It is important that wide and clear spaces are available in all facilities so that people in wheelchairs can move around. This includes making corridors and doorways wide enough, and having a bit of extra room to allow people in wheelchairs to turn. Potential obstacles should be kept out of narrow passageways. In this example a man in a wheelchair faces an obstacle course to try and reach the washroom. This standard applies to all areas of a facility including meeting and training rooms.

Taking Wheelchair Measurements

• Seated Height This is the height from the ground whilst sitting in the wheelchair to the top of your head.
• Seated Eye-Level This is the height from the ground whilst sitting in the wheelchair to your eye-level.
• Maximum Wheelchair Width The wheelchair should be measured from side to side at the widest point of the chair.
• Maximum Wheelchair Length The wheelchair should be measured from the front to the back at the longest point of the chair.

About wheelchair sizes:

Overall widths and other dimensions vary across several categories of Wheelchairs.  Almost all wheelchair buyers should be concerned with some of the basic dimensions such as overall width.  You should begin by scouting out the lay-of-the-land.  Do this by identifying the smallest and narrowest doorways, passage ways, elevators, or whatever you can think of or visualize that will be part of your day. Around the home it's usually a bathroom door or narrow hallway that limits access. Heavier users with wider chairs may see obstacles at every turn.

In general, use the formulas below to determine the overall width of a wheelchair:

• Transport Wheelchair: Seat Width + 3"
• Standard Folding Wheelchair: Seat Width + 8"
• Reclining Wheelchairs:  Seat Width + 8"
• Bariatric Wheelchairs:  Seat Width + 8"

Using the formula above, a standard wheelchair with a standard size seat of 18" wide would be (18" seat width + 8" = 26" overall width). 

Consult with each products specifications page to get exact dimensions

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