ANSI A156.10 vs A156.19 — Automatic-Door Standards

Key Takeaways
- ANSI A156.10 is the full-energy automatic-door standard — used at high-traffic retail, healthcare, and transit entrances. Requires safety-sensor array (motion + presence + safety beam).
- ANSI A156.19 is the low-energy standard — used for accessibility retrofit and lower-traffic doors. Slower opening makes safety sensors not mandatory.
- Both standards require annual AAADM certification in Canada — physical test of sensor activation, force, timing, and emergency-egress operation. Failure carries liability exposure.
- Provincial accessibility codes (AODA in Ontario, BCBC accessibility in BC, RBQ in Quebec) reference CSA B651 — which dovetails with ANSI A156.19 for accessibility installs.

If you're specifying an automatic sliding door or automatic swing door operator for a Canadian commercial building, the first decision is the ANSI standard — and the choice between A156.10 (full-energy) and A156.19 (low-energy) drives sensor selection, signage, daily-test logging, and maintenance scope. Pick the wrong one and your install fails inspection; pick the right one and the door runs 15-20 years with annual AAADM certification.

ANSI A156.10 — Full-Energy Automatic Doors

ANSI A156.10 governs full-energy automatic doors — doors that open at speeds and forces that could cause injury if a person walks into the closing path. Used at:

• Retail entrances (mall main doors, big-box store entries)
• Healthcare facility entrances (hospital lobbies, ER entries)
• Transit terminals (airports, GO stations, subway concourses)
• Hotel lobbies with high foot traffic
• High-rise office tower lobbies

A156.10 doors require a three-part sensor array: 1. Activation sensor — usually overhead microwave or PIR (passive infrared) detecting approach 2. Presence sensor — overhead infrared detecting someone standing in the threshold 3. Safety beam — break-beam at lower height (knee or thigh) detecting wheelchair, stroller, or child in the path

Plus two signage requirements: an "Automatic Door — Caution" sign on each face of the door, and floor markings (decals or contrasting paint) at the threshold.

ANSI A156.19 — Low-Energy Automatic Doors

ANSI A156.19 governs low-energy automatic doors — doors that open slowly enough (typically 4-second open time, 5-second close time) that contact with a person doesn't cause injury. Used at:

• Accessibility retrofit on existing manual doors (the most common Canadian use)
• Washroom doors (especially accessible washrooms)
• Vestibule doors (interior of double-door entries)
• Back-of-house corridor doors at hospitals, schools, government buildings
• Lower-traffic main entrances (small clinics, professional offices)

A156.19 doors require only an activation device — a push-pad ("knowing-act actuator") at typical wheelchair height (800-1100 mm above finished floor), a wave sensor, or a hard-wired button. No safety sensor array is required because the door inherently moves slow enough to not injure on contact.

This makes A156.19 retrofits dramatically simpler — no overhead sensor mounting, no floor markings, no signage required (though signage is recommended).

Side-by-side comparison

AAADM annual certification

The American Association of Automatic Door Manufacturers (AAADM) certification is the documented physical test required annually in Canada (and the US) for all ANSI-compliant automatic doors. The test verifies:

• Sensor activation timing — does the door open within spec when the sensor triggers?
• Force at obstruction — measured with a force gauge at multiple points along the door travel
• Emergency breakaway — for swing doors, can a person force the door open against the operator?
• Logged daily test — building management must perform a brief functional test daily; AAADM verifies the log

Failure to certify carries liability exposure. If a sensor fails and someone is injured by an automatic door without current AAADM certification on record, the building owner faces the full liability rather than the door manufacturer or installer.

We provide AAADM certification on every install we do, plus annual renewal at year 1, 2, 3+. The renewal is a 1-2 hour visit per door with full documentation.

Provincial accessibility code references

• Ontario (AODA / OBC) — references CSA B651 for accessibility; A156.19 low-energy operators are the standard accessible-entrance solution
• Quebec (Code de construction du Québec / RBQ) — references CSA B651 plus Quebec-specific accessibility rules; same A156.19 standard applies
• British Columbia (BCBC accessibility section) — references CSA B651; same standard
• Alberta / Atlantic / Prairie — provincial codes reference CSA B651 through National Building Code section 3.8 (Accessibility)

The federal Accessible Canada Act does not specify door operators directly but defers to provincial accessibility regulation.

Which standard for my project?

Use A156.10 full-energy if:

• The door is a primary public entrance in a high-traffic building
• Foot traffic exceeds 500 cycles/day
• The door is at a healthcare or transit facility
• Architectural design shows automatic main entries at the lobby

Use A156.19 low-energy if:

• The install is an accessibility retrofit on an existing manual door
• The door serves a secondary entrance, back-of-house corridor, or washroom
• Foot traffic is under 500 cycles/day
• Budget or installation simplicity matters more than activation speed

Some projects use both — full-energy at the main entry, low-energy at side accessibility entries.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I install A156.19 at a high-traffic entrance?

Technically yes, but expect complaints. The 4-5 second open time slows the throughput at busy entries; users tailgate each other through one cycle and the door doesn't fully close between them. Above ~500 cycles/day, the slow cycle becomes operationally noticeable.

Do I need separate AAADM certification for each door?

Yes. Each automatic-door operator gets its own AAADM certification record, with sensor-by-sensor test data. Multi-door installs (vestibules with both inner and outer pairs) are documented as separate certifications.

What's the lead time for installation?

3-6 weeks for stock A156.19 low-energy operator retrofits. 6-10 weeks for A156.10 full-energy new installs (sensor array, signage, glass and frame fabrication add lead time). 12-16 weeks for custom configurations (curved, all-glass, oversized).

Can you retrofit an existing manual door for automatic operation?

Yes — the most common retrofit is converting a manual storefront swing or sliding door to A156.19 low-energy operation. We add a swing or sliding operator, a push-pad actuator, and rewire the door for power. Typical retrofit cost is 40-60% of full-energy new install.

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Related reading: Commercial Automatic Sliding Doors · Door Operators · Automatic Doors · Standard Commercial Door Sizes Canada · Door Hardware & Operators

Service area: All 61 Canadian cities — including Toronto, Mississauga, Markham, Oakville, Vaughan, Montreal, Vancouver, Calgary, and Edmonton.

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FAQ

Can I convert an A156.19 door to A156.10?

No. The motor, programming, and sensor suite are designed differently. Conversion requires a full operator and sensor replacement, which is essentially a new install at A156.10 pricing.

Does CSA B651 specify which standard to use?

CSA B651 references A156.19 for accessibility-driven installations (low-energy operation safe for slow contact with persons). High-traffic entries default to A156.10 with full sensor suite.

How often does AAADM certification need to be renewed?

Annually. Each commercial automatic door at the site must be certified within 12 months of the previous certificate. Lapsed certification creates direct legal liability for the building owner.