Door Industry Journal - Spring 2021

Semi-Automatic and Fully Automatic Revolving Door Safety Solutions IN2 Access & Control highlights the new ExpertSystem from BBC Bircher Smart Access, providing a new solution for revolving door safety. In a world where there is a growing appetite for more automation, energy saving, and security, we must not lose sight of the requirement to comply with industry safety standards. For buildings that see a large and sustained footfall throughout the day, (particularly popular in office blocks, hotels, and shopping centres) automatic revolving doors are becoming the ideal solution. Supermarkets often request bespoke automatic revolving doors that are large enough to accommodate shopping trolleys. With the increasing demands of contactless accessibility, the installation of a fully automatic drive along with accompanied sensors and necessary safety elements are fast becoming the first choice for both new installations and retro fit upgrades. Automatic revolving doors are popular for two main reasons. First, automatic revolving doors prevent potentially dangerous crowding issues whilst allowing for a steady stream of people to constantly enter and leave a building. In addition, through combining a building’s entrance and exit into one single efficient system, automatic revolving doors can also be used within confined areas. Environmental benefits provide the second reason for their popularity. Revolving doors save on energy by reducing heat loss, whilst ensuring a uniform climate inside the building. This is especially useful if you employ doormen or reception staff, who often have to deal with constant draughts and changes in temperature. Revolving doors also regulate the “chimney effect” in taller buildings caused by pressure changes as warm air rises to the top floors. Evolving landscape Regulations surrounding safety requirements on these types of doors have evolved over the years. To keep up, the technology used to keep the public safe whilst using revolving doors has also evolved – in both form and function. Traditional safety solutions such as combination sensors (used for both activation and safety), as well as heel-trap safety sensors along the base of the revolving part of the door leaf remain popular options. The heel-traps are switched using slip rings on the door. “We’ve provided these solutions for many years,” says IN2 Director of Sales & Marketing, Derek Foreman. “They are quite popular for revolving doors, but we are always looking for new ways to innovate safety solutions and give installers more options to improve safety while maintaining the aesthetics of the door.” New wireless revolving door heel trap solution Bircher’s new ExpertSystem is a suite of modular components offering a variety of combinations to form complete gate or door safety systems. It is comprised of a selection of self-assembly safety edges (known as XL) and wireless transmission products (called XRF). By choosing a special combination of XL edges and XRF integrated transmitter, a new solution has been created tailor made for heel-traps. This solution eliminates the need for mechanical slip rings: The first component is the self-assembly 49mm XL profile with angled black anodised aluminium. This profile and aluminium combination allows the new XRF-Ti integral wireless transmitter to slide discretely into the specially designed channel. The single channel receiver allows up to seven transmitters to be programmed giving a NC safety output, offering a CAT3 PLd safety system to meet the safety needs of revolving doors. With up to seven-year battery life of the transmitters, the whole system requires minimal servicing. Edges can be fitted as mullion protection (A) and heel trap protection (B). “We invite installers to contact us about our new safety solution for revolving doors,” Derek says. “We believe it provides a more elegant way to provide the required safety whilst reducing servicing time, and by extension, servicing costs.” For further details and trade pricing, contact IN2 Access & Control Ltd. Email: sales@in2access.co.uk / Tel: 01691 655150 / Live Chat: www.in2access.co.uk Also online at: www.dijonline.co.uk THE door industry journal spring 2021 103 Entrance, Sliding & Bi-folding Doors