1 Scope
NOTE This standard covers power-operated, full-energy automatic pedestrian entrance door assemblies, including sliding, swing, and folding configurations, their operators, activation and safety sensors, guide rails, thresholds, framing, and glazing integral to the entrance unit. (1.1)
NOTE Automatic entrances are specified primarily to satisfy three overlapping mandates: accessibility (the ADA Standards and ICC A117.1), egress (the International Building Code and, where adopted, NFPA 101), and the practical need to move heavy pedestrian traffic through a public building entry without a person handling a door leaf. Because a single assembly must satisfy all three at once -- and because a misconfiguration can become a life-safety deficiency at the building's primary exit -- the assembly, its controls, and its commissioning are specified together here rather than split across trades. (1.2)
NOTE The work of this section includes complete automatic entrance assemblies: door leaves, operators, controls, activation sensors, safety sensors, guide rails, thresholds, weatherstripping, integral framing, and integral glazing, furnished and installed ready for use. (1.3)
NOTE The 80% configuration this standard defaults to is a surface-mounted DC belt-drive overhead operator in a bi-parting sliding arrangement, with a microwave presence activation sensor and an infrared safety beam, a 36 in. (914 mm) clear opening, standard duty cycle, 120V AC supply, and UL 325 listing. (1.4)
NOTE Datasheet defaults throughout follow this case. They are starting points the Engineer of Record adjusts per project, not a recommendation to deviate from for safety-driven entries such as hospitals. (1.5)
NOTE Manual swing, pivot, and sliding doors without power operators are specified under
Doors Frames And Hardware and are excluded from this section.
(1.6) NOTE Low-energy power-assist and low-energy power-operated swing doors governed by ANSI/BHMA A156.19 -- push-and-go and push-plate-only operators with their distinct opening speeds, timing, and kinetic-energy limits -- are a separate product category and are excluded; A156.19 is referenced here only to define the boundary. (1.7)
NOTE Revolving pedestrian door entrances, whether manual or power, are governed by ANSI/BHMA A156.27 and are outside the scope of this standard; they are covered under a separate revolving-door section. (1.8)
NOTE All-glass frameless entrance doors with patch fittings and floor pivots are covered by
All Glass Entrances; where an all-glass automatic slider is required, coordinate the scope boundary with that standard.
(1.9) NOTE Overhead coiling grilles used for security closure, transit and platform-edge automatic doors, and industrial vehicle doors are outside the scope of this pedestrian-entrance standard. (1.11)
2 Referenced Standards
2.1Equipment, materials, and installation shall comply with the latest adopted edition of each of the following unless a specific edition is cited or the Authority Having Jurisdiction has adopted a different edition.
2.2Where referenced standards conflict, the more stringent requirement shall govern unless the Engineer of Record directs otherwise in writing.
NOTE The edition of the International Building Code and ICC A117.1 enforced varies by jurisdiction between the 2021 and 2024 IBC; the adopted edition governs activation, clear-width, and means-of-egress requirements for the project. (2.3)
2.4The Contractor shall confirm the adopted edition of the IBC and ICC A117.1 with the Authority Having Jurisdiction before submittal.
NOTE The 2024 IBC revised automatic-opener accessibility provisions; editions in use on any given project must be verified, not assumed. (2.5)
| Standard |
Title |
| ANSI/BHMA A156.10 |
Power Operated Pedestrian Doors |
| ANSI/BHMA A156.19 |
Power Assist and Low Energy Power Operated Doors |
| ANSI/BHMA A156.27 |
Power and Manual Operated Revolving Pedestrian Doors |
| ICC A117.1 |
Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities |
| IBC |
International Building Code (Section 1010, Doors, Gates, and Turnstiles) |
| ADA Standards |
ADA Standards for Accessible Design (Sections 309 and 404) |
| NFPA 101 |
Life Safety Code (Chapter 7, Means of Egress) |
| UL 325 |
Door, Drapery, Gate, Louver, and Window Operators and Systems |
| ASTM F842 |
Forced Entry Resistance of Sliding Door Assemblies, Excluding Glazing Impact |
| AAMA 907 |
Voluntary Specification for Automatic Pedestrian Door Operators |
3 Submittals
3.1 Action Submittals
3.1.1The Contractor shall submit the following action submittals for review before fabrication:
- Product data for each automatic entrance type, operator, activation sensor, and safety sensor, including the UL 325 listing and the A156.10 compliance statement.
- Shop drawings showing elevations, plans, sections, rough-opening dimensions, header depth, anchorage, thresholds, breakout panels, and the activation and safety detection zones.
- A wiring and interface diagram showing power supply, low-voltage controls, fire-alarm override relay, and any access-control tie-in.
- Glazing details and glass type for glazing integral to the assembly, or a cross-reference to the glazing specified under Glazing.
- Samples of frame finish and color for each exposed finish.
☑ Product data (operator, sensors, UL 325 listing, A156.10 statement)
☑ Shop drawings (elevations, sections, rough opening, detection zones)
☑ Wiring and interface diagram (power, fire-alarm override, access control)
☐ Glazing details / glass type
☑ Finish and color samples
3.2.1The Contractor shall submit the following informational submittals:
- Manufacturer's certification that the operator is listed to UL 325 as a Class I pedestrian door operator.
- Certification that the assembly complies with ANSI/BHMA A156.10 for full-energy operation.
- A structural calculation or test report for hurricane-rated and high-wind assemblies demonstrating compliance with the project design wind pressure and, where required, ASTM F842.
☑ UL 325 Class I operator listing certification
☑ ANSI/BHMA A156.10 compliance certification
☐ Wind-load / ASTM F842 test report (hurricane-rated only)
3.3 Closeout Submittals
3.3.1The Contractor shall submit the following closeout submittals before final acceptance:
- Operation and maintenance manuals covering daily owner safety checks and adjustment procedures.
- A completed AAADM daily safety inspection placard and the name of the AAADM-certified inspector who commissioned the assembly.
- A commissioning report documenting measured opening and closing speeds, hold-open time, kinetic energy, and verified detection-zone coverage.
- Written warranty documents.
☑ Operation and maintenance manuals
☑ AAADM inspection placard and certified-inspector record
☑ Commissioning report (speeds, hold-open, kinetic energy, detection zones)
☑ Written warranty documents
4 Quality Assurance
NOTE The American Association of Automatic Door Manufacturers (AAADM) administers the inspector-certification program referenced throughout North American practice; a certified inspector at commissioning is the recognized mechanism for verifying A156.10 compliance in the field. (4.1)
4.2Each automatic entrance shall be commissioned by an AAADM-certified inspector, who shall verify activation and safety detection-zone coverage, opening and closing speeds, hold-open time, and breakout operation.
4.3The installer shall be trained and authorized in writing by the manufacturer of the operator and control system supplied.
4.4The Contractor shall affix the daily safety check placard supplied by the manufacturer to each automatic entrance at completion.
4.5Operating speeds, kinetic energy, and hold-open time shall conform to ANSI/BHMA A156.10 for full-energy automatic pedestrian doors.
4.6Signage shall conform to ANSI/BHMA A156.10 for full-energy automatic pedestrian doors.
4.7Each operator and control unit shall be listed to UL 325 as a Class I pedestrian door operator.
5.1 Accessibility and Egress
5.1.1Door clear opening width shall be a minimum of 32 in. (813 mm) measured between the face of the door and the stop with the door in the open position, per ICC A117.1 and the ADA Standards.
5.1.2The clear opening width specified shall satisfy the egress capacity required by IBC Section 1010 for the occupant load served by the entrance.
5.1.3Door leaf width on a single swinging leaf used for egress shall not exceed 48 in. (1219 mm) per IBC Section 1010.
5.1.4The activation detection zone shall be at least as wide as the clear opening, measured at 15 in. (380 mm) and 30 in. (760 mm) from the face of the door, per ANSI/BHMA A156.10.
5.1.5The egress-side leaf shall swing free (break out) to the full clear opening with a maximum applied force of 15 lbf (67 N) when power is lost or the fire alarm activates.
5.1.6Hardware and any knowing-act actuator shall be operable with one hand and without tight grasping, pinching, or twisting of the wrist, per ICC A117.1 and the ADA Standards.
5.2 Speed and Kinetic Energy
5.2.1Closing kinetic energy shall not exceed 1.3 ft-lbf (1.76 J) for full-energy automatic sliding doors, per ANSI/BHMA A156.10.
5.2.2Door panel speed shall not exceed the limit corresponding to the A156.10 kinetic-energy ceiling and shall be field-adjusted to the operating speed scheduled for the entrance.
5.2.3At healthcare and other high-vulnerability entries, the operating speed shall be reduced from the commercial default to suit the expected user population.
NOTE A156.10 sets a ceiling, not a target; hospital, assisted-living, and pediatric entries are routinely commissioned slower than the maximum so that frail or distracted users are not struck by a closing panel. (5.2.4)
5.3 Fail-Safe Behavior and Emergency Breakout
NOTE Default operator behavior on loss of power varies by manufacturer, so the required fail mode must be stated explicitly and coordinated with the fire-alarm interface rather than left to the operator's factory default. (5.3.1)
NOTE Specifying nothing here is a common and serious error: one product may default to held-closed while another defaults to held-open, and only an explicit requirement guarantees the entrance behaves as the life-safety design intends. (5.3.2)
5.3.3The automatic entrance shall be provided with an emergency breakout panel on the egress-side leaf that allows manual swing-free egress on loss of power or on fire-alarm activation.
5.3.4The operator shall be interfaced to the building fire-alarm system so that activation of the fire alarm drives the entrance to the specified fail mode.
5.3.5The fail mode on loss of power shall be as scheduled and shall be coordinated with the means-of-egress design and the Authority Having Jurisdiction.
● Fail-safe, breakout to manual swing (egress free)
○ Fail-safe, slide held open
○ Fail-secure, held closed (breakout panel provides egress)
● Required
○ Not required (non-egress location only)
5.4 Duty Cycle
5.4.1The operator shall be rated for the traffic volume of the entrance, with standard commercial operators rated for not less than 1,000,000 cycles and heavy-duty operators provided where the schedule designates high-traffic service.
5.4.2Heavy-duty operators shall be provided at hospital, airport, transit, and other entries where sustained high cycle counts would prematurely wear a standard-duty operator.
NOTE Standard-duty operators are rated for general commercial use; sustained high-traffic service at hospitals, airports, and transit hubs demands a heavy-duty rating to avoid premature wear. (5.4.3)
● Standard commercial (>= 1,000,000 cycles)
○ [object Object]
6 Door Type and Configuration
6.1Door type and configuration shall be selected to suit the rough opening, the required clear width, and the available header and ceiling clearance.
NOTE The most common commercial entry is a bi-parting slider, in which two panels part to the center; a single-slide moves one panel to one side; telescoping arrangements stack two or three panels per side to deliver a wide clear opening in a constrained rough opening; full-energy swing and folding configurations serve entries where a sliding pocket is not feasible. (6.2)
NOTE Selecting a telescoping configuration to gain clear width without checking the rough opening is a frequent and costly error. (6.3)
NOTE A telescoping door delivering 72 in. (1830 mm) clear may require a 96 to 100 in. (2440 to 2540 mm) rough opening; coordinate with structural framing during shop-drawing review, not in the field. (6.4)
NOTE Concealed-header and floor-concealed operators require depth that low lobbies often lack. (6.5)
NOTE Concealed-header operators typically need 8 to 10 in. (200 to 250 mm) of header depth above the rough opening; verify ceiling and soffit clearance before selecting a concealed mounting, because the conflict is otherwise discovered only at submittal. (6.6)
Bi-parting sliding (two panels part to center)
Single-slide sliding (one panel to one side)
Telescoping sliding (2 or 3 panels per side)
Full-energy automatic swing (single)
Full-energy automatic swing (pair)
Automatic folding
● Surface-mounted overhead
○ Concealed within header
○ Floor-concealed
● DC permanent-magnet belt drive
○ Electromechanical gear drive
7 Activation and Safety Sensors
7.1 Activation Sensors
7.1.1The automatic entrance shall be provided with an activation sensor that opens the door on pedestrian approach or by a knowing act, as scheduled for the entrance.
NOTE Microwave (radar) sensors detect motion and are the common default for high-traffic flow; passive infrared detects presence; a pressure mat detects a person standing in the threshold; a push-plate actuator is a knowing-act device used where an assisted or controlled entry is intended. (7.1.2)
7.1.3The activation sensor shall provide a detection zone meeting the minimum width of ANSI/BHMA A156.10 across the full clear opening.
7.1.4Where a knowing-act push-plate actuator is scheduled, it shall be mounted within the reach ranges of ICC A117.1 and shall be operable without tight grasping or twisting.
Microwave / radar presence sensor
Passive infrared presence sensor
Pressure mat
Push-plate actuator (knowing act)
Access-control reader tie-in
Microwave activation with push-plate override
7.2 Safety Sensors
7.2.1The automatic entrance shall be provided with a safety sensor system that holds the door open while a person or object is within the door's path, per ANSI/BHMA A156.10.
NOTE Closing-edge protection is most commonly an infrared safety beam or an above-door radar safety sensor; a safety mat is used where floor-level presence detection is preferred. The safety system is independent of the activation system, and both must be verified at commissioning. (7.2.2)
7.2.3A presence safety sensor shall hold the door open whenever a person or object is detected within the closing path.
7.2.4The safety detection zones shall be field-verified and documented at commissioning, and coverage shall not be reduced below the A156.10 minimum.
NOTE Sensor coverage that is specified but never verified at commissioning is a leading source of accessibility complaints and warranty claims; field verification is therefore mandatory, not optional. (7.2.5)
Infrared safety beam (closing edge)
Above-door radar safety sensor
Safety mat
Infrared beam with above-door radar
8 Access Control Integration
NOTE Electric locks, card readers, intercoms, and building-management tie-ins are frequently specified under the electronic security division yet are physically mounted on the door header, so this section must call out the rough-in, voltage, and override provisions even when the security devices themselves are furnished elsewhere. (8.1)
NOTE The recurring failure is an uncoordinated interface: without an explicit call-out for conduit sleeves, control voltage, and a fire-alarm override relay, the header arrives without provisions and the access-control work stalls. (8.2)
8.3The Contractor shall coordinate rough-in sleeves, conduit, and control voltage in the header for any electric lock, reader, intercom, or building-management interface, whether furnished under this section or under the electronic security division.
8.4Any electric lock integrated with the entrance shall release to the specified fail mode on fire-alarm activation through the fire-alarm override relay.
8.5Control power shall be provided as required by the operator and entry-control modules, typically 120V AC single-phase to the operator and 24V DC to the control modules, with a dedicated circuit and local disconnect.
● None
○ Electric lock only
○ Card reader / credential
○ Card reader with intercom
○ Building-management system tie-in
● 120V AC single-phase, dedicated circuit
○ 208/240V AC single-phase, dedicated circuit
9 Materials, Frame, and Glazing
9.1 Frame
9.1.2Frame finish shall be Class I architectural anodize or a 70% PVDF fluoropolymer coating conforming to AAMA 2605, in the color scheduled to match the adjacent entrance system.
Clear anodized (AA-M10C22A41)
Dark bronze anodized
Black anodized
PVDF fluoropolymer coating (AAMA 2605), custom color
9.2 Thresholds and Guide Rails
9.2.1The threshold shall be a low-profile aluminum sill complying with the change-in-level limits of ICC A117.1 and the ADA Standards for an accessible route.
9.2.2Guide rails shall be provided where the sliding panels require lateral guidance, located and detailed per the manufacturer's standard for the selected configuration.
9.2.3Weatherstripping and bottom guides at exterior entrances shall be provided to limit air and water infiltration consistent with the building's energy and envelope requirements.
9.3 Glazing
NOTE Where the assembly uses insulating glass for thermal performance, or impact-resistant glass at a coastal entry, the U-factor, solar heat gain coefficient, and impact rating must be stated somewhere; this standard pins the glass type, and
Glazing governs the glazing performance.
(9.3.2) 9.3.3Glazing in door leaves and adjacent fixed lites shall be safety glazing -- tempered or laminated -- conforming to the hazardous-location requirements of the adopted building code.
Tempered, monolithic
Laminated safety glass
Insulating glass unit (tempered)
Impact-resistant laminated (hurricane)
10 Weather and Forced-Entry Performance
NOTE Standard automatic entrances are not rated for hurricane or high-wind exposure; coastal and high-wind projects require a separately rated assembly, and substituting a standard unit is a design failure. (10.1)
NOTE Hurricane-rated sliders are tested for forced-entry resistance and design wind pressure; the rated assembly, its anchorage, and its glazing are a different product from the standard unit and cannot be interchanged after the fact. (10.2)
10.3Hurricane-rated and high-security sliding entrances shall provide forced-entry resistance to ASTM F842 at the grade scheduled, with ASTM F842 Grade 25 as the minimum where forced-entry resistance is required.
10.4Exterior automatic entrances in wind-borne-debris and high-wind regions shall be designed for the project design wind pressure determined per the governing structural load standard for the building.
● Standard commercial (interior or sheltered exterior)
○ Coastal / high-wind (design wind pressure per project)
○ Hurricane / forced-entry rated (ASTM F842 Grade 25 minimum)
11 Vestibule and Airlock Coordination
NOTE Specifying both doors in an airlock vestibule with identical independent timers creates the condition the energy code and pressurization design forbid: both doors open simultaneously, defeating the airlock. Sequencing must be coordinated as a system, not set per door. (11.1)
11.2In an airlock vestibule, the inner and outer door hold-open and sequencing shall be coordinated so the two doors are not open at the same time under normal operation.
11.3Vestibule sequencing shall be coordinated with any building pressurization or smoke-control requirement for the entry.
● Single automatic door (no vestibule)
○ Airlock vestibule (two automatic doors in series, sequenced)
12.1Locations, extents, and arrangements that cannot be reduced to a product selection shall be coordinated from the Contract Drawings.
13 Installation
13.1 Examination
13.1.1The installer shall verify rough-opening dimensions, header depth, structural anchorage, and ceiling clearance before installation and shall report unacceptable conditions in writing.
13.1.2Installation shall not proceed until rough openings conform to the approved shop drawings.
13.2 Erection
13.2.1Automatic entrances shall be installed plumb, level, and true to line, anchored to the structure per the approved shop drawings and the manufacturer's instructions.
13.2.2Operators, sensors, and controls shall be installed and wired by personnel trained and authorized by the manufacturer.
13.2.3The fire-alarm override interface shall be installed and connected so that the entrance assumes its specified fail mode on alarm.
13.3 Adjustment and Commissioning
13.3.1After installation, the AAADM-certified inspector shall adjust and verify opening speed, closing speed, kinetic energy, hold-open time, activation detection zone, and safety detection zone, and shall record the results.
13.3.2Breakout operation shall be tested under simulated power loss and fire-alarm activation and shall be confirmed to operate within the 15 lbf (67 N) maximum force.
13.3.3Activation and safety detection-zone coverage shall be verified across the full clear opening and documented in the commissioning report.
14 Testing
14.1Each completed automatic entrance shall be tested in the field for compliance with ANSI/BHMA A156.10 by the AAADM-certified inspector before acceptance.
14.2The measured closing kinetic energy shall be confirmed not to exceed 1.3 ft-lbf (1.76 J), and the measured opening and closing speeds shall be confirmed within the scheduled limits.
14.3The safety sensor system shall be tested to confirm the door holds open whenever a person or object is within the closing path.
14.4Test results, including speeds, kinetic energy, hold-open time, and detection-zone coverage, shall be recorded in the commissioning report submitted at closeout.
15 Delivery, Storage, and Handling
15.1Automatic entrance assemblies, operators, and sensors shall be delivered in the manufacturer's original protective packaging with finishes protected.
15.2Materials shall be stored indoors, off the ground, protected from moisture, dust, and construction traffic until installation.
15.3Finished aluminum surfaces shall be protected from mortar, plaster, and other corrosive or abrasive materials throughout construction.
15.4Damaged components shall be replaced rather than repaired in the field where the repair would not restore full function or finish.
16 Warranty
16.1The Contractor shall provide the manufacturer's written warranty against defects in materials and workmanship for the automatic entrance assembly.
16.2The warranty shall cover the operator, controls, sensors, and frame for not less than one year from Substantial Completion, with longer terms provided where scheduled.
16.3The warranty shall require correction of failures of the breakout, fail-safe, and detection functions on which life safety and accessibility depend.
17 Maintenance and Inspection
NOTE Omitting maintenance and inspection requirements from closeout leaves the owner without a compliance framework for a life-safety device that must keep working long after installation. (17.1)
NOTE AAADM recommends a daily owner safety check and a periodic inspection by a certified inspector; carrying these into the closeout documents gives the owner a defined obligation rather than an undocumented assumption. (17.2)
17.3The operation and maintenance manual shall include the AAADM daily safety-check procedure and the manufacturer's adjustment and lubrication schedule.
17.4The owner shall be advised, in the closeout documents, to obtain an annual inspection of each automatic entrance by an AAADM-certified inspector.
17.5The daily safety-check placard supplied by the manufacturer shall be installed at each automatic entrance and shall not be removed.
18 Spare Parts
18.1The Contractor shall furnish the manufacturer's recommended spare sensors and consumable wear items for each automatic entrance type provided.
18.2Spare parts shall be delivered in labeled packaging identifying the entrance type, component, and quantity, and shall be turned over to the Owner at closeout.
☑ Spare activation sensor (one per type)
☑ Spare safety sensor (one per type)
☐ Drive belt and wear kit
☐ Weatherstripping / brush seal set