Minimum doorway height?

[StephHigdem]

Does FHA have a minimum doorway height? I see ANSI has a 6'4" minimum when referring to obstructions in ceiling height, but I'm not finding any reference in FHA. What I have is an older home, with at least 2 additions in it's history. To get from the living room to the back bedrooms & bath, the door is just barely 6' tall. This is for an RD loan, thus must meet FHA requirements, but I'm at a bit of a loss here. Thanks for any input.

 

[Mike Boyd]

I think it is 78"......but I have no reference.

 

[RSW]

Never had to deal with that one before! Humm?

 

[Mr Rex]

I've never heard of a FHA minimum, I think I would mention it and let the UW decide if its an issue and of course consider the market effect.

 

[Cigar]

As far as the building code is concerned if a doorway is in the "path of egress" (which I'm sure bedrooms to front door would be) then it has to be 80" clear, this becomes complex if there is a secondary path of egress like a sliding patio door or french doors in the bedroom, and building officials argue this point. The 78" Mike states above applies to head-room clearance which usually comes into play with stairways and would probably become applicable for non-path of egress doorways.

My take is that you need 80" clear from the bedrooms through the front door, if there are french doors in the bedroom leading to a patio with unblocked access to the street, then you could get by with 78" providing the french doors have 80" clearance, but some officials wouldn't accept my interpretation on the theory that there is only one path of egress and that is through the house to and through the front door. This could be resolved by the architect delineating the path of egress on the plans, then the plan checker could make the call if a secondary path of egress was acceptable.

 

[Mr Rex]

Fairly common in manufactured (HUD code) homes to have 6-4 (76 inch)doors. Standard residential doors nowadays are 6-8 (80 inch)

 

[Rufus]

I spent about 20 minutes googling, but could not find any reference to an FHA minimum door height. I did find the following of interest tho:

521 CMR 9.5.4: Accessible routes: An accessible route at least 36 inches (36" = 914mm) wide shall be provided to all rooms and spaces in the dwelling unit including exterior decks, patios, balconies, attached garages, and storage closets. An accessible route shall be provided to mechanical spaces, only if the resident is expected to service, adjust or maintain the equipment therein.

• a. Patios, Terraces, and Balconies: Where it is necessary to use a door threshold or a change in level between the interior and exterior, greater than ½ inch (½" = 13mm) to protect the integrity of the unit from water or snow damage, equivalent facilitation such as raised decking or a ramp shall be provided or capable of being provided.

• Ç FHA: When a secondary exterior door exits onto decks, patios or balcony surfaces constructed of impervious materials, the outside landing surface may be dropped a maximum of 4 inches (4”) below the finished floor level of the interior of the dwelling unit (or lower if required by local building code) to prevent water infiltration at door sills. If the exterior surface is constructed of pervious material, such as a wood deck that will drain adequately, that surface must be maintained to within ½ inch (1/2”) of the finished interior floor level. At a primary entrance door, the change in level allowed is ½ inch (1/2”) for impervious construction, and 0 inches (0”) for pervious construction (wood decking with spaces).

 

[john eickhoff]

Keep in mind FHA "New/Proposed" construction regulations do not apply to existing housing. It is ususally the local codes that are applicable in this type of situation. I agree it should be mentioned and let the U.W. make a decision about what should be done unless you know it violates local code.

 

[Don Clark]

Keep in mind FHA "New/Proposed" construction regulations do not apply to existing housing. It is ususally the local codes that are applicable in this type of situation. I agree it should be mentioned and let the U.W. make a decision about what should be done unless you know it violates local code.

FHA does not expect the appraiser to be the local code police. See 4150.2 handbook, chapter 3-6, item 3-5 or read it at

http://www.HUD.gov/offices/adm/hudclips/letters/mortgagee/05-34ml.doc

If it is adequate for ingres and egress I would not do anything except mention that it appears lower than usual. I would also comment if it is common in the market and for houses of a similar age.