BHMA RELEASES COMPLETELY NEW STANDARD ON REVOLVING DOORS; AND REVISES AND UPDATES EARLIER STANDARD ON LOW-ENERGY DOORS

Builders Hardware Standards Detail Safety and Performance Features of Manually-Operated, Power-Assisted and Power-Operated Doors for Heavily Trafficked Entranceways

NEW YORK, NY — The Builders Hardware Manufacturers Association (BHMA) announces the publication of the new standard ANSI/BHMA A156.27-2003 American National Standard for Power and Manual Operated Revolving Pedestrian Doors; as well as the revised and updated ANSI/BHMA A156.19-2002 American National Standard for Power Assist and Low Energy Power Operated Doors.

The completely new standard on revolving doors is the first standard to concentrate entirely on requirements for revolving doors. This long-awaited, 22-page, document includes dozens of key definitions and 11 illustrations. Examples of topics covered are maximum allowable RPMs, clearances, starting forces, emergency stop switches and activation devices.

Drawings depict the kinetic energy of revolving doors; revolving door types; plan views of two-, three-, and four-wing automatic revolving doors; the use of sensors and mats on revolving doors; and other important design criteria. Other safety requirements specified in the standard involve egress width, signage and breakout forces.

The ANSI/BHMA A156.19-2002 standard is an updated revision of the earlier A156.19 standard, which applies to power assist doors, low energy power operated doors or low energy power open doors for pedestrian use, and some small vehicular use. This standard includes provisions intended to reduce the chance of user injury or entrapment and addresses many requirements not provided for in ANSI/BHMA A156.10 for Power Operated Pedestrian Doors.

The A156.19 standard details opening times, closing times, and forces to prevent a door from closing. This standard also defines the minimal manual forces to open these types of doors in the event of a power failure to the door operator, which is a timely topic, considering the effects of recent blackouts and power outages. It also describes signage requirements.

For more information, or to purchase copies of the ANSI/BHMA A156.19-2002 or A156.27-2003 standards, please visit BHMA’s web site at www.buildershardware.com Purchased standards are available as printed documents or as electronic files (PDF) for immediate download. You can also order standards by phone by calling 800-699-9277.

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