Fig 10: Mode of door arrangement at the hall and dimensions of hall space

Path for wheelchair

Path for 2 wheelchairs

Path for 1 wheelchairs and 1 person

Fig 11: Dimensions of various paths

Fig 12: Width of direction changing corridor

5.5.2. At places where the corridor changes direction, the

corridor must be 900mm wide, and if there is a
door, the width thereof must be 1,200mm (see fig
12)

Fig 13: Direct entrance way at right angle

5.5.3. Where in two sides of corridor there is wall edge, then the
clearance width must be in accordance with regulation in
clause 5.5.1.
5.5.4. Handrails in two sides of corridor must be at an elevation
of 900mm. Rotating angle at deviation points is preferably
arched wall face or right angled wall face.
Where there is difference in elevation at the extremity of
corridor and the end of corridor with floor surface or
ground surface, it must be balustrade, shielding plate or

shielding edge, and there is a need for installation of

safety signpost.
5.5.5. Clearance dimensions for wheelchair moving in corridor
are stipulated as follows:
a) Direct, perpendicular entrance (see fig 13): clearance
dimensions being : 1,200mm x 900 mm
b) Parallel entrances (see fig 14) : clearance dimensions
being 1,500mm x 800mm
5.5.6. On walking way, it is permitted that objects could be
protruded by 100mm and installed at 600mm and over
2,000mm from floor surface (see fig. 15)
Note: Handrails of staircase and sloping way are
permitted to protrude at maximum 115mm.
5.5.7. Objects fastened on post such as advertisement posters,
public telephone poles, letter boxes.... are permitted to
protrude 300mm in each side and installed at an
elevation of 600mm and over 2,000mm from the floor
surface (see fig 16)

Fig 14: Parallel

entrances

Fig 15: Permissible limit of

protruding objects

Fig 16: Permissible limit of protruding objects fastened on

post

5.5.8. Where walkway has gradually lowered clearance height

and less than 2,000mm, it is necessary to arrange
shielding bars. Elevation for installing shielding bars is at
least 700mm from floor surface (see fig 17)
5.6. Staircase, up and down steps.
5.6.1. Stair cases in collective residence are regulated as
follows:
- No use of arch shaped staircases, and spiralled ones;
- Width of staircase aisle not less than 1,200mm;
- Staircase surface being not slippery, and no square
step toes.

Fig 17: Clearance height gradually lowered

- No use of hollowed out staircases

- Handrails must be arranged continuously, at an

elevation of 900mm. At the start and end points of
staircase, handrail is prolonged by 300mm more.
Details of handrail are regulated in article 5.12.
- If the staircase being covered by carpet, it must be
firmly fastened. The outer rim of carpet must be stuck
on floor. The angle between step face and step body
must not exceed 300. The step toe must not be
receding, thus entangling shoe caps or crutches.
Note: For dwelling houses such as attached houses,
villas.... if required, it is permissible for:
- Use of arch- shaped staircase, spiralled staircase;
- Width of stair aisle not less than 800mm.
5.6.2. Width of stair face must be not less than 300mm
regarding in-door staircase, not less than 400mm
regarding out-door staircase. Height of step must be not
over 160mm regarding indoor staircase and not over
120mm regarding out-door staircase (see fig 18)

Fig 18: Width of stair

face and elevation of
stair

5.6.3. Step toes are designed for not exceeding 25mm. If they
protrude out of the step body, they must be curvilinear or
round up (see fig 19)
5.6.4. Elevation of a flight must not be over 1,800mm, if not,
landing must be arranged. Width of landing must not be
less than 800mm. Distance between the upper side of
handrail and the first stair face as well as the last sloping
face must not be over 1,000mm by vertical direction (see
fig 20)

Fig 19: Stair step toes

Fig 20: Dimensions of stair case

Fig 21: Elevator in residences

Fig 22: Fixed elevators

Fig 23: Specialized devices

Fig 24: Elevator devices at places with many steps

5.6.5. The staircase must be well lighted. The face of the fist
step and last step of the staircase has a colour different
from that of the floor.
5.6.6. Where residence is not equipped with lift, it is necessary
to install a system of elevator (up and down) constituted
by specialized equipment/ device fastened to balustrade
or pulley (see fig 21, 22, 23, 24). At two sides of staircase
a 900mm-high handrail is installed.
5.7. Lift
5.7.1. Best vertical transport solution for PWD is the lift. The
functioning system of lift must be entirely automatic.
Note: Where residence is not equipped with lift (or sloping
way) it is necessary to arrange rooms for PWD at ground
floor.
5.7.2. Safety requirement when installing and using electric lift
is to comply with regulations in the standards TCVN 5744:
1993. Lift - Safety requirement in installation and use, and
TCVN 6395: 1998. Electric lift. Safety requirement on
construction and installation.
5.7.3.Lift must be arranged near staircase. Distance from lift to
staircase is 2,4 m or more (see fig 25).
5.7.4. Lift door is opened laterally and clearance dimension
after opening being not less than 900 mm. Depending on

position of door, clearance dimensions in the interior of lift

cabin are shown in regulations from table 2 and fig 26.

Table 2: Smallest dimensions of lift cabin

Position of
door
In the
middle
On the side
Random

Clearance
width
of door (mm)

Width in the
interior of lift cabin
(mm)

900

2100

Depth from rear

wall to front
wall
(mm)
1300

900
900
900

1800
1400
1500

1300
2100
1500

Fig 25: Regulations on distance between lift and staircase

Fig 26: Dimensions of lift cabin

5.7.5. Area of waiting space before entering the lift must not be
less than 1,500 mm 1,500 mm.
5.7.6. The lift door is equipped with automatic closing, opening
device. Time duration for door closing/ opening must be
over 20 seconds.
5.7.7. The control switchboard in lift cabin is installed at an
elevation not more than 1,200 mm and not less than 900
mm from the cabin floor to the center of highest control
button. On control buttons there must be symbols or
tactile signals and Braille raised dots for blind people.
Symbols and Braille raised dots are shown in fig 27.
Note: The system of lift control includes emergency control
button, alarm whistles, fire alarm warners arranged in a
group under the control switchboard.

Fig 27: Symbols and signals on the access to lift reserved to blind people

Fig 28: Elevation for installing

control apparatuses

5.7.8. Control buttons in front of lift cabin door are installed at

an elevation not over 1,200mm and not less than 900mm
from the floor surface. This elevation is counted from the
center of control buttons (see fig 28). Control buttons are
arranged in the side - wall face, at 300mm 500mm from
the adjacent wall.
5.7.9. Raised symbols and Braille dots are put in the left of
buttons they represent. Specification to identify these
symbols and raised dots are stipulated in table 3.
5.7.10. In the lift cabin, it is necessary to install sound signals
and visible figures for identifying position of floor the lift
will reach.

Table 3: Symbols of lift control buttons

Sound signals will emit once in ascending direction and

twice in descending direction, or there will be
announcement by words emphasizing up or down.
Sound signals shall have a maximum frequency of
1500Hz. Word announcement shall have a maximum
sound intensity of 10dBA but not exceed 80 dBA as
measured at call button in the hall; it shall automatically
announce the number of floor where the lift stops.
5.7.11. The lighting intensity at control board, floor surface,
door sill, waiting space before entering the lift must not be
less than 60 lux.
5.8. Emergency escaping way.
5.8.1. In the residence, it is absolutely necessary to arrange
emergency escaping way for PWD when accident occurs.
On the escaping way, it must be path reserved to PWD at
the same elevation, and by the end of escaping way, it
must be a staircase.
5.8.2. Width of escaping way must be 900mm 1,200mm. At
crowded area, it must be 1,800mm. On escaping way,
there must not be change of elevation. Where automatic
door or magnetic ticket are used, these door must be
automatically opened when a fire occurs.
5.8.3. Lighting intensity on escaping way must ensure 0,1 0,2
lux. At entry/ exit door and up/ down step, lighting
intensity has to be ensured too.

5.9. Doors
5.9.1. Doors in residence being designed for PWDs use must
not cause dangerous obstruction, must be easily closed
and opened, and be arranged for convenient and safe
circulation.
Sound signals will emit once in ascending direction and
twice in descending direction, or there will be
announcement by words emphasizing up or down.
Sound signals shall have a maximum frequency of
1500Hz. Word announcement shall have a maximum
sound intensity of 10dBA but not exceed 80 dBA as
measured at call button in the hall; it shall automatically
announce the number of floor where the lift stops.
5.7.11. The lighting intensity at control board, floor surface,
door sill, waiting space before entering the lift must not be
less than 60 lux.
5.8. Emergency escaping way.
5.8.1. In the residence, it is absolutely necessary to arrange
emergency escaping way for PWD when accident occurs.
On the escaping way, it must be path reserved to PWD at
the same elevation, and by the end of escaping way, it
must be a staircase.
5.8.2. Width of escaping way must be 900mm 1,200mm. At
crowded area, it must be 1,800mm. On escaping way,
there must not be change of elevation. Where automatic
door or magnetic ticket are used, these door must be
automatically opened when a fire occurs.
5.8.3. Lighting intensity on escaping way must ensure 0,1 0,2
lux. At entry/ exit door and up/ down step, lighting
intensity has to be ensured too.
5.9. Doors
5.9.1. Doors in residence being designed for PWDs use must
not cause dangerous obstruction, must be easily closed
and opened, and be arranged for convenient and safe

circulation.5.9.2. In door and out door floor surface must

be on the same elevation. If there is difference in elevation
of out-door and in-door floor surfaces, it is necessary to
design sloping way at the door itself.
5.9.3. Inside and outside of doors, there must be a clearance
space with dimensions of 1,500mm 1,500mm.
5.9.4. Where the door way comprises two layers of door, behind
each layer there must be a clearance space not less than
1,200mm.
5.9.5. Priority is given to the use of double - action door. Where
conditions permit it, there is possibility to use self - closing/
opening door, sliding door, revolving door instead of hand operating door. It is not practicable to use types of too
heavy door or multi - panel revolving door. Width must not
be less than 800mm, and it is not advisable to arrange
door close to wall corner.
5.9.6. Doors for toilet area are preferably those opened to
outside or sliding ones. Suspension door or pushed door
must be light weight . It is only permissible to use doors
opened to inside where toilet room interior has got
sufficiently large space. At the inside face of door it is
necessary to arrange horizontal support at 1,100mm from
floor surface. Door in toilet area must be over 700mm wide
.
Note : Force deployed for opening / closing all types of
door in toilet area does not exceed 30 kg.m/s 2 and could
open by an angle up to 900.
5.9.7. Door knobs must be easily handled, close to the door
closer and rotated clockwise. Door knobs are arranged at a
height of 800mm : 1.100mm from the floor surface ( see
fig 29)
5.9.8. Where two doors are opened to
opposite direction with the corridor,
the width of corridor must be 800 mm,
enough for wheelchair to circulate.
In the hall space, with two doors opened

to the same direction, there must be a

width of 1,200 mm. Where a door is
opened to opposite direction with that
of the passage way, it is necessary to
arrange a clearance space with a width
exceeding 500 mm on the side of door
knob (see fig 30, 31).

Fig 29: Dimensions for

arranging
various
devices and signals of
door

Fig 30: Direction for accessing the doos

Fig 31: Various modes for

opening doors