What Type of Automatic Door?
Automatic entrance doors are not just a common sight today but, in buildings with public access, they are increasingly the norm. We take them for granted yet, like most things in life, a lot of thought has usually gone into specifying a particular door in a specific location - or at least it should have. Numerous options need to be considered along the way to ensure that final performance matches up to expectations.
Sliding doors, like the Stanley Dura-Glide range, are probably the most effective option in that they provide the most overall benefits. Users don’t need to stand clear while the doors open or close regardless of the direction they approach the door. They are easiest for wheel chair users to operate and they can be made to fit almost any practical opening size. Provided the sensors are reliable and effective, they are most people’s first choice. However, the one downside with sliding doors is that you need somewhere for them to slide and that space is not always available, particularly in retrofit projects.
If some space is available then telescoping doors can be used. Here the door is divided into smaller leaves that overlap each other as they slide. This means the overall width needed for the door is less than twice the size of the clear opening. But, if there just isn’t any sliding space available then swinging or folding doors can be used. Swinging door operators like the Stanley Magic Force can be set for either low or full energy operation and can be fitted to existing doors so a new door isn’t always needed.
Perhaps most critical of all, the installation should be undertaken by an installer accredited to BS 7036:1996 (Safety at powered doors for pedestrian use) and then maintained to that standard thereafter. This code of practice covers not just the aspects of safety during the opening and closing cycle but also during the installation of the door. It also defines the maximum forces needed to operate the doors manually or breakout during an emergency. It even covers items like signage and the need for an annual inspection.
Automatic entrance doors are not just a common sight today but, in buildings with public access, they are increasingly the norm. We take them for granted yet, like most things in life, a lot of thought has usually gone into specifying a particular door in a specific location - or at least it should have. Numerous options need to be considered along the way to ensure that final performance matches up to expectations.
Sliding doors, like the Stanley Dura-Glide range, are probably the most effective option in that they provide the most overall benefits. Users don’t need to stand clear while the doors open or close regardless of the direction they approach the door. They are easiest for wheel chair users to operate and they can be made to fit almost any practical opening size. Provided the sensors are reliable and effective, they are most people’s first choice. However, the one downside with sliding doors is that you need somewhere for them to slide and that space is not always available, particularly in retrofit projects.
If some space is available then telescoping doors can be used. Here the door is divided into smaller leaves that overlap each other as they slide. This means the overall width needed for the door is less than twice the size of the clear opening. But, if there just isn’t any sliding space available then swinging or folding doors can be used. Swinging door operators like the Stanley Magic Force can be set for either low or full energy operation and can be fitted to existing doors so a new door isn’t always needed.
Perhaps most critical of all, the installation should be undertaken by an installer accredited to BS 7036:1996 (Safety at powered doors for pedestrian use) and then maintained to that standard thereafter. This code of practice covers not just the aspects of safety during the opening and closing cycle but also during the installation of the door. It also defines the maximum forces needed to operate the doors manually or breakout during an emergency. It even covers items like signage and the need for an annual inspection.
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