When it comes to automatic doors, everyone knows they need to withstand the elements. Most people prepare for rain, snow, and ice—but wind often gets overlooked. In this month’s article, we take a closer look at why wind can be especially challenging for automatic doors—and how ADA can provide the solutions you need.
Why is wind such a huge factor?
Anyone who’s lived in the Midwest for long enough knows just how vicious the wind can get around here. We’re not called Tornado Alley for nothing. It’s easy to feel the effects on a manual door, when you open it to step outside and the thing is practically ripped from your hands. But high winds can be hard on automatic doors, as well. If you’re not prepared, you might expect:
- Damage – High winds slamming into your building put a lot of pressure on your doors. And if the pressure is too strong and the strain is too great, that can damage your doors and the various moving parts that make them work.
- Downtime – If your doors are broken in such a way that people can’t use them, that leads to downtime which costs you time, money—and in the case of hospitals—might even put people at risk.
- Danger – Your doors have a safety mechanism that stops them from closing on people. But if the wind is too strong, that safety mechanism can fail, which might lead to injuries.
- Financial Ramifications – Each of those risks can be expensive in their own way. For example, repairs cost a lot of money. Downtime costs money, too. And injuries can lead to lawsuits. So, it’s a good financial decision to stop these problems before they even start.
How does ADA manage the impact of wind?
Damage to your doors due to wind is serious, but also easy to avoid. Depending on your building’s particular needs, we offer many wind-related protections, such as:
- Fortified Frames – Let’s say you have a door in the interior of your building. A standard frame is probably fine, because that door isn’t exposed to the outdoor elements. But if a door is vulnerable to the wind, it needs a little extra reinforcement. We provide that with stronger frames and pressure-resistant panels.
- Robust Locks – A strong frame is a great start, but it’s important to make sure your doors stay closed in high winds. In this case, proper locks are key. We fortify our locks in two different ways: we install locks that are made from heavy-duty materials, and we engage the frame at several points, to reduce the strain on each lock.
- Wind Load Sensors – Your doors are set to move at a safe, predetermined speed. But the wind can alter that speed and cause your doors to slam, which is dangerous. Installing a wind load sensor makes it so your door “knows” when the wind is extreme and temporarily disables the automatic functions in order to keep everyone safe.
- Heavy-Duty Door Closers – Your hinged doors have an even tougher job in rough weather than sliding doors, because they’re much more likely to be caught in the wind and blown open or shut with dangerous force. The solution? Heavy-duty door closers. These can power through the extra resistance and keep your doors from swinging open too quickly or slamming shut, thus avoiding pretty serious injury.
- Hurricane-Rated Doors – Hurricane-rated doors have a couple of the features you just read about, like wind sensors and heavy-duty locks. But they’re also made with impact-resistant glass. That way, if debris blows into your doors, they won’t break or shatter.
- Low-Tech Solutions – We also use simple, low-tech solutions, like door stops, which ensure that if your doors open too fast, they won’t hit the wall and break.
What can you do to help avoid wind damage?
We can certainly make recommendations, but only you can make the final call. The best way to ensure your doors will hold up to the weather is to have them installed by qualified professionals with an excellent track record. And then, make sure you keep up with regular maintenance—it really does make all the difference. When you sign up for our ProActive Maintenance Program, we check everything over thoroughly to make sure it’s all functioning properly. It’s an especially good idea to have us come out during high-wind seasons.
When you invest in automatic doors, wind can be one of the most underestimated challenges. Fortunately, there are several effective ways to manage its impact—and we’re here to help. Give us a call to learn more. Because high winds can pose serious risks, and when it comes to precautions…you can’t afford to blow it.