SDA vs livable vs adaptable.
Door thresholds and level transitions
Level thresholds are preferred, with any permitted tolerance or bevel confirmed in the Standard. Threshold ramps are allowed for small level changes, with limits on rise, length and edge treatment. The ramp must not intrude into the required door circulation space. The 2021 edition tightened these rules. External doors and weather seals create a common tension with step-free access; keep to principle and avoid product claims.
If the level change exceeds what a threshold ramp allows, use a step ramp, full ramp or a Performance Solution.
Hardware, controls and door force
Handle type, grip clearance, control heights and door opening force must meet AS 1428.1:2021. See door opening requirements for force and operation. Automatic or power-assisted doors are often the practical fix in a tight retrofit.
Luminance contrast and glazed doors
Door leaf or frame contrast against surrounds is required. See visual indicators on glazed doors.
The five-check door schedule (template)
Copy this for your drawings:
| Door ID | On accessible path? | Approach direction | Circulation space OK? | Clear width | Threshold | Hardware/controls | Contrast | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Common fails we see on drawings and on site
- Latch-side clearance lost to joinery or a wall return.
- Door swing into the circulation space of the next door.
- Threshold rise built higher than drawn.
- Closer force too high.
- Hardware on the wrong side.
- Store or wardrobe doors mistakenly scheduled as compliant (or the reverse).
When a door can't comply in an existing building
Options in order: re-hang or re-swing the door, use a sliding or automatic door, widen the opening, then a Performance Solution. A Performance Solution must still meet the Performance Requirements; it is not an exemption. See Performance Solutions.
How Sydney Access Consultants helps
Door schedule review at design stage, DA/CC access report, pre-OC inspection. Call (02) 9586 3111. Work is based in Hurstville. On the Mid North Coast, Sandy Grey works from Black Beach.
Related: access audits, DA vs CC, what certifiers want, reception counters, light switches and power points, improve wheelchair circulation.
Frequently asked questions
What is door circulation space under AS 1428.1?
Door circulation space is the clear floor area a wheelchair user needs beside and in front of a door to reach the handle, open it and pass through. Under AS 1428.1 it applies to doors on the continuous accessible path of travel, and the size depends on the direction you approach from (front, latch side or hinge side) and whether you push or pull. AS 1428.1:2021, called up in NSW by NCC 2022 Amendment 2, also lets door circulation spaces overlap other circulation spaces.
How wide does a wheelchair accessible door need to be in Australia?
For doors on an accessible path of travel in buildings covered by the NCC access provisions, AS 1428.1 requires a minimum clear opening, commonly 850 mm, measured between the door stop and the face of the open leaf, not the leaf size. Hardware, stops and frames all eat into the clear width. Most houses are not assessed to AS 1428.1 unless livable, adaptable or SDA requirements apply.
Can I use a threshold ramp at an accessible door?
Yes, AS 1428.1 allows a short threshold ramp to deal with a small level change at a doorway, within strict limits on rise, length and edge treatment, and the ramp must not intrude into the required door circulation space. The 2021 edition tightened the threshold-ramp rules. If the level change is bigger than a threshold ramp allows, you need a step ramp, a full ramp or a Performance Solution.