Specifications for an Automatic Door – Challenges and Solutions
Revolving doors are the ideal solution for creating a grand, modern, and easy-to-use entrance for a building. They reduce air transfer between the interior and exterior, lower energy costs, and contribute to creating a consistent indoor climate, making them the first choice for architects, facade engineers, and even end clients.
As with all types of automatic doors, the key to successful operation of revolving doors and activating all the advantages mentioned above lies in correct specifications made from the design phase. This is where automatic access solution consultants should come into play, offering technical support and advice regarding the design and integration of the revolving door with all adjacent elements of the building. If the revolving door becomes a barrier and blocks access due to incorrect specifications, this can lead to problems after installation and inconvenience for users due to queues that may form during peak hours.
To avoid such situations, a series of factors can be considered.
Floor Space, Occupancy Level, Estimated Traffic Peaks
In theory, the flow that a revolving door can handle is determined by the available internal diameter (door opening), number of wings, and peripheral speed (limited by the EN16005 standard). Therefore, accurately estimating traffic during peak periods is essential to determine the minimum diameter and number of doors needed for a building.
For example, a revolving door with 4 wings and a diameter of 2400 mm, rotating at 0.77 m/s, or 6.12 rotations per minute, would allow approximately 31 people to pass per minute, which means 1900 people per hour, assuming each person occupies one segment of the door.
Of course, during the morning peak period, between 08:00 and 09:00, a large number of employees are expected to arrive simultaneously at the office.
In such situations, a single revolving door may prove insufficient to allow a rapid and continuous entry of a large number of people. In these cases, an additional door can be used as an alternative access point, but this would negate the benefit of reduced air transfer between the interior and exterior provided by the revolving door.
This benefit is even more relevant in harsh weather conditions, but additional doors should be considered to avoid queues at the entrance, especially under current conditions that require social distancing.
Alternatively, a curved sliding door can be considered as an additional access route to be used when pedestrian traffic is too intense to rely solely on the revolving door.
A curved sliding door offers the possibility of unrestricted traffic, can also be used as an emergency exit, and can create a similar aesthetic effect to a revolving door.
It is more difficult to control the internal environment with such a solution, but adding a warm air curtain, reducing the width of the opening, allowing alternate opening of the outer and inner doors (where possible), can diminish the effect of air exchange between exterior and interior. Additionally, with a sliding door, the advantage is that no additional door is needed, as in the case of the revolving one.
Delays Caused by Sensitive Protection Sensors
Revolving doors are safer than ever, but to guarantee safety in use, they must comply with EN16005, a standard that presents the minimum measures required to protect people using an automatic opening system.
An automatic door specialist must be EN16005 certified and conduct a risk assessment on each automatic door to verify if the door system is safe for use (according to EN16005) and suitable for the application.
In the case of a revolving door, there are multiple danger points, which are protected by a set of ESPE or PSPE sensors (electrosensitive protective equipment/pressure-sensitive protective equipment) that, when activated, stop the door’s rotation, thus preventing injury. As the name suggests, these sensors are sensitive and must be easily activated. Those who have used an automatic revolving door know that there is a sensor at the base of the revolving wing, which, if it catches a heel, stops the door. After a short delay, once the foot is removed from the sensor, the door moves again.
Sensors exist for a very good reason, but if the segments between the wings are too small and people linger there, these sensors can be easily activated, leading to frustrating delays and creating discomfort for users.
The most popular choice is a 4-wing system, suitable for high traffic volumes and for the requirements of two-way traffic as is the case with office buildings. Such a door also offers improved interior climate control due to the construction of the main posts and wings, which provide superior closure compared to a 3-wing system.
A 3-wing system offers slightly lower throughput and a narrower opening but ensures more comfort as it presents a larger space within each segment, making it more suitable for an environment with lower traffic.
User Comfort
As mentioned above, the role a revolving door plays in controlling the interior climate is a major benefit, and user comfort can be further enhanced by integrating a warm air curtain, either with heat produced electrically or with hot water supplied through the arch of the revolving door.
Connecting Facades
A revolving door manufacturer will assist in integrating the revolving door system at the building facade level using a facade connection system such as glass-to-glass, glass-to-metal, or metal-to-metal depending on the position of the door system and the facade construction.
Security
Generally, there are two types of security, described below:
- Physical security, against break-in attempts, which requires testing for relevant standards such as EN1627 incorporating RC1-RC6 and PAS 24 (PAS 24 or equivalent Part Q building regulation for residential applications) and LPS 1175 containing SR1-SR8 ratings.
- Operational security which refers to technology that prevents unauthorized access.
Automatic Operation – Floor or Ceiling Automation?
Integrating automation in the ceiling offers the designer the option to incorporate a warm air curtain and light into the solid roof arch, providing maximized comfort for the revolving door user.
Floor-level operation options (where the floor surface allows) are available for curved or regular sliding doors, for revolving doors, and when combined with an all-glass construction type help the designer deliver a minimalist aesthetic, maximize natural light penetration, contributing to creating a special experience for building visitors.
In conclusion, it is essential that when choosing a specific revolving door and making specifications, the needs of the contractor and the designer/architect, as well as those of the beneficiary, are met. If there are uncertainties regarding the most suitable revolving door, KADRA specialists are available for informed consultancy. In this way, any misunderstandings that could lead to security issues, installation delays, and waste of valuable time and money can be avoided.
Source: Record Global “Factors to consider when specifying an automatic revolving door“
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