As Canada strives to become fully accessible by January 1st, 2040, the demand for automatic doors will increase in the coming years. An essential component for any automatic door is the push button that’s used to trigger it.
To meet this growing demand, we’ve partnered with MZE Door Controls – a professional manufacture of push buttons, switches, and washroom kits. Their factory has been operating since 2008, and they recently expanded their lineup to include push buttons for the North American market.
MZE Door Controls – Quality Manufacturing
MZE push buttons have undergone extensive testing to make sure they are ready for use in Canada. At their factory in Shenzhen, they perform lots of tests to make sure the equipment is UL approved and durable.
For example, they certified all their push buttons and wave-to-open switches for -40°C operating temperatures. By pushing their equipment to the limit, they can guarantee it will work in real-world conditions.
Types of Buttons & Push Switches
MZE Door Controls makes a variety of push buttons. We’ll break them down into separate categories and give a brief description of each type:
Push to Open Switches
Push buttons are the most common types of buttons used to operate automatic doors. They can be pressed with relatively little effort, usually with the palm of your hand – but can also be activated with your elbow or knee in a pinch.
They are relatively simple in design – featuring a metal faceplate which is connected to a microswitch with two wires. When you push the button it completes the circuit between these two wires, signaling the door to open.
Wave to Open Switches
These are touchless switches that can be activated by waving a hand in front of them. They have become popular in recent years, especially after we became anxious about the transmission of viruses during the pandemic.
These switches function using a simple infrared emitter + sensor combo. The emitter is constantly shooting infrared light outwards, so it doesn’t reach the sensor directly beside it. When you wave a hand in front of the switch, the infrared light scatters and gets picked up the sensor – activating the door operator.
Mushroom Push Button
These are called ‘mushroom’ push buttons due to their uniquely shaped button. It’s made of aluminum and highly visible, making it perfect for request-to-exit applications.
Another use of the mushroom push button is under a concierge desk or inside a jewelry store – anywhere that the door is locked by default. Once the door attendant has verified the identity of the person who wants to come in, they can easily push the mushroom button to unlock the door.
Push to Exit Switch
The push to exit switch features a small 1-inch push button in the centre, making it resistant against accidental presses. These fulfill the same role as mushroom push buttons, but are slightly less visible and requires more precision to trigger the button.
These switches are great because they are vandal-resistant due to their rugged metal faceplate. You can install them under concierge desks, jewelry stores, and commercial buildings.
Washroom Kit for Accessibility & Emergency Assistance
A universal washroom is one that complies with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) and the Ontario Building Code (OBC). They must include a powered door operator, as well as an emergency call system that can be activated from inside the washroom.
That’s why we carry washroom kits from MZE Door Controls. These kits come with everything you need (minus the door operator) to create a fully accessible washroom. The wave-to-open kit includes three wave switches for opening and locking the door, as well as an advanced logic controller to ensure the door locks and unlocks properly.
There’s also an emergency washroom kit that includes a siren strobe light, emergency push button, and an signage indicating what happens when the button is pressed. You can purchase the kits separately, or combine them together to create a truly universal washroom.
Wireless Transmitters & Receivers
A lot of automatic door installations are retrofits to an existing door, which can make it nearly impossible to run a wire from the button to the door operator. Thankfully, whenever there’s a problem, we tend to come up with a solution.
That’s where MZE’s wireless receivers and transmitters come into play.
The transmitter can be installed inside the push button and runs on two AAA batteries. Whenever you push the button, the transmitter will activate and send a signal to the receiver. The receiver – which will be installed inside the door operator – will pick up the signal, which will in turn activate the door.
Final Thoughts
All of these switches and push buttons from MZE Door Controls are a welcome addition to the market. Having more options is generally a positive thing, so be sure to consider MZE buttons for your next project.
We only sell to dealers and installers, so if you don’t already have an account with us, you can sign up below or contact us via email or phone number.
