As can be seen in the accompanying illustration, the safety sensor in a trailing door wing can detect the presence of an object that falls within a certain area, and slow down or stop the door if activated. Note that these safety sensors will affect the usable compartment space and maximum traffic of an automatic door. For a larger compartment space, the drum diameter should be increased. Boosting a 12-foot-diameter door to a 14-foot-diameter, for example, can result in a 35 percent increase in compartment size and allow more traffic.

Emergency egress is one of the main issues when considering the main entrance to a building, and ANSI requires that a swing or slide door shall be installed next to the revolving door in the same building plane. Both the International Building Code (IBC) and the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) require a minimum of one door be installed within 10 feet of the revolving door. This is in case a revolving door malfunctions or becomes obstructed, or to accommodate those who do not wish to use the door because of a physical disability or other reason.

As mentioned earlier, revolving doors must be equipped with bookfolding door wings, creating a free passage that can be used as a supplemental emergency exit of a building in addition to dedicated emergency doors. In a book-fold operation, all wings collapse parallel to each other and to the egress direction, creating two openings of equal width, the sum of which must not be less than 36 inches. This will accommodate pedestrians on each side of the opening. Collapsing force—the weight at which doors must collapse under pressure—should be less than 130 pounds if the door is a means of egress, and less than 180 pounds if it is not a means of egress. This is according to the NFPA, IBC and ANSI 156.27. The codes agree that “ Each revolving door wing shall be capable of breakout when a force 130 pounds is applied at a point 3 inches from the outer edge of the outer wing stile and 40 inches above the floor. An exception is two wing doors with automatic sliding or collapsing center panels per 7.3 are excluded.” Both the IBC and NFPA state that revolving doors shall not be given credit for more than 50 percent of the required egress capacity of a building, and that each individual door shall be credited with no more than a 50-person egress capacity.

Further, if a stairway or escalator in front of a revolving door delivers passengers at a rate that exceeds door capacity, lines of people can crowd the area, creating unsafe congestion. Consequently, a dispersal area between the stairways or escalators and the revolving doors is required to enable safe and orderly egress. In addition, the revolving door must not be closer than 10 feet from the exit point of the stairway or escalator.

ANSI 156.27 also requires that there be specific signage on automatic revolving doors, including an “Automatic Door” sign, an “Emergency Stop” button and a “Push to Slow” button posted on the doors. Most manufacturers can offer additional safety measures such as visual signage on the door wings and drum to ensure the safety of doors for all user groups. Architects should contact the revolving door manufacturer for aftermarket decals to be affixed to the glass on the revolving doors. Another feature offered by many manufacturers is voice communication, which announces “please move forward” or a similar message when a user has triggered a presence detection sensor on an automatic door and the door has been slowed or stopped.

Architects should be aware, however, that codes are always subject to the interpretation and approval of local enforcement authorities. If in doubt, the door manufacturer can be a good source of advice on code implications for a specific project.

Specifying a Revolving Door

As a recap, properly specifying a revolving door is dependent on a number of factors. A check list is presented below.

• Determine the capacity needed for each entrance and consider the benefits of a larger-diameter door.

• Clearly delineate whether a manual or automatic revolving door is necessary.

• Make specifications consistent with architectural details.

• Make specifications consistent with the manufacturer's door model selected as the basis of specification.

• Carefully choose the number of door wings—three or four—and detail the plan view consistently.

• Indicate the desired dimensions for diameter, door opening height, and height under canopy as well as canopy height.

• Specify a finish for the canopy of the revolving door system. The basics to consider here are whether the canopy will be visible from above and whether it is exposed to the outside elements.

• Determine security needs. Will night sliding doors be required? Prevention of tailgating or piggybacking? Do security concerns warrant remote locking and card readers?

Manual revolving doors must utilize a speed control device to comply with applicable buildings codes. Generally a speed control device will be mounted in the standard overhead location in the canopy structure; a floor-mounted location is optional, and typically used with a glass ceiling. Deadbolt locks are typically top-rail mounted and can engage the door ceiling to secure the door panels from rotating. Deadbolt locks can also be mounted on the door bottom rail and locked into the floor with a dust-proof strike , usually if the door opening height is above 7 feet 6 inches or greater. Activation and safety sensors are not necessary in manual revolving doors and should not be specified. Floor mats, carpet tiles, grills and grates can be referenced in a revolving door specification but should be specified in Division 5, 9 or 12.

For automatic revolving doors, safety sensors should be specified per ANSI 156.27, both Infrared presence detectors and rubber contact switches for a redundant and overlapping capability. “Showcase” and throat opening sensors are recommended. Specify electric shaft and electric wing locking to provide remote locking capability as well as stability in windy conditions. Note that power assisted, “push to start” capabilities are not acceptable per ANSI as ANSI requires external activation sensors mounted on the outside canopy or ceiling at the opening. Neither speed control units nor push bars should be specified—these are exclusively the province of manual door attributes.

Revolving Doors—Sustainable, Safe, Comfortable

With rising energy costs and clients' growing demand for comfortable, safe, and environmentally sustainable building, revolving doors can be a true asset. Revolving doors are the most energy-efficient entrance solutions available today. The “always open, always closed” principle of a revolving door ensures that the conditioned inside air and the unconditioned outside air remain separated, preventing drafts, dust, and noise coming into the building. As less energy is required to maintain the conditioned climate inside the building, revolving doors help reduce the carbon footprint of a building and save both energy and cost—key assets in today's building environment.

 

Royal Boon Edam is a global market leader in entry solutions. Headquartered in the Netherlands, with 140 years of experience in engineering quality, the company has gained extensive expertise in managing the movement of people through office buildings, airports, healthcare facilities, hotels, and many other types of buildings. www.boonedam.us