Madison, Wisconsin

Wisconsin follows the 2010 ADA Standards. For automatic doors, you need a minimum 32-inch clear opening, low-energy operators with a 15-second closing delay, and activation width at least 12 inches from the door's latch side. Sensors must detect obstructions within 30 inches. We set operators to meet ANSI A156.19 for low-energy doors. If your door's installed before 2010, it may need a retrofit to stay compliant.

Winters here tear up door components fast. LCN and Norton closer hydraulic fluid thickens below -10°F — most standard closers aren't rated for that. We see aluminum thresholds swell and crack after repeated freeze-thaw. EPDM seals compress permanently after two winters — you lose weather seal and insulation. Steel door panels warp from the temperature differential between a heated warehouse and -15°F air. Thermal breaks in insulated doors matter; without them, you get frost inside the panels.

For dock doors hitting 200+ cycles per week, inspect springs every 6 months and replace at 12,000–15,000 cycles for an 18-gauge spring. Storefront doors with automatic operators need annual lube and sensor check — hydraulic filters every 2 years. Weather seals — replace every 2–3 years in Wisconsin's climate. We use a dry PTFE spray on tracks and hinges; WD-40 collects dust and won't protect in winter. Colder climates accelerate wear — you can't skip a maintenance cycle.

Stick a screwdriver into the bottom of a wood or steel door frame near the threshold. If it sinks in — you've got rot or corrosion — that's a replacement. A 3-hour fire-rated door with a damaged core needs full replacement, not just a label swap. If the door still operates smoothly but the closer leaks or the seal is torn, repair is fine. But if the panels are delaminating or the operator's main drive gear is stripped, you're past repair. Also, if your door won't pass a code inspection — UL label missing, ADA opening too small — replacement may be the only path.