r-tec Hand Sensor (Touch-Free)

Overview

r-tec Hand Sensor is an approach sensor that generates a door-opening signal via touch-free hygienic detection. Just bringing your hand close is enough instead of a standard button/card reader — it is used in hospital, pharma facility, food business and clean room applications for cross-contamination prevention. It is also spreading to office and retail entrances as a modern post-pandemic hygiene standard.

Why touch-free?

Traditional door opening:

• Button — Multiple people touch it; bacteria/virus carrying risk
• Card reader — Card touches, gloves required
• Handle — Door handle = highest contact surface

Hand Sensor solution:

• No contact — Detects when hand approaches 5-15 cm
• Glove compatible — Detection works through gloves
• Fast + intuitive — No user training required
• Easy disinfection — Wipeable with IPA + standard disinfectant

Target sectors

Sector	Application
Hospital	Operating theatre + ICU entry, isolation room
Pharma facility	GMP clean room, production area
Food facility	Clean/dirty area separation, cold storage
Laboratory	Bio-safety + chemistry laboratory
Hotel/Restaurant	Kitchen + bathroom hygienic entry
Office	Post-pandemic hygiene standard

Detection principles

Two technology variants available:

Technology	Advantage	Limitation
Microwave	Detects through glass/plastic	First calibration required
IR (infrared)	Clear detection over surface	Direct line of sight required

In hospital clean room applications, microwave is recommended — the sensor can remain hidden inside the rear glass panel.

R2 control board integration

The hand sensor output is NO (Normally Open) dry contact — connected to the safety chain terminal of the r-tec R2 automatic door control board. When the sensor is triggered:

1. NO contact closes → R2 receives door open command
2. Door opens → R2 enters standard full open mode
3. When automatic closing time expires, door closes
4. If 2nd trigger comes, door opens again

Field discipline

• Sensor position — 50-80 cm height from door side profile (middle-height pedestrian hand height)
• Detection distance calibration — 10 cm setting during first commissioning; wide setting = false trigger
• Disinfection resistance — Wipe with IPA and standard disinfectant every 6 hours; no corrosion occurs
• LED visibility — Detection LED guides the user; external LED warning added on hidden sensors
• Periodic test — Monthly manual test (hand approach → door opened?) mandatory
• Hygiene audit — Sensor type + detection distance certificate can be presented in health audit