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THE MAPLE STREET CHAPEL

Reade Room Automatic Door Operator

Background

Handicap accessibility to the Maple Street Chapel has been a high priority for quite some time.  The challenge is to become ADA compliant yet maintain the historical integrity of the landmark chapel.

The move to handicap accessibility has proceeded in gradual stages

1. In 2002, a ramp was constructed along the west side of the Chapel, providing
    no-step access with an ADA-compliant ramp pitch from the Village Maple Street
    sidewalk to the Reade Room door, at the southwest corner of the Chapel.

2. In 2005, the Reade Room door was replaced with a 36" door.  This project had the
    extra challenge that the door had to be fire-rated.  A steel door with a 1½-hour fire
    rating was used, and panic hardware was installed.  Dogging capability was removed
    from the panic bar for fire containment.  The door was refinished to match the dark
    tongue-in-groove paneling of the Reade Room.

3. In 2007, lighting was installed along the west-wall ramp, automatically controlled by
    electric eye.

Installing the Door Operator

A grant from the Village of Lombard provided a pushbutton-controlled electric operator for the Reade Room door.

1. Contractors were chosen:

      - Anderson Lock Company

      - Hoeksema Electric

2. A permit was obtained from the Lombard Building Department (#08-673).

3. Discussions were held with Village Fire Marshall Jerry Powell about fire safety.  The
    non-dogging panic bar that had been installed in 2005 would cause the door operator
    to not function.  The decision was made to change to a dogging panic bar.

4. Hoeksema Electric installed a whip from the top of the door jamb to the attic space
    above so it would be available for attachment to the back of the door operator.

5. Anderson Lock Company installed the door operator and the panic bar.

6. Hoeksema Electric ran a new circuit and made the final connections to the door
    operator.

Note the dark-colored operator on the top left part of the door frame
and the push button above the fire extinguisher.