Jonathan Nobbs of Assa Abloy Entrance Systems explores how intelligently applied and well-designed automated entrances can help to improve the movement of people through ever-busier transport hubs.
Public transport usage is booming. Last year, bus and coach travel in many areas of Great Britain recorded unprecedented volumes and more than 1.6 billion rail journeys were taken.
In spite of this pressure, the drive for ever greater operational efficiency remains; cost control, timetable efficiency and energy consumption are all under the microscope.
The modern transport interchange is therefore a different proposition to its predecessors in terms of architecture.
Train, bus and coach terminals are constantly evolving, too, modernising to meet public demand and trends. In the 21st century the movement towards bright and inviting stations is gathering pace.
Corresponding closely to this change, the way pedestrians move into, through and out of a transport hub has also evolved.
Challenges faced by designers are complex, with more solutions to choose from than ever – but how best to manage the increase in physical footfall while ensuring safe and secure passage for all? Is it possible to combat inclement weather while future-proofing the design? How does a station best cater for the needs of the mobility impaired?
Research
Research and feasibility studies now play an integral part in the architectural development of facilities. So, what does a modern transport centre need from its doors?
Where a stable, safe and secure internal environment is required for waiting passengers, the role of the specifier cannot be overstated.
With a diverse mix of external and internal door systems required, the need to balance smooth, fast and weather-resistant external entrances with easily navigable and attractive internal doors for shopping concessions and booking offices must be met. Carefully specified door systems improve passenger flow into the main building, and then optimise the experience inside.
Contemporary stations draw almost exclusively on automated door systems for the building envelope, with manual push/pull door use diminishing. Automation optimises the passage of travellers with trailing baggage, removing unnecessary obstacles during transit. The choice between automatic sliding, swing and revolving door systems is a more nuanced decision, however, with numerous profiles for each door type available.
Referencing typical passenger demographics early in the design process is useful. Special consideration should be paid to stations where large numbers of families and mobility-impaired travellers are anticipated. Analysis of architectural data, assumed or from comparable stations, provides a model for the typical visitor requirements. A clear picture is vital to successful specification.
Automatic sliding doors are most common, and while it is tempting to lean towards a fully-glazed facade for aesthetic purposes, We have evidence to suggest slimmer frames must be carefully considered before application in external entrances.
The more robust supporting aluminium frames are better suited to resisting impact and stack pressures. The differing conditions doors are subjected to should be considered by specifiers carefully.
Mapping passenger flow
Auditing footfall is critical to ensure doors can cope with traffic. The key considerations are not simply limited to passenger volume and frequency; demographic and behaviour must be mapped and understood, at both peak and quiet times.
Mobility impaired access is key for modern facilities. Entrances should be designed to EN:16005 standards, encompassing the Disability Discrimination Act, with the needs of less mobile passengers met fully. Activation devices can help enormously, but with so many and varied options available, consultation with a specialist is encouraged.
Mitigating draught tunnels
Sustainable design starts at the external entrances. Careful attention must be paid to preserve the interior environment, but there are no stock solutions. The needs of a rural station in the commuter belt are entirely different to those of an inner city interchange.
Traditionally, bus interchanges of the past – notorious for creating draught tunnels – show the progress made in recent years, with newer facilities effectively designing-out the problem.
Success is in part down to better placement of the door systems, with secondary internal doors used to create draught lobbies. Analysis of environmental variables should take account of wind direction and typical stack pressure.
Sustainable Design
Doors that are open unnecessarily haemorrhage conditioned air. Up to 80 per cent of avoidable energy loss for any facility comes through doors when they’re open. Expediting the return to fully closed is therefore, sensible.
Intelligent bidirectional sensors, which assess the movement of bypasses before triggering door opening, ensure entrances are only open when they are required. A recent analysis performed by our engineers for a retail customer demonstrated an annual saving of over two tonnes of CO2 from a single store, simply by filtering foot traffic that is just passing by from the activation process.
Thermally-broken options enhance energy performance further, by optimising the U-value when in the closed position.
In summary, successful transport centre entrance design requires careful consideration of location, usage and security concerns to determine the optimal mix before investigating the many options available.
Jonathan Nobbs is head of marketing UK for Assa Abloy Entrance Systems