Beyond the door material, another important decision is determining whether a more sophisticated door system is required for the application. In the MasterFormat section 08 30 00, Specialty Doors and Frames, a number of door types are listed for special functions, access locations, sliding and folding hardware, and even pressure-resistant types. Among these, there are several mentioned by Building Teams for consideration today:
• Pivoted or hinged doors. Both pivots and hinges can be used interchangeably, although hinged, prefabricated doors are generally less expensive. The presentation of the door types is the key factor. A hinged door typically reveals a knuckle spanning 4½ inches, while a pivot door’s profile is much smaller, with a 1½-inch knuckle. (Means Illustrated Construction Dictionary defines a door knuckle as “one of the enlarged, protruding, cylindrical parts of a hinge through which the pin is inserted.) The pivot door also offers a higher level of durability, making it a common choice for commercial applications.
• Balanced doors. Ideal for windy climates, a balanced door is a more sophisticated, engineered system for exterior entrances. “The balanced door system is a complete assembly where the hanging and closing of the door is controlled by the door system, negating some of the effects of excessive wind conditions,” says Jim Berg, a veteran door systems consultant.
If a balanced door isn’t in the budget, then pivoted or hinged doors need to be designed with higher opening and closing forces, as more of the door leaf is exposed to the wind.
• Automatic and revolving doors. Automatic doors are commonly used to meet the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act, or simply to handle highly trafficked entrances, as in hospitals and grocery stores. Because the price difference between automatic and revolving doors is substantial, revolving doors are usually reserved for buildings with significant weather requirements.
Revolving doors can also be helpful in mitigating the effects of strong negative and positive air pressures created by the HVAC systems and outdoor conditions, which cause wear and tear to a typical door. Consequently, the number of service calls is reduced with revolving or vestibule door systems.
According to Studio 08 Principal Rick Lewis, the most common type of revolving door is the single-post door. However, “Many of the airports are now using a type that allows more people to be in the door unit at one time, to move more traffic,” he says. Today there are small, three- and four-wing models for lower-traffic applications, while the large, two-wing or three-wing automatic revolving doors are more common in retail centers, hospitals, and transportation centers.
In most applications, a low-energy power operator meeting ANSI A156.19 (Standard for Power Assist and Low Energy Power Operated Doors) is specified as an ADA-compliant installation. However, for industrial settings, a heavy-duty power operator compliant with ANSI A156.10 (American National Standard for Power Operated Pedestrian Doors) is used. The industrial types are often specified with a ramp and guides, as the doors generally don’t stop and reset if a person or object enters the sensory field.
While the lower energy operators do stop and reset, this action can eventually wear down the mechanism. “Currently, manufactured units are considerably better than the ones that first came out 20 years ago,” says Lewis. “However, an ANSI A156.10 unit requires a lot of maintenance because the door operator is used each time a person, cart, or motorized vehicle passes through the opening.” Lewis says there is considerable power and momentum in the door as an operator is functioning, and “this causes not only the operators to receive a lot of abuse, but also the doors and frames.”
While retrofitting ordinary doors into automatic doors can be difficult and expensive, there are cases where there is no way around the problem for certain types of buildings, such as churches, temples, mosques, and other religious institutions, which are now required by ADA standards to update their access points. +
Related Stories
| Nov 8, 2013
Can Big Data help building owners slash op-ex budgets?
Real estate services giant Jones Lang LaSalle set out to answer these questions when it partnered with Pacific Controls to develop IntelliCommand, a 24/7 real-time remote monitoring and control service for its commercial real estate owner clients.
| Nov 8, 2013
S+T buildings embrace 'no excuses' approach to green labs
Some science-design experts once believed high levels of sustainability would be possible only for low-intensity labs in temperate zones. But recent projects prove otherwise.
| Nov 8, 2013
Net-zero bellwether demonstrates extreme green, multifamily style
The 10-unit zHome in Issaquah Highlands, Wash., is the nation’s first net-zero multifamily project, as certified this year by the International Living Future Institute.
| Nov 8, 2013
Walkable solar pavement debuts at George Washington University
George Washington University worked with supplier Onyx Solar to design and install 100 sf of walkable solar pavement at its Virginia Science and Technology Campus in Ashburn, Va.
| Nov 6, 2013
PECI tests New Buildings Institute’s plug load energy use metrics at HQ
Earlier this year, PECI used the NBI metrics to assess plug load energy use at PECI headquarters in downtown Portland, Ore. The study, which informed an energy-saving campaign, resulted in an 18 percent kWh reduction of PECI’s plug load.
| Nov 5, 2013
Net-zero movement gaining traction in U.S. schools market
As more net-zero energy schools come online, school officials are asking: Is NZE a more logical approach for school districts than holistic green buildings?
| Nov 5, 2013
New IECC provision tightens historic building exemption
The International Energy Conservation Code has been revised to eliminate what has been seen as a blanket exemption for historic buildings.
| Nov 5, 2013
Living Building Challenge clarifies net-zero definitions and standards
The Living Building Challenge has released the Net Zero Energy Building Certification to provide clearer definitions regarding what net zero really means and how it is to be achieved.
| Nov 5, 2013
Oakland University’s Human Health Building first LEED Platinum university building in Michigan [slideshow]
Built on the former site of a parking lot and an untended natural wetland, the 160,260-sf, five-story, terra cotta-clad building features some of the industry’s most innovative, energy-efficient building systems and advanced sustainable design features.
| Nov 4, 2013
Architecture and engineering industry outlook remains positive on all major indicators
While still below pre-recession levels, all of the key indicators in the latest Quarterly Market Forecast (QMF) report from PSMJ Resources remain in positive territory.
