Review Façade Interface with Doors, Revolving Doors, and Entrances

The checklist

Pre-Installation Verification

1. 1Confirm latest approved shop drawings and entrance interface details are on site; verify revisions against the RFI/submittal log. Acceptance: correct issue dates. Evidence: photos of title blocks and superintendent signature.
2. 2Measure rough opening width and height with a laser measurer; tolerance within ±5 mm of shop drawings. Evidence: recorded readings and annotated photos showing tape/laser positions.
3. 3Check substrate plumb, level, and plane using a digital level and 2 m straightedge. Acceptance: plumb/level within 3 mm/m; flatness ≤3 mm over 2 m. Evidence: photos and level readings.
4. 4Inspect delivered doors, revolving door drums, frames, and hardware for damage and squareness. Acceptance: unmarred surfaces; frame squareness within 2 mm. Evidence: delivery dockets, lot numbers, and condition photos.

Anchorage and Structure

1. 5Verify anchor type, diameter, edge distance, and embedment with calipers and depth gauge. Acceptance per approved project specifications and authority requirements. Evidence: measurements, marked photos, and anchor schedule cross-check.
2. 6Torque-test mechanical anchors with a calibrated wrench after cure. Acceptance: achieved torque within manufacturer range. Evidence: torque log with wrench serial number and inspector initials.
3. 7Confirm threshold support is continuous, shimmed, and grouted where detailed. Acceptance: deflection under 1 kN point load ≤ L/600. Evidence: load/deflection readings and straightedge photos.
4. 8Check reinforcement/backing plates at mullions and heads before closure. Acceptance: positions per drawings within ±3 mm. Evidence: pre-closeup photos and an as-built sketch.

Air, Water, and Thermal Seals

1. 9Inspect continuity of air/vapour barrier tie-ins to frames. Method: visual and smoke-pencil. Acceptance: no discontinuities or flutter. Evidence: photos with marked extents and test notes.
2. 10Verify sill pan and end dams have positive slope ≥2% and sealed laps ≥50 mm. Perform controlled hose test at 3 L/min for 15 min. Acceptance: zero interior leakage. Evidence: photos/video and test log.
3. 11Sealant joints: confirm backer rod (25–50% compression), primer use, and 2:1 bead profile. Field adhesion probe. Acceptance: cohesive failure. Evidence: sealant batch numbers, date stamps, and close-up photos.
4. 12Check thermal break continuity at frames and thresholds using infrared scanning after temperature differential establishes. Acceptance: no thermal bridge differing by >2 °C from adjacent frame. Evidence: saved thermographs.

Movement Joints and Tolerances

1. 13Measure perimeter movement joints with feeler gauges. Acceptance: continuous 12–20 mm gap per detail. Evidence: gauge readings and annotated photos.
2. 14Verify frame shims are spaced per detail and correctly compressed. Acceptance: shim stacks aligned; compression ≤25%. Evidence: close-up photos and installer confirmation.
3. 15Confirm door leaf-to-frame clearances at head and jambs using tapered gauges. Acceptance: 3–5 mm uniform gaps. Evidence: measurements and operational video.
4. 16Check revolving door drum and canopy concentricity with a laser plumb. Acceptance: vertical deviation ≤2 mm over 3 m. Evidence: readings and alignment photos.

Entrance Systems Integration

1. 17Align revolving and adjacent swing/automatic doors to the façade grid. Acceptance: horizontal offset ≤2 mm; face flush within 1 mm. Evidence: straightedge and laser photos.
2. 18Commission automatic operators and safety sensors per manufacturer. Acceptance per approved project specifications and authority requirements. Evidence: commissioning checklist, parameter screenshots, and test video.
3. 19Verify accessibility clear opening ≥900 mm and threshold upstand ≤5 mm with a steel rule, or per approved project specifications and authority requirements. Evidence: measurements and photos.
4. 20Integrate access control: test card readers, maglocks, and door contacts. Acceptance: correct fail-safe/fail-secure behavior as specified. Evidence: event log screenshots and wiring photos.

Life Safety, Security, and Accessibility

1. 21Test emergency stop and breakout function on the revolving door. Acceptance per approved project specifications and authority requirements. Evidence: test video and supervisor sign-off.
2. 22Confirm firestopping at façade/entrance penetrations is continuous and tagged. Acceptance: full-depth mineral wool and sealant continuity. Evidence: photos and installer certification.
3. 23Measure vestibule pressure differential with a manometer during operation. Acceptance: 5–15 Pa positive as designed. Evidence: readings, time stamps, and commissioning sheet.
4. 24Check signage, lighting, and tactile indicators at entrances. Acceptance: locations and mounting heights within ±5 mm of drawings. Evidence: photos and as-built markups.

Preview the printable checklist

Preview page one below. Open the image or download the PDF for all pages.

At a glance

• A practical, field-proven sequence to verify substrate readiness, anchorage, and tolerance before closing up the façade interface. It reduces costly rework by catching misaligned openings, missing reinforcement, or incompatible anchors early, with measurements and photos that stand up to later reviews and warranty queries.
• Focused weatherproofing controls at sills, jambs, and heads, including pan details, end dams, sealant geometry, and barrier tie-ins. Water-testing, smoke-penciling, and infrared scanning provide objective evidence that drainage, air sealing, and thermal breaks are continuous and performing as intended.
• Comprehensive integration checks for revolving doors and automatic operators, including safety sensors, access control, pressure management, and clear openings. The steps ensure smooth commissioning, safe egress, and reliable everyday operation while documenting settings, logs, and stakeholder approvals for handover and maintenance.
• Interactive online checklist with tick, comment, and export features secured by QR code. This enables transparent collaboration between contractor, consultant, and owner, preserves field evidence alongside each step, and simplifies distribution as PDF/Excel for records, O&M manuals, and completion packages.

How to Use This Interactive Façade–Entrance Interface Checklist

1. Preparation: gather tools (laser measurer, digital level, torque wrench, smoke pencil, infrared camera, manometer), approved drawings/details, and manufacturer commissioning guides. Coordinate water-test timing, ensure safe drainage, and brief the team on evidence capture (photos, readings, batch numbers). Wear required PPE.
2. Using the Interactive Checklist: open interactive mode, filter by group (e.g., Air/Water Seals), and work sequentially. Tick each item as completed, attach photos and annotated sketches, and record measured values directly in the fields.
3. Collaborate and comment: tag subcontractors or consultants in comments to resolve issues, log RFIs, and note deviations alongside the relevant step for transparent traceability.
4. Export and share: generate PDF/Excel exports including photos, timestamps, and signatures for distribution to stakeholders and inclusion in O&M manuals or commissioning binders.
5. Sign-Off: capture digital signatures from the contractor, consultant, and owner. The export embeds a QR code for authenticity; archive the signed package in your project CDE.

What to watch at façade–entrance interfaces

Entrance interfaces concentrate multiple trades—façade installers, door vendors, electricians—so sequencing and verification are critical. Start with substrates: if an opening is out of plumb more than 3 mm per metre, shimming becomes excessive and seals distort. Reinforcement must be in place before frames arrive; otherwise, anchors are substituted or repositioned, compromising edge distances. Record the latest drawings and RFI responses to avoid building to superseded details. Dry-fit frames to confirm tolerances, then remove to complete barrier tie-ins before final set. Photograph anchorage, shims, and pans prior to closure so evidence remains if finishes conceal them. Keep a shared punch-list during installation; catching a missing end dam or mislocated reader conduit is cheaper now than after handover. Align revolving drums and adjacent doors to the façade grid so sightlines are consistent and thresholds remain flush for accessibility and cleaning.

• Sequence dry-fit before sealing to confirm tolerances.
• Photograph concealed work prior to closure.
• Verify drawings and RFIs match field conditions.
• Align entrances to the façade grid for sightlines.
• Coordinate trades to avoid last-minute substitutions.

Weather, drainage, and thermal continuity

Water finds the tiniest discontinuity at sills and jambs, so redundancy matters. Sill pans must slope at least 2% toward weeps; end dams should rise above finished floor and return into jambs. Sealant performance hinges on joint design—proper backer rod compression and a 2:1 profile allow movement without tearing. Tie the air/vapour barrier to frame flanges continuously; smoke-pencil tests reveal leaks that eyes miss. Drainage paths cannot be blocked by shims, grout, or sealant overflow. Use a controlled hose test to validate pans and weeps before flooring or electrics are installed. Infrared scanning during a temperature differential helps detect thermal bridges at thresholds and mullion splices that otherwise condense and stain finishes. Document water tests and thermographs with time, flow rate, and ambient conditions so results are defensible.

• Ensure sill pans slope ≥2% with raised end dams.
• Design sealant joints for movement, not just fill.
• Tie barriers into frames; verify with smoke-pencil.
• Keep weeps open; do not clog with sealant.
• Use IR scans to spot hidden thermal bridges.

Commissioning revolving and door systems

Operational safety and accessibility hinge on careful commissioning. After mechanical anchorage and sealing, set operators and sensors per the vendor’s guide. Test approach detection, presence beams, and safety mats in multiple scenarios, including small children and luggage carts. Verify the clear opening meets design and the threshold upstand remains low for trolleys and wheelchairs. Revolving doors must stop immediately on emergency input and allow breakout where specified. Integrate access control so power-loss behavior matches the security narrative—some leaves fail-safe, others fail-secure. Vestibule pressure should support door closing without slamming; measure differentials with a manometer during typical HVAC operation. Capture parameter screens, event logs, and test videos. Finally, walk owners through routine checks and provide a concise log form to support maintenance and warranty.

• Test sensors and operators in multiple real scenarios.
• Confirm emergency stop and breakout behaviors.
• Record parameter sets and event logs.
• Measure vestibule pressure during HVAC operation.