Automated Doors and the ADA
Doors in general are a big component of the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design. That includes automated doors like the one in the photo on the right. Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Standards are found in section 404.3, Automatic and Power-Assisted Doors and Gates.
Section 404.3 only provides very limited guidelines on installation and operation. Ever wonder why? Well I’ll tell you.
Automated door installations and operations are very complicated. In fact, they are so complicated the 2010 Standards 403.3 says this, “Full-powered automatic doors shall comply with ANSI/BHMA A156.10 (incorporated by reference, see “Referenced Standards” in Chapter 1). Low-energy and power-assisted doors shall comply with ANSI/BHMA A156.19 (1997 or 2002 edition) (incorporated by reference, see “Referenced Standards” in Chapter 1).”
Referenced Standards in Chapter 1 indicate ANSI/BHMA A156.10-1999 applies to power operated doors for pedestrian use which open automatically when approached by pedestrians. Included are provisions intended to reduce the chance of user injury or entrapment.
Referenced Standards in Chapter 1 indicate ANSI/BHMA A156.19-1997 and A156.19-2002 applies to power assist doors, low energy power operated doors or low energy power open doors for pedestrian use not provided for in ANSI/BHMA A156.10 for Power Operated Pedestrian Doors. Included are provisions intended to reduce the chance of user injury or entrapment.
Little explanation of these doors is offered and good luck with these ANSI standards. But it is in the ANSI Standards where specific criteria exists for the operation of these doors. Not so much in the ADA Standards.
So in this article I will give you an over view of these doors and what is required for these doors to comply with the ADA Standards. This is important because owners or tenants in buildings that have automated doors are responsible for the installation and operation of these doors with respect to the ADA. And if they are not installed properly or do not work correctly, they can be dangerous to the public and very dangerous to the disabled community. For instance, did you know that most manufacturer’s of automated doors provide and advise owners and operators to complete a “Daily Check” of these automated doors?
First the definitions and differences of the three types of automated doors.
A156.10 Full-Powered Automatic Doors – approach the door and it opens and closes automatically
A156.19 Low-Energy Power Operated Doors – push a button and the door opens and closes automatically (knowing act)
A156.19 Power-Assisted Doors – pull or push the door and a power assist mechanism helps open the door, then the door closes automatically
Like manual pedestrian doors, automatic doors have ADA requirements for clear width, maneuvering clearance, door thresholds, and doors in series. The graphic below is representative of these requirements for an automated sliding glass door. But automatic doors also have ADA requirements for automatic controls and break out openings. These issues will be discussed next.
Automatic Sliding Door Installation Criteria for ADA Compliance
2010 ADA Standard 404.3.1, [Automatic and Power-Assisted Doors and Gates] Clear Width, states, “Doorways shall provide a clear opening of 32 inches (815 mm) minimum in power-on and power-off mode. The minimum clear width for automatic door systems in a doorway shall be based on the clear opening provided by all leaves in the open position.” So if an automated door has 2 parts (leaves) and both leaves open when activated, the clear width is based on the opening provided by both leaves in the open position, with the minimum being 32 inches.
2010 ADA Standard 404.3.2, [Automatic and Power-Assisted Doors and Gates] Maneuvering Clearance, states, “Clearances at power-assisted doors and gates shall comply with [Standard] 404.2.4. Clearances at automatic doors and gates without standby power and serving an accessible means of egress shall comply with [Standard] 404.2.4.” Standard 404.2.4 has the requirement for maneuvering space depending on the approach to the door, forward or parallel, and whether the door swings open or slides open.
2010 ADA Standard 404.3.3, [Automatic and Power-Assisted Doors and Gates] Thresholds, states, “ Thresholds and changes in level at doorways shall comply with 404.2.5.” Standard 404.2.5 limits door thresholds to 1/2 inch vertical for new construction and 3/4 inch for existing doors and altered doors.
3/4 Inch Vertical Door Threshold
2010 ADA Standard 404.3.4, [Automatic and Power-Assisted Doors and Gates] Doors in Series and Gates in Series, states, “ Doors in series and gates in series shall comply with 404.2.6.” Standard 404.2.6 requires maneuvering space for both doors installed in series and at least 48 inches of space between doors in series. The graphic below is representative of doors installed in a series.
Doors Installed in Series
2010 ADA Standard 404.3.5, [Automatic and Power-Assisted Doors and Gates] Controls, states, “Manually operated controls shall comply with [Standard] 309. The clear floor space adjacent to the control shall be located beyond the arc of the door swing.”
Standard 309 requires operable parts to be located within reach ranges for a forward or parallel approach and for the operable parts to be usable with one hand without the need for tight grasping, pinching, or twisting the wrist. The graphic below is representative of locating a power switch on the wall and a clear space (yellow) adjacent to the automatic door.
Automatic Door Control Switch Located on Wall Adjacent to Door
Doors that require pushing a button or switch with the intent of opening the door are sometimes referred to as Knowing Act doors. The individual knows that the act of pushing the button or switch should open the door. The graphic below is representative of locating the clear space out of the arc of the adjacent automatic door.
Door Control Clear Space Located Outside the Arc of Door Swing
2010 ADA Standard 404.3.6, [Automatic and Power-Assisted Doors and Gates] Break Out Opening, states, “ Where doors and gates without standby power are a part of a means of egress, the clear break out opening at swinging or sliding doors and gates shall be 32 inches (815 mm) minimum when operated in emergency mode. EXCEPTION: Where manual swinging doors and gates comply with 404.2 and serve the same means of egress compliance with 404.3.6 shall not be required.” In other words, when doors are operated in an emergency manual mode, they must open to a clear width of 32 inches.
So that takes care of the Standards that are literally printed in the 2010 ADA Standards. But remember, 2010 ADA Standards 403.3, says, “Full-powered automatic doors shall comply with ANSI/BHMA A156.10 and low-energy and power-assisted doors shall comply with ANSI/BHMA A156.19 (1997 or 2002 edition). Wonder what’s in those documents?
Answer: A lot. It is in those documents that all the requirements for the door operation are found to include:
speed that automatic doors should open and close
how long they stay open when opened automatically
the size of floor mats that operate the doors, if applicable
the locations of overhead sensors and where the signal must be read
location and design of guard rails, when required
and more.