Safety Standards for Automatic Door Operation

Automatic doors have been in use for many years. The first automatic sliding door was invented in the 1950s. The use of an “optical device” to control an automatic swing door dates back to the 1930s. As times and technology have changed, methods to efficiently install and operate automatic doors have changed. Since its inception in 1994, the trade association known as the American Association of Automatic Door Manufacturers (AAADM) has worked alongside the Builders Hardware Manufacturers Association (BHMA) to create and publish safety standards promoting the safest and efficient methods of installing and maintaining an automatic door. These safety standards are issued by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).

An industry standard of covering automatic doors, ANSI/BHMA A156.10 Power Operated Pedestrian Doors, is currently being revised to include additional safeguards when using sensors, such as those that MS Sedco manufactures. This section of the standard references Sensor Monitoring, a process that ensures the sensor and automatic door operator are connected. This revision should take effect soon. To comply with the new revision some of our sensors will be equipped with a Test Input feature. The Test Input can be used to monitor the sensor and ensure continued operation. Our DH100-CT is the first of our models that include the Test Input.

For additional information on our sensors, or the latest automatic door standards, please contact us.