Curtis Meskus, Town of Charlton CBO sent me today’s Fixed-it Friday photos of a vertical actuator he spotted in the wild. In some jurisdictions, the adopted codes and standards require either two actuators – one mounted near the floor for foot/footpad actuation and another located at the standard location. An alternative is to have a vertical actuator like the one shown in the photo, which can be actuated by pressing at any location.
The codes and standards don’t state that the actuator has to be in a location that is convenient for the user…in this case the location around the side of the vestibule makes it kind of difficult to see and to use. Although this may not be a specific code issue, it doesn’t seem to meet the intent of the codes and standards.
What do you think? WWYD?
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Yep kind of blends in,
Plus the door missing some signage????
I wonder where the one on the outside is located????
Hi Lori,
I see that the RHR is the leaf controlled by the operator. The actuator is on opposite side of pair of doors and around the corner. In reality the actuator should have been mounted in the path of travel for anyone headed out the door. Maybe the actuator is in the path of travel for the layout of this Starbucks.
California Building Code 2025
11B-404.3.5 Controls. Manually operated controls shall comply with Section 11B-309. The clear floor space adjacent to the control shall be located beyond the arc of the door swing.
To address the code without knowing the full layout of the site we use the rule “they shall be placed in a conspicuous location.”
DSA provides us with an advisory statement for this code.
DSA Advisory 11B-404.3.5 Controls. Where push plates, vertical actuation bars or other similar operating devices are provided, they shall be placed in a conspicuous location. A level and clear floor or ground space for forward or parallel approach complying with Section 11B-305 should be provided, centered on the operating device. Doors should not swing into the required clear floor or ground space for the operating device.
AHJ’s will also pay attention to the location of the actuator in relation to the fire pull station so putting it directly under the pull station won’t work either. Looks like it needs to be mounted on the cabinet to the left of the door going out.
Matt
Not too obvious for anyone, unless it was made so for some reason or the client did not specify the functional objectives… or it is a simple installation “oops!”. Indeed, discreet.
There are ADA codes that state the location of wall switches to activate the door operator in place, such as less than 48 inches AFF, no less than 24 inches from a inside corner and in a convenient location (near the door) and provide clearance for the door swing from switch location. And of course…….the AHJ have final say.
The one in your picture is Not in a convenient location. The full bar is a California thing only.