Alberta’s building regulations have long required barrier-free (accessible) washrooms and entrances in commercial buildings, and recent updates have emphasized hands-free operation. In general, the Alberta Building Code (based on the National Building Code) mandates accessible routes and facilities under Section 3.8. For example, any main entrance serving a public or institutional building must include at least one barrier-free door. Calgary’s accessibility standards explicitly require power-operated doors at these entrances: “All barrier-free entrances shall be provided with power door operators” (calgary.ca). Edmonton’s design guide similarly notes that every barrier-free entrance should have an automatic operator, preferably a sliding door, to assist users (edmonton.ca). In practice, this means that owners of offices, stores, restaurants and schools should plan for an automatic or power-assisted door on their main public entry if the building serves the public or is large enough (many codes apply this to hotels, large offices or retail over 500 m², medical clinics, etc (edmonton.ca)). 

Washroom requirements are also strict. The code requires at least one fully accessible washroom on each floor of a commercial or institutional building. These must have wider doors (at least 850 mm clear) and grab bars, and require signage (e.g. the international wheelchair symbol) according to accessibility standards (calgary.ca). However, the code does not explicitly mandate automatic door operators on accessible washrooms. Instead, it focuses on clearances, lever handles, delayed-closing hardware and other features to allow someone using a wheelchair or other assistive device to open and close the door with limited force (edmonton.caedmonton.ca). Many local guidelines do, however, strongly recommend power operators for barrier-free washrooms as a best practice. For instance, design guides note that using wave-activated (touchless) door openers greatly improves hygiene and convenience for all users (edmonton.caiccsafe.org). 

The COVID-19 pandemic and current hygiene concerns have increased interest in hands-free automatic doors. Building safety experts point out that automatic doors not only aid persons with mobility challenges, but also help minimize contact with surfaces and maintain indoor climate control (iccsafe.org). Post-COVID trends show many designers incorporating wave-sensor buttons or foot-activated panels on restroom doors. For example, the City of Edmonton’s guide explicitly prefers “wave to open” sensors on interior automatic doors, rather than push-buttons, to allow truly contactless operation (edmonton.ca). In Calgary, accessible design standards similarly illustrate that if an entrance has a power operator, push-button controls should be at a standardized height (about 1000 mm) and ideally include sensor options (edmonton.cacalgary.ca). 

In summary, Alberta code requires automatic or power-assisted doors at barrier-free building entrances in most commercial/institutional projects (edmonton.cacalgary.ca). Automatic door operators on accessible washrooms are not yet code-mandated, but are highly encouraged and often expected by inspectors and users. To ensure a smooth project timeline, builders and architects in Calgary and Edmonton should plan for these from the start. Key recommendations include: 

• Identify barrier-free entry points early. Review code or local bylaws to determine which entrances require operators (typically the main public entrance and any accessible path entries) (edmonton.cacalgary.ca). Budget and specify power door hardware in the contract drawings. 

• Coordinate activation controls. Specify push-buttons and/or wave sensors at proper locations (between 150–300 mm and 900–1100 mm height outside the door swing) as required by code (edmonton.caedmonton.ca). Preferred practice is to use touchless activation (wave plate) especially for interior doors. 

• Plan washroom doors strategically. Even if not strictly required by code, consider adding automatic openers on accessible washrooms. This can involve a specialized restroom “auto-door kit” and interlock/fire hardware. Installing them early avoids costly retrofits. 

• Follow new 2024 guidelines. Alberta’s updated accessibility design guide (for the 2023 NBC Alberta edition) was released in late 2024 (safetycodes.ab.ca). Review it for any new best-practices on automatic doors. For instance, it highlights increased wheelchair maneuvering spaces and may evolve requirements for door operators. 

• Engage authorities early. Since accessibility compliance is enforced by safety codes officials, show regulators your barrier-free door plans during reviews. This prevents last-minute redesigns or corrections. 

By addressing automatic doors at the design stage, builders can ensure barrier-free entries and washrooms work as intended. As Edmonton’s guide emphasizes, having a visible accessible entrance with power operators (and matching vestibule operators if present) is now industry best-practice (edmonton.ca). In this way, Calgary and Edmonton projects will meet both legal requirements and user expectations for convenient, hygienic access. 

Sources: Alberta Building Code (Section 3.8) and municipal accessibility standards (edmonton.cacalgary.ca); City of Calgary and Edmonton access design guides; Alberta Safety Codes Council (2024 Accessibility Guide) (safetycodes.ab.ca); International building code commentary on automatic doors (iccsafe.org).