Since the late 1950s, automatic doors have been popular for architectural use. They offer lots of benefits, from hygiene to energy-saving.
Since users can open automatic doors without using their hands, it becomes advantageous for them, especially if they carry a cart or have baggage in both hands. These doors allow anyone to enter easily, regardless of age. Some multi-purpose toilets at city offices, stations, and other public facilities even have automatic doors.
Another interesting thing about automatic doors is that they contribute to energy saving. They also help reduce annual heating as well as cooling costs. They open once activated and close automatically to avoid being left open. They are also an excellent solution to food factories and hospitals where sanitation is highly critical due to their hands-free operation.
Knowing the precautions for automatic door construction is critical if you plan to update your door system.
Safety Mechanism Installed in an Automatic Door
First, let’s discuss the different safety mechanisms installed in automatic doors. Check out the following:
Door Operator
This set of driving controllers and devices is responsible for opening or closing the automatic door. It includes various components, including a door controller and gear motor.
Activation Sensor
This sensor is utilized to activate the opening and closing of the automatic door by sending signals to the door operator.
Maintenance Switch
This switch allows the door operator’s power to be turned on/off easily during door maintenance.
Safety Sensor
This sensor detects objects or people on the door track that the activation sensor cannot easily detect.
Fanlight
Fanlight is made of glass and other materials and is mounted between the header and the ceiling.
Sliding Door Panel
This door panel is usually made of aluminum, tempered glass, and stainless steel.
Fixed Door Panel
This door panel refers to the non-sliding door panel.
Lock
The lock used for the automatic door.
How to Ensure Door User Safety
The safety of users is one of the key considerations when installing automatic doors since these doors are power-operated with moving parts. The areas where moving parts move past the door’s fixed parts are common hazards because they potentially trap fingers or crush bodies.
Depending on the door type, here are the danger points:
Automatic Sliding Doors
The two closing edges and where the two leaves come together are the automatic sliding doors’ danger points. The use of pocket screens and sensors helps reduce hazards, particularly a pocket where the door slides.
Automatic Swing Doors
The secondary closing edge into which the door pivots are located, and the area where the automatic door closes into the frame are the danger points in automatic swing doors. These primary danger points are often resolved by combining door opening and closing speed control and safety sensors. The use of finger entrapment protection also helps limit the secondary closing edge potential danger.
Revolving Doors
Because of the number of closing edges, revolving doors come with several danger points. If this door type catches up with uses, installing heel or foot switches on moving leaves help resolve the issue. A safety sensor on top of the moving leaf and a safety strip on the leading mullion also help.
Automatic Folding Door
The main danger points in automatic folding doors are the primary and secondary closing edges, where the door folds and the leaves come together. To reduce any risk of injuries, opening and closing speed limitations and the use of presence sensors would help. When preventing finger entrapment, having a profile design on the door’s secondary closing edge is advantageous.
Having clear signage is the most effective way to prevent danger and injury on all door types. The signage must be affixed to the powered door system from 1,300mm to 1,600mm high. Here are the appropriate signages:
- Travel sign direction
- Disabled person sign
- Automatic door sign
- Emergency breakout sign
- Clear sign
- No entry sign
Other Precautions for Automatic Door Construction
Here are other critical precautions necessary for automatic door construction:
- Never fix up photocell for a proper detecting range for the door leaf’s walking area; otherwise, users may be squeezed or collide by the door leaf, leading to injury.
- Do not remodel any automatic door parts; otherwise, falls, electric shocks or fire may occur.
- Proper installation and adjustments should be followed based on the installation manual; otherwise, falls, electric shock, fire, and other accidents may occur.
- Do not use power more than the stipulated frequency or voltage; otherwise, electric shock or fire may occur.
- Never allow users to approach the working area or pass through the door during installation; otherwise, an injury may occur.
- The sensors must be appropriately set and adjusted to ensure the door’s opening area can entirely fall into the sensor detection’s range without blind areas.
There you have it! Before any automatic door construction, ensure that you are aware of the safety precautions to ensure the safety of the users and smooth door operations.
