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ANSI Standard for Automatic Doors

Many facilities, these days, are equipped with automatic doors. These doors help to maximize the amount of traffic which can safely pass. However, American National Standards Institute (ANSI) has firm expectations relating to the function and construction of these doors as well as for their visibility.

  1. Regulations

    • Most regulations for automatic doors can be located in the ANSI/ BHMA American National Standard for Power Operated Pedestrian Doors. The most recent formulation of these standards came in 2005 and details the requirements and industry standards that organizations must follow. This is particularly the case with the American Association of Automatic Door Manufacturers.

    Features

    • These provisions recognize three primary types of doors: folding, sliding and swinging. Sliding doors must have a mechanism allowing them to swing out if need be whereas swinging doors must operate in both directions to allow for "two-way traffic." Folding doors must also have a swinging function if they are located at a "point of egress."

    Considering Visibility & Power

    • One of ANSI's primary concerns is visibility. This not only concerns the doors themselves, but also how the approach to the door is mapped out and executed. People should have every ability to see oncoming pedestrians and to fall into orderly safe patterns of entry and exit. Additionally, ANSI provides further specifications on how the power of the automated door should relate to the usual traffic volume they are supposed to accommodate.

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