Understanding ANSI A156.19 Low Energy Door Operator Requirements

If you are in the market for an automatic door system, it is important to understand the requirements set forth by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). Specifically, the ANSI A156.19 standard applies to low energy door operators. These operators are designed for doors that are intended for pedestrian use and require minimal force to operate.

What is the ANSI A156.19 Standard?

The ANSI A156.19 standard establishes requirements for low energy door operators, which are classified as “power-operated pedestrian doors” that are low-energy, or power-assisted. The standard defines the minimum performance requirements for these door operators, including safety and functionality.

What are the Requirements for Low Energy Door Operators?

The ANSI A156.19 standard covers a wide range of requirements for low energy door operators. Some of the key requirements include:

4. REQUIREMENTS FOR LOW ENERGY SWINGING POWER OPERATED DOORS OR LOW ENERGY SWINGING POWER OPEN DOORS

4.1 Opening Time

4.1.1 Doors shall be field adjusted so that opening time to back check or 80 degrees, which ever occurs first, shall be 3 seconds or longer as required in Table I. Backcheck shall not occur before 60 degrees opening.

4.1.2 Total opening time to fully open shall be as in Table II. 4.2 Closing Time

4.2. I Doors shall be field adjusted to close from 90 degrees to 10 degrees in 3 seconds or longer as required in Table J.

4.2.2 Doors shall be field adjusted to close from 10 degrees to fully closed in not less than 1.5 seconds.

4.3 The door shall be field adjusted to remain fully open for not less than 5 seconds.

4.4 The force required to prevent a stopped door from opening or closing shall not exceed a 15Ibf (67 N) applied I in (25 mm) from the latch edge of the door at any point in the opening or closing cycle.

4.5 The kinetic energy of a door in motion shall not exceed 1.25 Ibf-ft (1.69 Nm). Table I provides speed settings for various widths and weights of doors for obtaining results complying with this paragraph.

4.6 In the event of power failure to the operator, doors shall open with a manual force not to exceed a 15 Ibf(67 N) to release a latch, if equipped with a latch, a 30 Ibf(133 N) to set the door in motion, and a 15 Ibf (67 N) to fully open the door. The forces shall be applied at 1" (25 mm) from the latch edge of the door.

5. CYCLE TESTS

5.1 Low Energy Power Operated, Low Energy Power Open, and Power Assist doors shall be cycle tested for 300,000 cycles.

5.2 Use the widest and heaviest test specimen recommended for use by the manufacturer. Narrower or lighter doors of the same configurations shall then be considered to meet the cycle test requirements.6

5.3 Use the requirements in Table 1 to detem1ine opening and closing speeds. Open the door to a 90 ± 5 degree open position and close the door to the 0 + 2 degree closed position using appropriate equipment. One opening and closing constitutes one cycle. In the case of Power Assist doors, use an actuator exerting an equivalent force equal to a 15 Ibf (67 N) measured at I in (25 mm) from the latch edge of the door applied in the opening direction and allow the closing device furnished to close the door.

5.4 At the conclusion of the cycle test, the doors shall operate in accordance with requirements of Table 1 and the actual opening and closing time shall be within ± 10 % of their respective values at the commencement of the test.

Minimum Opening Time to Backcheck or 80 degrees, which ever occurs first, and the Minimum Closing Time from 90 degrees to Latch Check or 10 degrees.

Note: To determme maximum times from close to full open, the operator shall be adjusted as shown in the chart. Backcheck occurring at a point between positions in Table II shall use the lowest setting. For example, if the backcheck occurs at 75 degrees, the full open shall be the time shown in Table I plus 1.5 seconds.

6. SIGNS

6.1 Doors shall be equipped with (a) sign(s) visible from either side, instructing the user as to the operation and function of the door. The signs shall be mounted 50" +/- 12" (1270mm +/- 305mm) from the floor to the center line of the sign. The letters shall be 5/8" (16 mm) high ml11llTIum.

6.3 Low Energy Doors All low energy doors shall be marked with a sign, visible from both sides of the door, with the words "AUTOMATIC CAUTION DOOR" (See Figure 1.). The sign shall be a minimum of 6 inches (152 mm) in diameter and with minimum 5/8"(l6mm) tall black lettering on a yellow background. Additional information may be included.




6.3.1 When a separate wall switch is used to initiate the operation of the door operator, the doors shall be provided with signs on both sides of the door with the message "ACTlVATE SWITCH TO OPERAIE". Ihe lettering shall be white and the background shall be blue.

6.3.2 When door motion is used to initiate the operation of the door operator, the doors shall be provided with the message "PUSH TO OPERATE" on the push side of the door and "PULL TO OPERATE" on the pull side of the door. The lettering shall be white and the background shall be blue.

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Note this article is for reading purposes only and is not advice. All automatic doors should follow original manufacturer’s installation instructions and the most current ANSI requirements.