Jim Sargent

The 2005 version of the A156.10 has expanded upon Section 9, Knowing Act, to include many factors regarding double egress swing doors. Prior to the 2005 revision of A156.10 double egress doors were considered "Custom design" which is not covered by the standard. Other issues in section 9 of the ANSI standard regarding knowing act swing doors have also been clarified.

These requirements only apply to power operated pedestrian doors that fall under the A156.10 standard. None of this applies to low energy operators that fall under A156.19. Low energy operators do not require sensors and guide rails but operate at much slower speeds than doors falling under A156.10. The number of low energy operators being installed in hospitals is rapidly increasing. In many cases though, the hospital staff wants their low energy doors to operate at faster speeds than allowed by A156.19. For those of you who submit to their requests without installing additional safety devices, I hope you have really good liability insurance or deep, deep pockets.

The following is a HIGHLIGHT of requirements for Knowing act swing doors. This is good information to know when quoting or installing knowing act doors. It will also be helpful in advising your customer on what is needed if they want to speed up their low energy door. The information below is focused on swing door applications with knowing act devices and sensors. Reference the appropriate sub-section of the A156.10 for a full description of requirements.

Keep in mind that there is no perfect sensor. The best sensor for a particular application may be a control mat. To keep this article short, control mats will not be discussed. If you have questions regarding control mats, slide doors or fold doors please contact Optex Technologies Inc. and ask for technical support (800)877-6656.

GENERAL:

A knowing act device (push plate, card reader, etc.) must be mounted within view of the door at a height between 36 to 48 inches above finish floor. It must be within 12 feet of the center of the door, remain accessible when the door is open and must not be located where the user would be in the path of the moving door.

The door must remain FULLY OPEN for a minimum of 5 seconds after release of the knowing act device. The door shall be equipped with safety zones, time delays and guide rails as required in the A156.10 for the type of door installed. Secondary activation devices are required. SINGLES & SIMULTANEOUS PAIRS OPENING IN THE SAME DIRECTION.

Section 7 Guide rails, A156.10 in relation to knowing act doors: Two guide rails, or equivalent, are required on the swing side of the door. Guide rails on two way traffic doors need to extend a minimum of 12 inches beyond the lead edge of the door panel at full open (90 degrees). If the doors are in a hallway and the adjacent walls are within 10 inches of the full open door, no guide rails are required.

Safety Sensor options:

According to the standard a swing door shall have a safety zone which is always active. Two types of safety systems are described (Overhead Presence, Door Mounted).

Overhead presence sensors may be used. Requirements are the same for Knowing Act as for Non-Knowing Act. It is important to note that the 2005 revision of the A156.10 now requires an additional sensor to be used in conjunction with an overhead presence sensor on swing doors. This sensor is required to do one of two things during the closing cycle:

1. When someone approaches the door from the swing side during the closing cycle, the sensor sends a signal to inhibit reopening of the door until the safety zone is cleared. (Generally a safety beam mounted past the swing of the door)
   
2. When the door is re-activated on the closing cycle and the sensor detects a person fully in the swing path, a signal is sent to stop or slow the door to a maximum latch edge speed of 4 inches per second. (Door mounted sensor on the swing side)

Door mounted sensors may be used for safety and the requirements are the same as Non-Knowing Act Doors and must conform to sub-section 8.2.2.3 of the A156.10.

Secondary Activation:

Once the door is activated by a knowing act device, a secondary activation sensor must be active until the door is within 10 degrees of full closed. The Secondary activation sensor shall be deactivated at some point between 10 degrees and the full closed position. Secondary activation is ONLY required on the NON-SWING SIDE.

The activation zone must be effective to within 5 inches of the door (measured at the center of the door opening and extend a minimum of 24 inches from the face of the door in the closed position. The minimum width must extend the entire clear opening.

DOUBLE EGRESS

Double egress pairs of doors must open simultaneously and open in opposite directions. The requirements for double egress are basically the same as the requirements for singles and simultaneous pairs with the following exceptions.

Guide rail requirements are the same as knowing act simultaneous pairs. Two guide rails are required with one placed at the hinge side of each door leaf on the swing side (See drawing below). Most double egress doors are found in hospital corridors with less than 10" between the wall and the open door at 90 degrees. Therefore the usually do not need guide rails.

When using overhead presence sensors the safety zone must be effective to within 5 inches of the face of the door and must extend a minimum of 5 inches beyond the open door (90 degrees). The width, at minimum, must be within 5 inches of both edges of the door panel. On DOUBLE EGRESS knowing act doors, a SAFETY BEAM or SWING SIDE DOOR MOUNTED SENSOR is NOT REQUIRED in conjunction with overhead presence (see diagram below).

When using door mounted sensors the pattern requirements are the same as Non-Knowing Act doors (see diagram below).

Secondary activation:
On doors utilizing overhead presence for safety a secondary activation sensor must be used. The detection zone must be effective to within 5 inches of the face of the closed door and extend a minimum of 24 inches from the face of the closed door. The width, at minimum must be within 5 inches of both edges of the door panel. When door mounted sensors are used and meet the criteria set forth in sub-section 8.2.2.3 of the A156.10, additional secondary activation sensors are not required (see diagram below).

The Diagram below is taken from the 2005 ANSI/BHMA A156.10.

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Direct your thinking
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Tim O'Connor is president of Training Associates International, a company that specializes in teaching sales, motivation, management and communication skills to organizations worldwide. He is also the author of Soft Sell (Source Books, Inc.). He can be reached at 433 West Briar Place, #2C, Chicago, IL 60657; (800) 222-9070.