Operating forces
Operating forces for building components such as windows, doors and gates refer to the forces that the user must exert in order to open or close the building component, i.e. to operate it.
The term ‘operating forces’ should not be confused with the term ‘operating forces’, which is mostly used in connection with power-operated (driven) building components and refers to the forces generated when the moving (driven) wing of the building component comes into contact with the human body.
Requirements
Accessibility places high demands on operating personnel, which in many cases cannot be met by standard designs, e.g. due to the size and weight of the components.
Note:
The continuous improvement in the tightness (air permeability) of exterior doors inevitably increases the operating forces. Taking into account a slight door leaf deformation of max. 4.0 mm, a frame deformation of max. 1.0 mm and the permissible tolerance for the installation of door elements of 1.5 mm/m or max. 3.0 mm, the minimum operating force is class 2. For rooms/access points with
special use (frail persons, wheelchair users), operating forces of class 3 or even class 4 are recommended and must be taken into account in the planning.
In order to comply with classes 3 and 4, in addition to the deformation values of max. 2.0 mm for the door leaves, further measures are usually necessary, such as:
enlarged keyholes
extended handles or push buttons,
handle or push button-operated locks (locks that are locked and unlocked via the push button, or self-locking locks with unlocking via the push button),
locking systems or swing door drives for doors with closing devices (e.g. overhead door closers),
motor-operated locks, lock cylinders or fittings.
For external doors requiring class 4 operating forces, operating aids as mentioned above are required, in particular for finger-operated fittings, as the finger-operated torques of class 4 cannot be achieved with standard keys for profile cylinders in accordance with DIN 18252.
According to the product standard, this verification for CE marking is only required for power-operated windows and external doors.
Testing
Compliance with operating forces is usually checked as part of the verification of other properties, such as testing in different climates, release capability, verification of accessibility, safe opening and endurance tests.
On request, however, verification of operating forces can also be carried out and documented separately.
Components / Important forces
| Operating forces F and operating moments M for manual operation | use case | |||
| Component | Standard | accessibility | Escape/Panic/Emergency | |
| Windows
Wings Lever handles manually operated finger-operated |
class 1*)
F ≤ 100 N
F ≤ 100 N or. M ≤ 10 Nm F ≤ 50 N or. M ≤ 5 Nm |
class 21), 3) and 4)
F ≤ 30 N
F ≤ 30 N or. M ≤ 5 Nm F ≤ 20 N or. M ≤ 2 Nm |
no primary escape route | |
| Doors
Wings Hand-operated fitting Finger-operated |
class 1*)
≤ 75 N
F ≤ 100 N or. M ≤ 10 Nm F ≤ 20 N or. M ≤ 5 Nm |
class 31), 2) and 4)
F ≤ 25 N
F ≤ 25 N or. M ≤ 2,5 Nm F ≤ 6 N or. M ≤ 1,5 Nm |
DIN EN 1125
door unloaded F ≤ 80 N (50 N) door loaded with 1000 N F ≤ 220 N DIN EN 179 Handle F ≤ 70 N (50N) Impact plate F ≤ 150 N (100 N) Door loaded with 25 N in case of drive failure F ≤ 220 N7) |
|
| Gates | Private ≤ 150 N
Industrial ≤ 260 N |
F ≤ 25 N or
M ≤ 2,5 Nm Derivation from 1), 2), and 4) possible |
in case of drive failure
Private ≤ 225 N Industrial F ≤ 390 N |
|
| Switch / Push button | – | max. 2,5 N up to
max. 5 N 1) and 4) |
– | |
*) State of the art / minimum market requirements
1) DIN EN 18040-1 and -2 Accessibility …, operating elements, doors, windows
2) DIN EN 12217 Doors – Operating forces – Classification requirements
3) DIN EN 13115 Windows – Classification of mechanical properties – …, operating forces
4) ASR 3a.2 Barrier-free design of workplaces
5) DIN EN 1125 – Panic door locks with horizontal operating bar for doors in escape routes
6) DIN EN 179 – Escape routes and emergency exits
7) DIN EN 16005 – Power-operated doors – Safety in use – …
