Building usability is a design consideration for the 1 in 4 New Zealanders living with a disability, as well as the growing elderly population. A useable home needs to be designed to meet the changing needs of people of different ages and abilities. Ease of movement is a key consideration as the swing of a hinged door is an impediment for those in a chair or with limited mobility.

A sliding door is easier to operate, particularly if a protruding handle is used. Designing with cavity sliders incorporates the principals of universal design into a home and ensures it will be accessible by young and old, able and disabled, and removes the need for alterations at a later stage.

When accessibility is not a consideration, a cavity slider with flush pull handle can be used and later the conversion to an accessible opening is as simple as putting a stop on the door (so it no longer goes all the way back into the wall) and installing a pull handle. By using a CaviLock CL400 handle, the conversion is very straightforward.

The CL400 Magnetic series has been expanded to include a range of accessible hardware. The CL400 ADA handle meets all the compliance standards of the ubiquitous CL100 Lavilock handle but with a refined aesthetic suitable for residential design.

In commercial design, the same usability and space-saving considerations need to be made. Medical facilities face their own challenges and are designed to allow for the efficient flow of patients, often with limited space. Sliding doors are increasingly the preferred solution — automating the cavity or adding an accessible handle, which can be operated without the use of a hand, adds another layer of accessibility and hygiene.

In New Zealand, the use of cavity sliders in these environments is well established. CS For Doors has led this design for many years and this expertise is now being recognised around the world. An extension project at Pennsylvania Hospital Pavilion, USA’s oldest hospital, founded in 1751, used CS Track systems in 500 patient rooms to resolve accessibility and space concerns.

To ensure compliance with NZS4121:2001, specify the CS Easy Open cavity slider with CL100 Lavilock or CL400 ADA handle.