Hi Judi,
Not a meeting house, but I was at a conference where there were bi-fold doors to get into the accessible/accompanied toilet. They tended to stick, and to get caught on the wheelchairs/sticks as people went in and out.
During the discussion of 'what we'd do better if designing these' the following was mentioned:
- Having an indent so the door when folded is within the wall, and not sticking out.
- Ensuring that the door function is usable from both sides and easy to move/fold. One of them had a guiding bit at the top and everyone agreed that didn't work.
- Finding the right weight so they're not too heavy, ensuring they are well maintained so that someone with mobility issues is still able to move them and fold them.
I'd not come across bi-fold doors for loos, and found the conversation fascinating, so made notes to the general amusement of other people in the bar.
The preferred alternative where a standard door wouldn't work, was two pocket doors that slid into the walls either side to leave the doorway clear, but that wouldn't have worked in the conference centre without ripping out the entire area and starting again...
Yours in peace,
Wendrie HeywoodFounder | Mindful Business Services Ltd
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