practice exam Q19 impossible to answer
the door clearance is less than 32" but the manuvering clearance is also wrong. the question specifically says door clearance, but the right answer isnt door clearance, its manuvering clearance. how can I win on a test where the question is this ambiguous?
https://www.access-board.gov/ada/guides/chapter-4-entrances-doors-and-gates/#clear-width
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Official comment
Hello Robert,
We have flagged this item for review by our item writing volunteer architects. They will assess the issue raised and make any necessary revisions for future releases of the practice exam.
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Robert,
I found in my studies for these tests that the best approach was to focus on what the question was asking more than how the question was asked. That keeps you from getting "in the weeds" as the terminology can often be vague and sometimes incorrect as you pointed out here and in your "questionnaire" question. I recommend a study group, if you don't have one. Young Architects and Amber Books were my assets to finally pass these tests. So much of the battle is not understanding the material but understanding the question.
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I would love to see this one explained.
"Door clearance" is not a term used in the ADA, and it seems much more reasonable to interpret this phrase as a reference to the ADA's "door clear width" rather than "maneuvering clearance." And, as you noted, both the clear width maneuvering clearances are non-compliant here (ref. §404.2.3), so at best this question is ambiguous.
If the question specified maneuvering clearance, it would at least have been technically correct because one could argue the question doesn't ask about door clear width, so answers C and D are irrelevant. But that isn't the case. And even if it were, this kind of "gotcha question" is so stupid - there's no scenario where we'd be reviewing a door to see whether the maneuvering clearance is compliant but ignoring the clear width.
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if you do the math on this one a 36" door would fix the clear width problem and it is still small enough that it can slid over for the 18" manuvering clearance too. that is the only answer that has the possibility of solving all the problems with the door but according to NCARB it's "wrong"
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