How to Choose the Right Revolving Door
Revolving doors are an excellent option when you want to highlight an imposing and elegant entrance to a building.
Another advantage they have is that they prevent outside air from entering, reduce energy costs, and contribute to maintaining a constant indoor climate. This is why revolving doors are often chosen by architects, designers, and even beneficiaries involved in the design and functionality of a prestigious building.
As is the case with any automatic door, the key to successful operation and post-installation maintenance is the clear definition of specifications during the project phase. This is where a skilled consultant in automatic access systems comes into play, offering technical advice and support in integrating the revolving door into the overall concept of the building.
Due to incorrect specifications, a revolving door can end up hindering access to a building, causing congestion at the entrance during peak hours. To avoid such situations and ensure the successful operation of such a solution, a series of factors must be considered.
Available Space (Opening), Building Occupancy Level, and Peak Periods
The theoretical flow allowed by a revolving door is determined by its internal diameter, the number of wings, and the peripheral speed (regulated by EN16005). Therefore, knowing the peak periods during which the door will be heavily used is essential to determine the minimum diameter of the revolving door and the number of doors needed.
For example, a typical revolving door with 4 wings and a diameter of 2400 mm, rotating at 0.77m/s and making 6.12 rotations per minute, would have a capacity of 31 people per minute or 1900 people per hour, if one person occupies each segment.
Of course, many people enter the building between 08:30-09:30 in the morning. A single revolving door will prove insufficient when a large number of people arrive at the same time. An additional door would be necessary.
This aspect is especially relevant during periods of extreme temperatures and weather events (wind, rain, snow), and sometimes additional doors need to be planned for building access, in order to avoid queues forming at the entrance, especially under the current conditions requiring social distancing for health reasons.
As an alternative, a curved sliding door can be used even in addition to the revolving door, if it is known that there will be very busy periods for building access. A sliding door ensures an uninterrupted entry flow, can be used on the emergency evacuation route, and can create an aesthetic effect similar to a revolving door. It is more difficult to control the internal climate with this type of door, but there is the solution of adding warm air curtains, along with reducing the opening during winter.
Delays Caused by Sensitive Protective Equipment
Revolving doors are safer today than ever before, but to guarantee their safety in operation, they must comply with the EN16005 standards, which set out the minimum mandatory protective measures for revolving door users.
On a revolving door, there are several danger points which are protected by a series of sensors that, once activated, are designed to stop the door’s rotation in order to prevent accidents.
There are sensors that must be easy to activate.
A sensor at the end of the revolving door wing will stop its operation if it detects a shoe heel caught in the door. After a short period, needed for the person to free their heel from the door, it will restart.
Sensors play an important role. However, when the door is too small and the flow of people entering is too high, they can cause stoppages that lead to congestion, frustration, and therefore a less than pleasant user experience.
Options
The classic 4-wing revolving door is the most common, especially in buildings with high visitor traffic and two-way entry-exit flow. It also offers the advantage of better preserving the indoor climate, thanks to its construction, which forms a shield against the outside environment.
A 3-wing revolving door allows a slightly lower flow and a smaller opening, but offers more comfort, since there is more space in each segment, making it more suitable for buildings with lower traffic. The comfort level can also be enhanced by adding a warm air curtain.
A specialized consultant can also provide recommendations regarding the integration of the revolving door into the building’s façade, through the use of connection systems to a glass or metal façade, depending on the situation.
An option that can be integrated with the door’s operating system is the installation of a warm air curtain, which increases the comfort level during operation. This can be integrated, along with a lighting system, at the top of the door. There is also the option of installing floor-mounted operators, where space allows, for both revolving doors and curved sliding doors. When this technical aspect is combined with a full-glass door, a special aesthetic effect is achieved, along with allowing natural light in.
In conclusion, in order to find the right solution, both the building’s architecture and the beneficiary’s needs (estimated flow) must be taken into account as early as the project phase. A specialized perspective from an automatic access systems consultant helps avoid misunderstandings, delays, accidents, and ultimately, additional expenses.
Didn't find what you were looking for? Search below!
