Buying Guide — Pull Handles on Accessible Entry Doors

Prime Hardware Buying Guide

Pull Handles on Accessible Entry Doors: The AS 1428.1 Buying Guide (2026)

A pull handle can replace a lever on an accessible entry door, but only if it meets the same hand-clearance rule as a compliant lever, sits in the right height band, and leaves enough room between the grip and the door frame for knuckles. This guide covers the dimensions to check on a spec sheet, how to measure them, and the hardware decisions that decide whether the door works for someone with limited grip.

Quick answer

Yes, you can use a pull handle instead of a lever on an accessible entry door. Check four things: the grip sits 900–1100 mm above finished floor level, the gap between the inside of the grip and the door face is 35–45 mm, the grip is at least 60 mm clear of the door frame or stop, and the door can be opened with one hand in one action without twisting a knob or holding a latch back.

When a pull handle is the better choice

Levers are the default for latched doors because they retract the latch as you push them down. A fixed pull handle does not operate a latch at all, so it suits doors that are held shut some other way. Pull handles are the practical choice for:

  • Entry doors fitted with a door closer and no latch, or a roller/ball catch that releases with a firm pull.
  • Shopfront, office and clinic entries that are unlocked during trading or opening hours.
  • Pivot doors and oversized front doors, where a long pull gives better leverage than a lever.
  • Power-operated doors, where the pull is a manual backup.
  • Sliding doors, where a lever has nothing to operate.

If the door must stay latched and locked every time it closes, a compliant lever (or a pull handle paired with an accessible lock, covered below) is usually the simpler path.

The key dimensions at a glance

Check Target Why it matters
Mounting height 900–1100 mm above finished floor level (1000 mm is a common target) Reachable from a seated or standing position
Hand clearance 35–45 mm between the inside of the grip and the door face Room for fingers, without enough space for a wrist to become trapped
Clearance to frame At least 60 mm from the grip to the door jamb or stop Protects knuckles as the door closes or slides open
Operation One hand, no tight grasping, pinching or wrist twisting Usable by people with arthritis, limited dexterity or one free hand
Visibility Handle finish contrasts clearly with the door Helps people with low vision locate the handle

1. Hand clearance: 35–45 mm, measured the right way

This is the same rule that applies to accessible lever handles. Measure from the inside (back) face of the grip to the face of the door, not from the outside of the bar.

Spec sheets often quote projection instead. Projection is the total distance the handle stands off the door, so it includes the bar itself:

Hand clearance = Projection − Bar diameter
Example: 77 mm projection − 32 mm bar = 45 mm clearance (compliant)
Example: 90 mm projection − 32 mm bar = 58 mm clearance (too much)

Too little clearance and fingers will not fit behind the grip. Too much is also a fail: a gap over 45 mm lets a hand or wrist slide through and become caught if the door moves. Many long architectural entrance pulls are designed with 50–65 mm stand-offs for appearance, so do not assume a handle is compliant because it looks generous.

2. Frame clearance: at least 60 mm to the jamb or stop

A compliant grip is no use if knuckles hit the frame as the door shuts. Keep at least 60 mm between the grip and the door jamb or door stop. AS 1428.1 states this explicitly for sliding doors (in both the open and closed positions), and access consultants check the same knuckle space on hinged doors with pull handles.

How to get the 60 mm:

  • Choose an offset (cranked) pull handle. The fixing points sit near the door edge while the grip is moved further in, which is the simplest fix on narrow aluminium stiles.
  • Set the handle further in from the lock edge. On a timber door, move the fixing centre line in so the inside edge of the grip clears the stop by 60 mm or more.
  • Check rebated and deep-reveal frames. Measure from the grip to the nearest part of the frame the hand can strike, which may be the architrave or a projecting frame, not just the stop.
  • Check the meeting stiles on double doors. The second leaf, a flush bolt or a weather seal can be the obstruction.
  • On sliding doors, check both positions. When the door is fully open, the handle must not finish tight against the jamb or pocket.

3. Height and handle length

The usable grip needs to cover the 900–1100 mm band above finished floor level. Long pulls of 600–1800 mm are fine as long as that band falls within the grip section, which suits a range of user heights.

  • Vertical pulls: centre the handle so the 900–1100 mm zone sits within the gripping length, not on a stand-off or end return.
  • Horizontal pulls and pull rails: mount within 900–1100 mm. A horizontal rail on the inside face of an outward-opening door helps a wheelchair user pull the door closed behind them.
  • Short D-pulls (150–300 mm): mount so the whole grip sits inside the height band.

4. Grip shape and size

AS 1428.1 focuses on clearance, height and operation rather than a fixed bar diameter, but grip profile makes a real difference to usability:

  • Round bar around 25–32 mm is easy to wrap a hand around. Thin bars (16–19 mm) are fine on short D-pulls but harder for weak grips on a heavy door.
  • Oval and flat-rectangular profiles work if the edges are radiused and the grip is not too deep to close a hand around.
  • Avoid sharp square edges and decorative profiles that need fingertip pinching.
  • Prefer smooth, rounded returns where the grip meets the stand-off, so clothing and bags do not catch.

5. The latch and lock question

This is where most pull-handle entries fail in practice. A pull handle only works as accessible hardware if the door can be opened in one action with one hand. Work through the scenario that matches your door:

Unlocked during access hours

Door held shut by a closer, with a roller catch or no latch. A compliant pull handle alone is suitable. Check the closer can be adjusted so the door is not too heavy to pull.

Locked when closed

Pair the pull with a lock that has an accessible inside release, such as a large lever-style thumbturn or snib (45 mm or longer is commonly specified), so occupants can exit with one hand.

Heavy or high-traffic door

If the closer cannot be set light enough to meet AS 1428.1 opening forces, a power-operated door with the pull handle as manual backup is often the practical answer.

Round knobs and small recessed flush pulls are not suitable on an accessible door, because they need grip strength or fingertip pinching.

6. Contrast, material and fixing

  • Contrast: pick a finish that stands out against the door. Matt black on a light door, or satin stainless on a dark door, gives clear contrast. Access consultants commonly assess this against the 30% luminance contrast benchmark used in AS 1428.1. See our door hardware finishes guide for options.
  • Material: 304 stainless steel suits most sites; choose 316 stainless steel for coastal, pool and exposed entries.
  • Fixing: entry doors normally take a back-to-back pair through-bolted through the door, or a pull handle one side with a push plate the other. Confirm the kit suits your door thickness, and use a glass-fix kit for frameless glass.

Which standard applies to your project?

The National Construction Code calls up AS 1428.1 Design for access and mobility for accessible parts of Class 2–9 buildings, such as shops, offices, clinics and the common areas of apartment buildings. A 2021 edition of AS 1428.1 has been published, so check with your certifier or access consultant which edition the project is assessed against. Private houses are not generally required to meet AS 1428.1 unless the project calls for it (for example an SDA dwelling, aged care or a client brief), but the same dimensions are a sound target for anyone planning to age in place.

Pre-purchase checklist

  • Hand clearance on the spec sheet is 35–45 mm (or projection minus bar diameter falls in that range)
  • Grip will be at least 60 mm from the jamb, stop or nearest frame part
  • Grip covers the 900–1100 mm height band
  • Door can be opened with one hand in one action
  • Any lock has an accessible inside release
  • Closer adjusted so the door is not too heavy to pull
  • Finish contrasts clearly with the door
  • Fixing kit suits the door type and thickness
  • 316 stainless steel chosen for coastal or exposed sites

Common mistakes

  • Reading projection as hand clearance and buying a handle with a 55–65 mm gap.
  • Fixing the pull too close to the lock edge, so knuckles hit the frame.
  • Fitting a pull to a door that still has a latch only a lever or key can release.
  • Choosing a handle finish that blends into the door colour.
  • Mounting a long pull so the grip starts above 1100 mm or finishes below 900 mm.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use a pull handle instead of a lever on an accessible door?

Yes. A pull handle is suitable when the grip sits 900–1100 mm above floor level, has 35–45 mm clearance from the door face, is at least 60 mm from the door frame, and the door can be opened with one hand in one action.

What clearance does a pull handle need under AS 1428.1?

The gap between the inside of the grip and the door face should be 35–45 mm. This is the same requirement that applies to accessible lever handles.

Is a pull handle with 50 mm or more clearance compliant?

No. Clearance over 45 mm is outside the AS 1428.1 range because a hand or wrist can slide through the gap and become caught. Check the finger clearance figure, not the overall projection.

How do I work out hand clearance from a spec sheet?

Subtract the bar diameter from the projection. A handle with a 77 mm projection and a 32 mm bar has 45 mm hand clearance.

Why does the handle need 60 mm clearance from the door frame?

So knuckles are not struck or pinched against the jamb or stop as the door closes or slides open. AS 1428.1 states 60 mm from the jamb or stop for sliding door handles in both the open and closed positions. An offset pull handle is the easiest way to achieve it on narrow stiles.

What height should an accessible pull handle be mounted at?

The grip should sit within 900–1100 mm above finished floor level. For long vertical pulls, position the handle so this band falls within the gripping length.

Does a pull handle work on a door that locks?

Yes, if the lock has an accessible inside release such as a large lever-style thumbturn, so the door can be opened with one hand. A pull handle cannot retract a latch, so a latched door with no other release needs a lever instead.

Do houses need to comply with AS 1428.1?

Private houses are not generally required to, unless the project specifies it, such as SDA housing or aged care. AS 1428.1 is called up by the National Construction Code for accessible parts of Class 2–9 buildings.

How can I get help choosing the right set?

Call Prime Hardware on 1800 329 028, email sales@primehardware.com.au, or visit our showroom at 2/249 Annangrove Road, Annangrove NSW 2156. Send us your door type, thickness and frame detail, and we can check hand clearance, frame clearance and lock compatibility before you order.

This guide is general product information. Confirm project requirements with your building certifier or accredited access consultant.