Turnstiles and accessibility: providing a step-free, wheelchair-friendly lane
Quick answer
Every line of turnstiles needs at least one accessible lane: a pass gate or wide lane that takes a wheelchair, that the person can open independently with the same credential as everyone else, and that is part of the normal way in rather than a back door.
Why a standard turnstile is not accessible
A tripod leaves about 50 cm of clearance and requires pushing an arm. A full-height unit gives even less. Wheelchair users cannot use them, and often neither can people with crutches, a walking frame, a pushchair or an assistance dog.
What the rules require, broadly
The safety in use and accessibility section (DB-SUA) of the Spanish Building Code regulates building accessibility and defines the conditions of the accessible route, including a minimum clear door width (0.80 m in the text we consulted; check the current version). Entrance control equipment on that route must not interrupt it. Regional and municipal accessibility rules may also apply. Checking the specific case is the job of the project's architect or engineer.
The two solutions
- A swing pass gate next to the turnstiles. The usual answer with tripods and full-height units, typically 90 cm clear or more.
- A wide speed gate lane. One lane in the line is built to a wider clearance. This is the most inclusive solution, because everyone enters the same way.
Ten practical checks
- Sufficient clear width, measured with the panel open.
- Independent opening: with the same card or credential, without having to call anyone.
- Reader within reach from a wheelchair, with nothing in front of it.
- A longer opening time than a standard lane.
- Safety sensors that stop the panel closing on the person or chair (EN 17352).
- Manoeuvring space before and after: no step, no steep slope, no impossible turns.
- Clear signage for the accessible lane.
- The same route as everyone else: not through the loading bay.
- Visual and audible signals for access granted or denied.
- Emergency opening like the other lanes (evacuation).
Common mistakes
- A pass gate that only reception can open… and reception is unstaffed.
- A pass gate everyone uses as a shortcut because nobody controls it: it should open by credential and close by itself.
- A reader mounted on the turnstile cabinet, out of reach.
- Forgetting the accessible lane on the way out.
Also useful for
Pushchairs, goods deliveries, cleaning and maintenance equipment, and people with luggage. A well-designed accessible lane gets used every day.
In our turnstile and speed gate installations, the accessible lane is part of the proposal from the start.
Frequently asked questions
Is it enough for reception to open a side door?
It can work as a fallback, but it does not give independence and fails when reception is away. The right approach is for the person to open the accessible lane with their own credential.
Should the accessible lane also be access-controlled?
Yes. Left open, it becomes the way to bypass the turnstiles. It should open by credential and close again.
Sources
This guide is for information only and is not a substitute for legal advice or for the technical design of each installation. Regulations change: always check the current text at the official source.