Automatic doors improve accessibility for individuals with disabilities and reduce energy use by keeping the door open only as long as necessary rather than letting hot or cold air escape. They also help prevent the spread of germs and bacteria by eliminating the need for hand-pushing to open or close them.

Pedestrian Safety

Pedestrian safety is a vital aspect of building design and facility management. A safe pedestrian environment helps reduce the risk of injuries and improves building accessibility for individuals using wheelchairs or walking aids, parents with strollers, and customers with carts.

Power-operated doors allow access to sanitary and secure building entrances for people of all abilities. They also help to conserve energy usage while improving security and access control. These doors are designed with various sensors and mechanisms to detect when someone is nearby so they can open automatically. They include swinging doors that open with a single door that either swings in or out, sliding automatic doors that are made of flat panels that slide horizontally and folding automatic gates that are comprised of several panels that fold accordion style to create a doorway.

All powered doors must have automated door safety compliance.  Their sensor and safety devices should be checked, recorded and maintained regularly. This is a requirement under Health and Safety laws and further British Standards to ensure the door system remains safe for all users.

Occupier Safety

Whether your building is residential, office or commercial, you must maintain your doors to ensure occupiers are safe. This is a formal requirement in your leases and is governed by Health and Safety laws.

Suppose you own or manage a multifamily building, apartment complex or other commercial property. In that case, you can add automatic doors for touchless entry to improve your residents’ quality of life and boost your renters’ satisfaction. These systems are controlled by sensors that detect a cue and send a signal to the door operating mechanism to open.

For example, an infrared sensor senses the presence of a person or object and sends a signal to open. Other sensors include those that use microwave technology and respond to a smartphone app. Some doors also require an access control system or smart video intercom that grants permission to enter using a keycard, fob, or phone.

Fire Safety

Fire safety in commercial properties is a critical concern for many property owners. Fires can be devastating and cause serious injuries or even death to building occupants. To help occupants safely evacuate in the event of a fire, building owners should have well-marked fire escape routes with illuminated exit signs.

Illuminated signs should also be placed low on the walls in hallways to ensure that they remain visible to occupants attempting to navigate through heavy smoke. It is also becoming commonplace for high occupancy buildings to place maps of the property on the wall near the exits to help occupants avoid obstacles that may prevent them from reaching their desired doors.

For maximum efficiency, the best automatic doors for businesses include a hands-free system that opens and closes using sensors and requires no physical effort. This allows for sanitary, bacteria-free doorway access that helps reduce the spread of germs and illness among students, staff and visitors.

Energy Efficiency

Using energy efficiently in commercial buildings is important for the environment and businesses that want to maintain a competitive edge. Using automatic doors in buildings can reduce energy consumption and costs by ensuring that entries are only opened when needed.

The sensors that activate an automatic door send a signal to the operating mechanism, triggering it to open. Pressure sensors, often installed as mats on the floor, detect weight changes and send a password to the door operator when someone steps on them. Motion detectors are more advanced, with microwave pulses or passive infrared sensors that sense the reflection of a person’s body heat.

In addition to sensor technology, automated doors can be integrated with access control systems or smart video intercoms that offer a controlled entry option for building tenants and visitors. This feature is especially useful for multifamily buildings and commercial spaces that must comply with accessibility regulations and ensure that only authorized people can enter the property.