Door Operators Access Control Tutorial

By Brian Rhodes, Published Apr 17, 2019, 10:09am EDT

Doors equipped with door operators, specialty devices that automate opening and closing, tend to be quite complex.

The mechanisms needed to achieve these actions, the configuration how they work, and how they integrate with standard access systems can be hard to get right.

In this tutorial, we examine:

  • Purpose of door operators
  • Swinging vs sliding vs revolving door operators
  • Wheelchair access doors
  • Low energy ratings
  • Pricing of operators
  • Integrating access control - Activate Buttons or Direct Operators

Purpose ** **** *********

*** ****** ****** ** opening *** ******* ***** takes *** ** *** most ****-**** ******* ** accomplish. ***** *** ******* behind ******** ** ******* a ****, ********* **** be ******, *******, ********, and ****.

****** '****' **** ******* **** ********* **** *** hydraulics ** ********** ** shut *****, ********* *** almost ****** '*****' ********** devices **** ******* ********** components *** *********** *********** that ********** ******** ** multiple **** ********** *** must ***** **** ** stop ** **** ** not ****** *****.

Designs **** ***** ** ****

***** *** ****** ********** vary ** ******, **** operators ******* ** ******** machined **********, ******, *****, levers, *********, *** *********.  A ******* '******' ******** cutaway ** ***** *****:

** **** *****, *** operator ** ******** ** work * ******** *******, and *** ****** ****/*****/******** is ******** *** ********* as * ****** ********.

*** **** ** **** dictates *** **** ** operator ****. *** ***** types **** ** **********, industrial, *** ****** ********* are:

  • ********: *** ***** **** open **/*** ** ****** or ******, ******** ********* handle ******** ** *** door ****.  **** ********/********** access ***** *** **** type ** ********.
  • *******: ********** *** ****-****** openings, **** ***** *** for *** *** ****** or ************, ******* ********* are **** *** ***** fast ***** *** ******* to **** *** ******** that ******* ***** *******.
  • *********: ***** ******** ** environmental ******** *** *********, revolving ***** *** **** to ******* ***** *** egress ** ******, ***** in ****-*** ********** ****** or ****-******** *************.

Wheelchair ****** *****

*** **** ****** *********** for ********* ** ********** buildings ** **** ********** for ***** **** ************* issues ** ********** ******.  In *******, * **** does *** **** ******** or ********** ******** ** open *** ***** *** door ******** **** ** operator, ** ** ********* push-button *********. ***** ********************** ** ***, ** ********* ***** ADA ** *** ******** adopted, *** ****** ********** are ***** ********* ****.

*** ******* ******* ** shown *****:

*** ****-******** ********** *********** access, *** ******* ** have ********** ***** *** keep **** ****** ** tricky *** *********** ****** control.

****** *** **** ********* the **** ** ****** (it ** *** *********), and *** **** ** timed ** **** **** and ****** ***** ** allow *** ***** ** wheel *******. *** ****** process, **** ******* ****, fully ********* ********* (** button ******), ** *******/******* force, ***** ****, ** additional ****** **** **** handrails *** ******* ** heavily ********** ** *****. We ******* **** ** detail *****.

Low ****** ******* *********

*** **** '*** ******' operator **** ******* ** swing ****** *****, *** has ******* ** ** with ***** ***** ** voltages. ******, *** '*** energy' *********** ******** ** the ***** ******** ** push *** **** **** as ** ****** ******.

********* ** ***, *** maximum ******** ***** *** door ******** ** **.* N (* **/**). ** countries ***** *** ** not ******** *******, *** design ********** *** ***** typically ****.  ******* **** rating ** ** ******, most ************ ******* ** *** **** *** criteria, *** ** * designated ******* ** ****** as * ********** ********** opening ** **** ****. 

** ***** ** ******* the '*** ******' ************* mandated ** ****, *** operator **** ** ******* in *** ********** ********* to**** ****.**:

  • ******** *****: ** **** **** 15 **** ****** ** force ** *** ******** edge ** *** ****, to ***** ******** **** people ** ******** **** off-balance.
  • ******* *****: ** ****** **** 3 ******* ** ***** open, ****** **** *** no **** **** * seconds, *** ***** ** faster **** * *******.

********** ************ *** *** initiation ** ****** **** happen ** ****** **** (not ************* ** ****** sensor) *** ** ***** of ***** ******* ****** require **** **** ** foot ****** ** ******** open.

**** ***** ********** *** met, *** ****** ****** requirements *** ******* *******, and *********/********** **** **** safety *********, ****** ********* scanners, *** ******** **** are *** ******** ** they *** **** '**** energy' ***** *********.  

****** ** *** ***** below *** ****** ** positioned ****** *** ****, but *** ********** **** button ** ******* *** door ** **** ***** of *** **** *****.  In **** *******, * wheelchair **** ***** * credential ** *** ****** to ****** *** ******, then **** **** ********* to ******* *** ****** to ************* **** *** door ** * ******** where *** **** ******** action **** *** *** or **** *** **** behind **:

** *** ******** *** triggered ******** ** *** reader, *** **** ***** be ******* ** *** swinging ****.  ** *********, however, * ********** **** is ************* ************* ** scanning **** ********* ********* in ***** ** **** the ******.

Sliding *****

**** ****** ** ****** stores ** ********* ***** high ******* ** ****** are ********/*******, ******* ***** are **** ******* **** move *******, *******, *** most ***** *************:

** *******, ******* *** high-maintenance ******** *** ******* frequent ********** *** *** wear ******* ***** ** heavy ***.  ***** ********* and ******** *** ********* installed *** ******** ** specialty *********** (***********) *** *********** ** access ******* ***** ******** joint *********** ***** *******.

Swing *****

*** *********** ******** *****, operators **** **** **** leafs ** ****** ** pivots *** ****. ** the ******* *****, ****** users *** ************* ****** by ****** ****** *** do *** **** ** press ******* ** ******** the ****.  

****** * ********** ****, this ** * '**** energy' ******** **** ******** additional ****** ********* **** handrails ** ** *********:

Revolving *****

*** **** *********, *********, yet '**** ********' ******** is ******** ** ********* doors.  ******* ************, ********* ***** **** allow *** ** * few ****** ** ** a **** *** **** internal ************ ********* **** outdoors.  ********* **** *** door ******** ****** ** a **** ****, *** can ****** *** **** movement **** **** ******* a ********** ** ****** moving ****** **** * dropped ***.

**** **** ** ******** is ***** **** ** architecturally *********** ** '*****' entries *** ***** *********** or ********** *******:

Operator ******

** *******, ********* *** expensive *** ******* *** entire ******* ** ** matched. ** **** *****, the ****** *** ***** themselves *** **** ******** or **** ** ********, greatly ********** *** **** and ***** ********.  ** terms ** ******** **** alone, **** ********** ******** ****** ***** ************* ~$*,***- $*,***, ***** a **** ****** ** sliding **** *** ** 4x ** ** ****.

** *******, *** **** of *** ******** ** a ******** ** *** entire **** ** ******** to ***** ****** * door, *** ************ *** service ********* ******** ****** relationships **** ************* *** may ******* ********* ******** installers ****** ********* *** approved ** ** ********.

Integrating ****** *******

***** *** *** ***** methods ** *********** ********* with ****** *******. ** both *****, ******* *** connected ** ****** *********** that:

  • ******** **** *********:******** **** *** ****** system ******** ******* * door ** ****.
  • ******** **** *******: *** ****** ****** activates *** **********, ***** allows *** **** ** open **** *******.

** ***** ** ***** option ** ***, ********* inputs ** ******** *********** and *** ******** ** push *******, ******** **** the ************ *** ******** of ****** ******** ** door *********** ****** ***** one ** ****.

** *** ******* *****, the ******* ****** ******** the **** ***** ********:

**** *********** **** ** supported ** ************ ** an **** ***** ******* on *** ********, ******* called * '*** *******' or ******* ** ************* ******* ***** *** the ******** *****:

*** ***** ****** ** integration ****** ** ********** the **** ****** **** a ***** **** ** read, ***** ********* ***** the ****** ** ********* and *************.  ** **** cases, **** ****** ** used **** *** **** is ********* **** *** a **** ****** ****** the ***, *** ****** controlled ** ******** ** night ** ** *** weekends. **** ****** ******** that **** ******* *** present, *** ********** *** need ** ******** ********* to ** ********.  *** images ***** **** **** installations:

*** ****** ***** *** push ******:

*** * ****** ***** either * ********* ********* or ******* *********** ****** credential '******' * ******:

Broad Access ****** *******

** *******, *** ****** system **** *********** **** include * ************* ****** output *** ** **** to ******* ** ********. Most ***** ********** *** enterprise ****** ********* ******* this ***** '*******' ******* designed *** ******* **** counts *** **** ***** applications *** ***, ********** '*****' alarm ***** ***** *******.

[****: **** ***** *** initially ********* ** ****, but ************* ******* *** expanded ** ****]

Comments (17)

Undisclosed #1

12/05/16 09:05am

Raise your hand if you know any technicians that have drilled into a concealed door closer. *PRICELESS

Avatar

Brian Rhodes

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Undisclosed #1 | 12/05/16 09:38am

Ouch, always an expensive act.

Undisclosed Integrator #3

In reply to Undisclosed #1 | 08/09/17 05:25am

Ooohhh! I know one! LOL!

Undisclosed #2

IPVMU Certified | 12/05/16 08:35pm

How does this one work?

Related: How Do Hotel Handicap Emergency Entry Buttons Work?

Avatar

Lynn Harold

06/05/18 11:34am

Has anyone ever tried accommodating a handicap entrance with access control using "wearable" credentials and a long-range reader?  I've used Nedap for vehicles entering a garage where we can attach a credential to the vehicle.  Anyone try this for people at a door?  They may be in wheelchairs or using walkers, and may not be able to swipe a card or press a button.  Thanks.

NOTICE: This comment has been moved to its own discussion: Experience With Long-Range Pedestrian Access?

Avatar

Scott Bradford

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Lynn Harold | 06/05/18 02:07pm

We had this situation at my office. We have a couple of staff in wheelchair, some of them mechanically challenged in reaching the readers or openers.

 

What we did was install the HID long range Prox reader, relocate them closer to the walkway and lowered them slightly.  Then, I created an event trigger in S2 that unlocks the door and fires the auto opener on positive badge scan. This means that ANY time someone scans, the door automatically opens, which is going to put additional wear time on the auto opener, but that was something we were willing to accept.

The R90 reader gives about 18 inches of range.  HID also makes a powered credential. It looks like an old garage door opener (about the size of a deck of cards). I tested one and I got about 4 feet of range. The credentials are about $50 a pop though.

 

I have used the Nedap stuff before. It's nice, just really expensive.

 

 

 

Avatar

Patrick Hart

04/17/19 07:36pm

I think face capture would be a good solution for handicap friction-less access. 

Frantz Mathias

04/18/19 06:55am

ANy brand of Swing door operator you could recommend $3000 for a double door. Please ? :)

Ty Mullen

COR Security, Inc.
In reply to Frantz Mathias | 04/19/19 06:27am

Security door controls

Avatar

David Johnson

04/18/19 10:50am

One project we were involved in had us controlling sliding doors by forcing the controller in and out of 'night' mode.  We did this by intercepting the manual keyswitch circuit and shorting the appropriate pins.  In this case 'night' mode also engaged a solenoid bolt lock inside the door operator to prevent sliding the doors by force.  One caveat was that the 'breakaway' function which allows the doors to be pushed open laterally in a panic situation had to be externally monitored, although it could not prevent said forcing and thus was not as secure as an access control door is generally perceived to be.

Ty Mullen

COR Security, Inc.
04/19/19 06:33am

One very critical thing that is often over looked, is isolating the interior and exterior buttons or detectors. The inside button or detector should always unlock and open the door. However the outside button or sensor should only become active when the access control system is activated through schedule or card. Some operators can handle this function but most can't. If not a sequencer is needed. Like a Camden CX-12.

Shannon Davis

In reply to Ty Mullen | 04/19/19 07:07am

Ty you are correct this is often overlooked. One issue in wiring this up properly, especially when the automatic opener is added post construction, is the use of the wireless handicap buttons. Most of the time the installation company will only use a single channel receiver and therefore both of the buttons fire the same output to the opener. In the past this wasn't a big issue as you could just run a wire to the exterior button and connect to the terminals on the button and disconnect the transmitter.

Anymore though it seems the buttons now have the wireless built into the actual button instead of a transmitter connected to the terminals on the button. So even if you can get a wire to the external button you can't connect to it. Same goes for the internal button as well with the wireless built in. At this point you have to get with the door opener supplier and install another wireless receiver so you can isolate the exterior button to prevent from activating the opener when the card reader is in the locked mode.

We typically use the MS Sedco TDM module but there are several options for this.

Ty Mullen

COR Security, Inc.
In reply to Shannon Davis | 04/19/19 07:59am

Shannon you are absolutely correct. Adding an additional receiver is really easy to do.

Interesting that you brought up post construction. We have ran into a lot of problems during construction projects directly related to this. It's usually not specified anywhere that the doors should act like that. But if course they should. We always get a lot of push back from everyone. Additional equipment is needed same so on. We try to get ahead of it quickly.

Shannon Davis

In reply to Ty Mullen | 04/19/19 08:01am

I don't understand why the time delay feature isn't built into the operator. Makes no sense on a brand new setup we have to provide a time delay module.

Ty Mullen

COR Security, Inc.
In reply to Shannon Davis | 04/19/19 09:25am

Yep. I have sat down with a few operator manufactures to discuss that with them. Most don't understand the concept. All of the ones that I have talked to have told me that I'm the only one who has asked and they don't see anyone else needing it or they shrug their shoulders and say I don't know you will have to get it elsewhere. 

I feel like they are stuck in the past when access control wasn't as main stream. They are still proud that they have a built in delay for an electric strike to fire (without access control). Also most of their dealers exclusively install door operators and don't/won't touch anything with the access control so they don't care. 

It's really a disservice to the end user. Because without the integration the door is going to try to open when it is still locked. Which will lead to burned up motors, twisted doors, frames and hinges. 

Undisclosed End User #4

10/09/20 10:15am

Great article.

Avatar

Ng Choy Mei

IPVMU Certified | 10/09/20 10:16am

Interesting.....

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