Automatic Door Openers in Medicine Hat
A push-button opener turns a heavy door into one anyone can use. We add openers to existing doors and new entrances in Medicine Hat, with switches placed where people can reach them.
Call our Calgary team403-650-5232Medicine Hat is upgrading its own buildings
The City set aside $700,000 for accessibility upgrades to its facilities, including more than $150,000 on recreation and park washrooms. Private buildings aren't covered by that budget, but they follow the same building code.
For new work, the City points builders to section 3.8 of the Alberta building code and the province's 2024 Accessibility Design Guide. When we add an opener, we set it up to those rules and to ANSI/BHMA A156.19 for low-energy operators.
A156.19 timing, in numbers
Three settings every low-energy opener we install is checked against.
| Setting | A156.19 requirement |
|---|---|
| Opening speed | At least 3 seconds to reach backcheck or 80 degrees |
| Hold-open time | Fully open for at least 5 seconds |
| Force to stop the door | 15 lbf (67 N) at most |
Accessibility in Medicine Hat
What's driving opener work in the city.
Audits before the 2026 Special Olympics
The City has been auditing its facilities for accessibility in preparation for hosting the 2026 Special Olympics.
CHAT News Today, May 2025$150,000 on washrooms
More than $150,000 went to modifications of recreation facility and seasonal park washrooms.
CHAT News Today, May 2025Provincial guide, not a City one
The City has no design standard of its own. It refers contractors to the Alberta building code's section 3.8 and the 2024 Accessibility Design Guide.
City of Medicine Hat, Construction standards and specificationsOpener options
- Low-energy operators. The usual choice for a barrier-free entrance or washroom door.
- Push plates and wave switches. Hard-wired, wireless and touchless switches.
- Washroom control kits. Opener, electric strike, door contact, push-to-lock button and occupied light.
- Access control. Openers tied to card readers and electric strikes, so the door only opens when it should.
Tell us which doors need openers and who uses them, and we'll price each one.
Can an opener go on a fire door?
Yes, with an operator listed for fire door use, set so the door still closes and latches on alarm. We check the door's label first.
Where should the push buttons go?
On the path to the door, clear of its swing, at heights people using wheelchairs can reach. We place them to the Alberta building code and the provincial accessibility guide.
Can you add openers to several doors in one trip?
Yes. Medicine Hat work is planned from Calgary, so we group doors into one visit wherever we can.
Do openers need maintenance?
Yes. AAADM recommends a yearly inspection by a certified inspector, plus a quick daily check by staff. We can add your openers to a maintenance plan.