Most accessible door width searches are answered by generic code-reference articles — a number, a citation, and nothing about what happens when your building’s existing entrance doesn’t meet it. For a facility manager staring down an accessibility audit finding, the real question isn’t “what’s the minimum width,” it’s “what does it take to fix an opening that’s out of compliance without a full building renovation.”
Wilcox Door Service performs accessible entrance retrofits across Ontario — widening existing openings, replacing non-compliant doors, and pairing retrofits with automatic operators so an entrance passes on both width and operation. Here’s what that process actually involves.
The Compliance Baseline
Under the Ontario Building Code and National Building Code, a doorway in a barrier-free path of travel needs a minimum clear opening of 850mm (33.5″) when the door is fully open — this is measured from the face of the open door to the opposite jamb, not the frame-to-frame dimension. Existing buildings may have some flexibility, but new installations and major retrofits are generally held to this standard. For the full breakdown of OBC, NBC, and AODA width requirements, see our accessible door width compliance guide.
Width is only half the picture. An entrance also needs adequate maneuvering clearance on both sides of the door, appropriately placed hardware, and — in most commercial applications — a compliant automatic operator. We cover operator selection separately in our commercial automatic door opener guide.
Common Reasons an Existing Entrance Fails Compliance
- Undersized original construction. Older commercial buildings were often built to standards that predate current barrier-free requirements.
- Frame-in-frame retrofits. A previous renovation added a narrower door inside the original frame, quietly reducing clear width below code.
- Hardware intrusion. Panic bars, kick plates, or door closers mounted incorrectly can reduce usable clear width even when the door itself is sized correctly.
- Threshold and ramp transitions. Width can be compliant while the approach — ramp slope, threshold height, or landing space — is not.
What a Retrofit Involves
Depending on the finding, a retrofit can range from a same-day hardware adjustment to a full frame and door replacement:
- Assessment. We measure actual clear opening width, swing clearance, approach space, and existing hardware against current OBC/AODA requirements.
- Door and frame replacement. Where the opening itself is undersized, we replace the door and frame assembly to meet clear width requirements — matched to the building’s existing fire rating and finish.
- Hardware relocation. Where width is adequate but hardware placement is the issue, we can often resolve compliance without a full door replacement.
- Operator integration. Most commercial retrofits are paired with a push-button, motion-sensor, or low-energy operator to bring the entrance into full compliance, not just width compliance.
Why Facility Managers Call Wilcox for This
Wilcox Door Service has serviced commercial and institutional facilities across Ontario since 1912. We’re CCIB-accredited, service more than 1,000 facilities, and maintain 2–4 hour emergency response for urgent issues. Our teams handle the door, frame, hardware, and operator as one coordinated scope — so an accessibility finding gets closed out in a single project instead of three separate vendor calls.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum accessible door width for a commercial building in Ontario?
850mm (33.5″) of clear opening width, measured with the door fully open, under the Ontario Building Code and National Building Code’s barrier-free provisions. Existing buildings may retain a previously compliant clear width as narrow as 900mm under certain grandfathering provisions — a site assessment confirms which standard applies.
Can an existing door be widened without replacing the whole frame?
Sometimes. If the frame itself has adequate rough opening width, hardware relocation or a different door leaf can resolve the issue. If the frame is undersized, a full frame replacement is usually required.
Does an accessible entrance retrofit require an automatic door opener too?
Not always, but most commercial retrofits pair the two, since an audit finding on width often coincides with a finding on operation. We assess both during the same site visit.
How long does an accessible entrance retrofit take?
A hardware-only fix can be same-day. A full door and frame replacement with an integrated operator typically takes longer, depending on lead time for a fire-rated assembly if one is required. We provide a project timeline after the site assessment.
Request an Accessibility Compliance Assessment
If an audit or inspection flagged an entrance, or you want to confirm compliance proactively, we can assess the opening and provide a scoped retrofit quote.