Have you ever heard of T-Rex Tuesdays?
It’s an actual thing. With a guy in a T-Rex suit. I’m not kidding.
I follow it on Facebook and, while not only do I look forward to T-Rex Tuesdays, there was a video this week that was totally applicable to the door and hardware industry.
You all do not know how much I live for times when ridiculous things happen and I can relate them to something in this blog.
First, let me show you the video:
While any normal person would see that and laugh at the hilarity of a grown man wandering around random public places in a Tyrannosaurus Rex costume, I am not a normal person. The first thing I squealed was, “Look at those code compliant doors!”
Low Energy Operators
If you noticed in the video the door T-Rex is trying to open isn’t some small door. Even if he does act a little overly dramatic, that’s still a pretty heavy door he’s trying to open.
If it were someone else (with average human length arms) you would think they would have no trouble opening the door. But it’s not just the T-Rex’s arms that keep him from opening the door.
It’s the weight of the door. Because this is an exterior door, it needs to have enough power for the door to remain shut against the elements. Wind, especially, can wreak havoc on a door and, without enough weight to hold it closed, it would swing wide open anytime a storm blew through.
That still doesn’t solve the issue of Mr. T-Rex and his inability to open the door. Because this is a public library, imagine all of the children who enter and exit every single day. We can’t keep the children from a love of books, can we?
The good thing is, legally, neither can the company that built the building and installed the hardware. ANSI/BHMA A156.19 states “Requirements in this Standard apply only to swing door operators. The operator types are power assist, and low energy power operators, for pedestrian use, and some small vehicular use. It does not address doors, finish or hardware. The activation of all doors described in this standard requires a knowing act.”
This is where low energy operators come in.
Low energy operators retrofit on most existing doors so if you happen to not be compliant with ADA code, you can rest easy knowing you don’t have to go out and buy a new door. Plus, depending on the model, most low energy operators are fairly easy to install.
In the meantime, if you happen to have any questions or comments about low energy operators, we’re always happy to help. If you just like T-Rex Tuesdays and want me to know, I welcome comments of all forms!