Quick answer: Florida ADA-compliant commercial storefront doors must meet five requirements per FBC Accessibility chapter (which adopts the 2010 ADA Standards): (1) minimum 32 inches clear width when door is open 90 degrees, (2) maximum 5 pounds opening force on interior doors / 8.5 pounds on exterior fire doors, (3) level landings on both sides, (4) compliant hardware (lever, panic, or auto-operator), and (5) accessible clear floor space at door approach.
ADA requires 32 inches minimum clear width when the door is open 90 degrees. This is measured from the door face (when open) to the opposite stop or jamb. Standard 36-inch wide doors easily meet this; 32-inch wide doors do not (you lose 1.5-2 inches to door thickness at 90 degrees). For pairs of doors, one leaf must independently provide 32 inches clear width.
Interior doors must require 5 pounds or less to open. Exterior doors are not directly regulated by ADA on opening force, but most Florida AHJs apply the same standard to exterior storefront entries. This is achieved with proper closer adjustment, low-resistance hardware, and (where needed) automatic operators.
Both sides of the door must have a level landing — typically 60 inches deep on the swing side and 48 inches on the pull side. Maximum slope: 1:48. This is where many Florida storefronts fail at substantial completion — the sidewalk has settled and the landing is no longer level. Coordinate with the GC on subgrade prep BEFORE concrete pour.
Door hardware must be operable with one hand without tight grasping or twisting. Lever handles, panic hardware, push-pull paddle, and auto-operators all comply. Round knobs do NOT comply. Push-button auto-operators must be located 36-48 inches above the floor, 60 inches from the door swing arc.
Vestibules require both sets of doors to comply independently. If automated operators are used, both interior and exterior doors must have operators with synchronized activation. Pair doors (two doors hinged together) must have one leaf independently provide 32 inches clear width — typically the active leaf.
1) Door swing landing not level due to sidewalk settlement. 2) Closer adjustment too tight (>5 lb force). 3) Wrong hardware (knobs instead of levers). 4) Auto-operator activation button outside reach range. 5) Vestibule clear floor space inadequate. 6) Threshold height exceeds 1/2 inch.
ADA requires storefront doors in Florida to have 32-inch minimum clear width, 5-pound maximum opening force on interior doors, level landings on both sides, accessible hardware (lever, panic, or auto-operator), and adequate clear floor space.
All primary entrances and all required-egress doors must comply. Service entries used only by employees may have reduced requirements. Existing buildings undergoing alterations trigger ADA compliance on the altered portions.
Lever handles, panic hardware, push-pull paddles, and automatic operators all comply. Round knobs do not comply. All compliant hardware must be operable with one hand without tight grasping or twisting.
Use a 4-foot level on both sides of the door, in both directions. Slope cannot exceed 1:48 (about 1/4 inch per foot). The landing must be at least 60 inches deep on the swing side and 48 inches on the pull side.
Not required on most commercial storefronts, but they're often the most reliable way to meet the 5-pound opening force requirement on heavy exterior doors. Many Florida owners install auto-operators as a practical compliance solution.
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