Ensure accessibility
Once a team has been assembled, accessibility should be emphasized as a guiding principle for the planning process. There are several common issues to be aware of throughout this process.
1. The 2010 edition of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires operable hardware that is “easy to grasp with one hand and does not require tight grasping, pinching, or twisting of the wrist to operate” to be mounted within the allowable range—either less than 1219 mm (48 in.) or 863 to 1219 mm (34 and 48 in.) above the floor, depending on which standard is used. Section 11B-404.2.7 of the 2013 California Building Code (CBC), “Door and Gate Hardware,” for example, requires operable hardware to be mounted 863 to 1117 mm (34 and 44 in.) above the finished floor (AFF).
2. The 2010 Americans with Disabilities Act’s (ADA’s) operable force requirements state door and gate hardware must operate with a maximum 2.3 kg (5 lb) of force. Currently, this conflicts with International Building Code (IBC) requirements of 7 kg (15 lb), but complying with the more stringent requirement will allow professionals to avoid costly ADA violations while improving accessibility for
all occupants.
3. Standby power for automatic operators is required for automatic doors if the proper maneuvering clearance is not provided. However, on fire-rated doors, such operators are required to be deactivated upon sounding of a fire alarm. This means automatic operators with standby power should not be used to overcome maneuvering clearance problems on fire-rated doors, as the operator will not be functional when the alarm is sounding.
4. The 2002 edition of American National Standards Institute/Building Hardware Manufacturers Association (ANSI/BHMA) A156.19, Power Assist and Low-energy Power-operated Doors, introduced a requirement for such doors to be activated by a ‘knowing act’ such as using a push-plate actuator or an access control device like a card reader, keypad, or keyswitch.
5. Stepping into the field of a motion sensor is not considered a knowing act. If automatic operation via a motion sensor is desired, automatic doors must comply with the standard for full power operators—ANSI/BHMA A156.10, Power-operated Pedestrian Doors—instead of A156.19. This means even though the door may have a low-energy operator, it and its safety sensors or control mats and guide rails must meet the same requirements as a full-power operator.
6. Maneuvering clearance for recessed doors must be provided when there is an obstruction within 457 mm (18 in.) of the latch side of a door projecting more than 203 mm (8 in.) beyond the door’s face. Without this clearance, a person using a wheelchair may not be able to open a door recessed in an alcove. A frame with a large jamb depth (approximately 254 mm [10 in.] or more) can create the same problem.
Access control products must comply with the same code requirements as mechanical hardware, but architects and security consultants should also take into account some accessibility concerns not addressed by codes. For example, several types of readers and credentials are difficult, if not impossible, for the elderly and people with certain disabilities to operate. A keypad requiring a high degree of manual dexterity for code entry will prove far more challenging for those with impaired motor skills than a proximity (prox) reader that just requires a token to be nearby. Design and construction professionals should consider whether potential products will be appropriate for occupants of all ages and abilities before making any final decisions.
Maintain flexibility
Planning for access control ahead of time ensures the system will not only be appropriate for the current needs of the facility, but also flexible enough to adapt to future changes. It is common for clients to be concerned the solution they select will require upgrades and expansions as facility needs change—many people want a system capable of accommodating emerging technologies that will facilitate future adaptation.
The best way to address this concern is by using open-architecture electronic locking systems, which are designed to easily accept additions, upgrades, and replacement of components or even the system itself. This structure eliminates proprietary constraints, employing open standards to provide access to critical data and information. It also helps protect access control investments for years to come—as security needs change, the access control system can likewise be changed with the addition of new credential technologies, various network protocols, increased security levels, and system expansions. These upgrades do not require replacement of all locks or even taking locks off doors to retrofit.
With this type of system, components traditionally located around the door can be integrated into the lock itself to yield a smarter solution and more value for the investment. Locks can also be configured to create a custom fit. These systems provide multiple, interchangeable credential reader modules as well as interchangeable offline networking modules—both wired and wireless—that allow access control to be installed at doors where this had previously been unfeasible.
The modular, scalable characteristics of these systems allow this kind of flexibility. Users can choose which openings should remain offline or be moved to a network, and can manage both types of locks with the same software and database. As security needs evolve and when budget allows, a facility can place more locks on more doors and move more offline doors to a network solution.
