For disabled people on wheelchairs even traditional doors can become true architectural barriers not only for their reduced ergonometric capacities but also for the space required to move the walking aids they have to use.
Passing through a door basically consists of three simple movements: opening, passing through and closing. But people with ambulatory problems are forced to make additional movements through unstable adjustments that increase their uneasiness. Disabled people on wheelchairs must lean out a lot to open a door and pulling this latter is even more difficult: this simple operation forces them to draw back or in any case to make more than one movement.
Closing the door is even more complicated because the wheelchair must be pushed forward, away from the space occupied by the leaf; then a 180° rotation has to be made and, moving the wheelchair forward once again, the door can be finally closed.

All current provisions concerning architectural barriers aim at arranging easy accesses, but these latter can’t be obtained by increasing opening dimensions because on the contrary, in case of very wide doors, the problem becomes even more complicated.

Also sliding doors can represent an obstacle for people on wheelchairs. Strains are not easy for them and, with their arms outstretched cross-wide as to their position, they are forced to make a 90° rotation with their walking aids. Then they must place themselves in parallel as to the door in order to be able to pull or push the leaf, that is to make a movement that is more suitable for their conditions.

People feel more and more the need of rationalizing indoor spaces, in particular for the reduced dimensions of the rooms due to the high construction and managing costs of the buildings. When traditional doors are opened or closed, they “make use” of some space, limiting mobility but, on the other hand, the need of these mobile “barriers” is unquestionable.