Regulations · 4 min read · Updated 6 November 2026
Accessible office partitions: door widths, vision panels and Part M
Why accessibility matters in a fit-out
When you add partitions, you create new doors, corridors and rooms that everyone has to use, including wheelchair users, people with visual impairments and people carrying equipment. Approved Document M (Volume 2, buildings other than dwellings) gives the Building Regulations guidance, and building control will look at whether new work meets it. Separately, the Equality Act 2010 requires employers and service providers to make reasonable adjustments so disabled staff and visitors are not put at a substantial disadvantage. Getting the layout right at the start is far cheaper than changing doors later.
When altering an existing building, the general rule is that the work should not make the building less compliant than it was before. A new partition that narrows a corridor or replaces a wide door with a narrow one can cause problems with building control sign-off.
Minimum effective clear door widths
Effective clear width is measured from the face of the door stop on the latch side to the face of the door when it is open at 90 degrees, or to any projecting handle, so it is less than the nominal door leaf size.
| Direction and width of approach | New buildings | Existing buildings |
|---|---|---|
| Straight-on, no turn needed | 800 mm | 750 mm |
| At right angles from a route at least 1500 mm wide | 800 mm | 750 mm |
| At right angles from a route at least 1200 mm wide | 825 mm | 775 mm |
| External doors used by the general public | 1000 mm | 775 mm |
Figures from Approved Document M Volume 2, Table 2. In practice, a 926 mm door leaf or wider is often used to achieve 800 mm or more clear width once stops and handles are allowed for. Double-door sets should have at least one leaf meeting the clear width.
Other door details building control checks
- A clear space of at least 300 mm beside the leading edge of the door on the pull side, so a wheelchair user can reach the handle
- Opening force at the leading edge of no more than 30 N from 0 to 30 degrees and no more than 22.5 N from 30 to 60 degrees
- Vision panels in doors across accessible circulation routes, covering a zone from 500 mm to 1500 mm above the floor, with an allowance for a break between 800 mm and 1150 mm
- Door handles and ironmongery that are easy to grip and operate with one hand and contrast visually with the door
- Door frames or doors that contrast visually with the surrounding wall
- Self-closing devices that do not make doors too heavy, with powered or hold-open devices on fire doors where needed
Corridors and room layouts
Approved Document M expects corridors to be wide enough for wheelchair users to pass and turn. A clear width of at least 1200 mm is often the starting point for corridors in office fit-outs, with wider passing places where corridors are long, and corridors of 1800 mm allowing two wheelchair users to pass. Leave a turning space in front of doors at the end of corridors, and avoid door swings that block the route. Small meeting rooms need enough space inside for a wheelchair user to enter, close the door and use the table.
Visual contrast and glass
Large glazed partitions can be hard to perceive for people with low vision. Manifestation helps, but so do contrasting door frames, handles and skirtings, and avoiding shiny floor finishes that reflect light from glazing. Signage on meeting room doors should be at a consistent height, in clear text and with good contrast. Many organisations follow BS 8300, the British Standard for inclusive design, which goes into more detail than Approved Document M.
Accessible toilets, kitchens and quiet rooms
If the fit-out changes toilets or kitchenettes, accessible WC provision and layout come into play, and the number and location of accessible toilets must be considered. Quiet rooms, wellbeing rooms and prayer rooms created with partitions are increasingly common; making them accessible from the start avoids excluding the staff who most need them.
Design checklist
- Check every new door achieves the required effective clear width with handles fitted
- Allow 300 mm clear beside the leading edge on the pull side
- Fit vision panels to doors across circulation routes
- Check opening forces on fire doors with closers
- Use contrasting frames, handles and manifestation
- Keep corridors at least 1200 mm clear wherever possible
- Agree the design with building control or the approved inspector before ordering doors
- Consult staff who have access needs about the layout
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum door width for an office meeting room?
Under Approved Document M for new work, most internal doors should give an effective clear width of at least 800 mm, rising to 825 mm when approached at right angles from a 1200 mm corridor. Effective clear width is measured with the door open and allows for stops and handles, so the door leaf itself needs to be wider.
Do office partitions need Building Regulations approval for accessibility?
Partitions that create new rooms, corridors or doors are often building work that building control will want to check, including fire safety and accessibility. The alterations should not make the building less compliant with Part M than before. Check with your building control body or approved inspector early, ideally at the design stage.
Do glass meeting room doors need vision panels?
A fully glazed door already provides visibility, so a separate vision panel is not needed, but the glass must be safety glass and have manifestation. Solid doors across accessible circulation routes should have vision panels covering the zone from 500 mm to 1500 mm above the floor so people can see someone approaching from the other side.
accessibility Part M door widths Equality Act
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