Why these two standards keep appearing in door datasheets
DIN 18650 and EN 16005 are the reference standards for power-operated pedestrian doors. When a datasheet says a system is approved for emergency exits per DIN 18650 / EN 16005, it means the door has been designed and tested so that people can leave safely — including when the power or the control system fails.
- Personal safety: presence and safety sensing so the door does not close on a user.
- Emergency exit capability: the leaf can be opened along the escape route without special knowledge or tools.
- Defined behaviour on failure, verified at commissioning rather than assumed.
How it translates into hardware
- Sliding doors: SST breakout leaves, whose breakout hinges create the full door width for through passage, with a combined electromechanical locking device and floor-integrated guide tracks.
- Swing doors: ED 100 / ED 250 operators suitable for fire-proof and smoke-proof doors, emergency exits and evacuation routes, with Low Energy as the default mode.
- Revolving doors: personal safety compliant with DIN 18650 / EN 16005, with night-time closure by sliding wings.
Specification checklist
- Mark every opening on the drawing that lies on an escape route before selecting operators.
- State whether the leaf is fire-rated or smoke-rated — it restricts the operator choice.
- Fix the activation method (radar, push pad or access control) and the interface to the building access system.
- Record commissioning settings and plan periodic maintenance; safety functions are only as good as their last service.
Frequently asked
- What is the difference between DIN 18650 and EN 16005?
- Both cover the safety of power-operated pedestrian doors. EN 16005 is the European standard applied across the EU, while DIN 18650 is the German standard that preceded and complements it. dormakaba systems used on escape routes are approved with reference to both.
- Is an automatic door allowed on an emergency escape route?
- Yes, provided it is an emergency-exit approved variant — for example a sliding door with breakout leaves or a swing operator rated for evacuation routes — and it is commissioned and maintained accordingly.
- What is Low Energy mode?
- Low Energy limits the force and speed of an automatic swing door so it is safe for use without additional presence sensors. It is the default mode on ED 100 and ED 250 operators and is typically used for barrier-free push-pad access.