Single Swing Doors: Plan Hinge Side, Clearances and Access

Plain aluminum hinged door with a framed glass opening — Illustration: hinge travel and adjacent clearances need to be checked at full opening.

Direct answer: Single swing doors work well when one leaf can provide the required clear passage without conflicting with furniture, worktops or escape routes. The key decisions are hinge side, swing direction, latch position, threshold and the space the leaf occupies when open.

Start with a floor plan that shows the door closed, at 90 degrees and at its intended maximum travel. This reveals conflicts that a front elevation hides, including handles hitting walls and the leaf blocking a corridor.

Choose handing from the plan

Mark the hinge jamb, active face and latch side from the approach used most often. Confirm whether the door should swing into the room or toward the corridor, then check circulation and any accessibility requirement that applies to the project.

Measure the full swing

Record the leaf width, frame projection, handle arc and the distance to adjacent walls. Keep radiators, cabinets and switches outside the sweep. If a closer or hold-open device is required, include its projection in the drawing.

Coordinate the threshold

Note the finished floor on both sides and specify how the threshold meets flooring. Exterior openings also need a documented sill, seal and drainage detail. Do not assume a low threshold is suitable until the water-management and access requirements are reviewed together.

Quotation checklist

Item	Evidence
Handing	Hinge and latch sides labelled on plan
Travel	90-degree and full-open clearances
Hardware	Closer, lock, handle and service access
Handover	Adjustment, cleaning and warranty scope

Coordinate installation and handover

Write down who prepares the substrate, sets the frame, seals the perimeter and adjusts the hardware. Keep the approved plan on site so substitutions are visible. At handover, cycle every leaf, test the lock and record the cleaning and adjustment method. The owner should know which tasks are routine and which require the installer.

Use the published guidance linked below as a prompt for questions about access, energy, drainage and maintenance. It does not certify a particular product or configuration; the supplier still needs to provide evidence for the exact system being quoted.