A Guide to Choosing The Right Automatic Door For Your Needs

WHAT TYPE OF AUTOMATIC DOOR SYSTEM DO YOU NEED?

Automatic Sliding Door 
Reliable – Sliding doors should last many years without the need of replacement parts
Unobtrusive – Most people don’t notice a well-designed sliding door entrance
Durable– Sliding doors can be opened hundreds of times a day

Automatic Swing Doors 
Versatile – Can be installed onto most existing doors
Safety– Automatic Swing doors require more sensors for safety than a sliding system

Low Energy Swing Doors 
Simple – Does not require any safety sensors
Gentle – Door opens at a reduced forces to minimised any impact with Pedestrians
Dependable – Used manually quite often but is there when you need it
Quick – Low energy Auto door installations are quick to install

Bi-Folding Doors 
Elegant – The folding and sliding motion makes for an elegant opening
Size – Usually only called upon when space is an issue
Clever – Very clever designs to produce the folding motion

Revolving Doors
Architecturally – Revolving Doors enhance a building’s appearance and provide a Point of Focus
Sizes – 800mm to 5000m revolving door to suit all types of Buildings and Pedestrian traffic
Types – Manual, Push & Go Fully Automatic, Also with Disabled Access Pass Doors
Locations – Hotels, Shopping Malls, Banks Airports and Museums

LOW ENERGY, SEMI AUTOMATIC OR FULLY AUTOMATIC DOORS?

For many reasons the type of automatic door should be chosen carefully. You do not want to install an automatic door that does not meet with requirements of the entrances volumes of traffic, type of pedestrian (able bodied or disabled) School children or the elderly or frail.

Low Energy
Low energy swing doors require no safety sensors to be installed as it only requires gentle movement to open and close. If an impact occurs on a pedestrian the force would be low and not cause injury (less than 67newton meters of force).

Low energy would be the most cost effective option but cost should not be the main reason for installing Low Energy Swing Door Operator.

Low Energy automatic doors are suitable for Flats Residential Dwelling Offices. Suitable for less able-bodied persons with ambulatory difficulties or wheelchair users.

Doors and entrances that require higher traffic requirements can be fully or semi-automatic so it can open faster so not to inhibit the users passing through the doors.

Semi-Automatic
Semi-Automatic Doors operate with higher forces and result in quicker opening and closing.. Semi -Automatic operate with push pads and safety sensors so that if a door approaches a pedestrian the sensor prevents colliding with the person. A push pad on a busy street will prevent a door from constantly opening and closing when passers-by are detected by an activation sensor as in a fully automatic door.

Fully Automatic
Fully automatic doors work at a faster speed, having a greater force to, operate them (up to 150n) Safety sensors scan the area in front of the door looking for pedestrians and obstructions. The safety sensors prevent impact of pedestrians and objects.
Automatic swing door operators are rated for constant usage, suitable for high volume traffic Schools Colleges, Shopping Centres, Hospitals, Doctors Surgeries and Supermarkets.

Always insist on an automatic door which is installed to BS EN16005:2012 Power Operated Pedestrian Doorsets – Safety in Use – Requirements and Test Methods

ARE AUTOMATIC DOORS IDEAL FOR DISABLED ACCESS?

Automatic doors are a good solution for access into and around buildings.

An automatic door helps with compliance to Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) regulations.

Automatic doors provide a means of opening and closing doors without the need for physical effort. Wheelchair users benefit most from automatic doors.

Automatic Sliding doors provide access and are ideal for entrances that a high volume of pedestrian traffic.

Automatic Sliding Doors can be used internally or externally as single or bi-parting.

Access controls with electric strike releases or mini mag locks provide additional security for certain applications and can be access with fobs, digital key pads or remote controls.

Automatic Swing door operators can be retro fitted to existing doors and are suitable for both.

There certainly is no shortage of types of automatic doors out there for your commercial needs. But which type of door is the right one for you? This guide will show you the way.When it comes time to choose the right commercial doors for your project or facility, you begin to realize that a lot goes into your decision. Some factors are beyond your control, such as certain standards and regulations. Yet there are a number of other factors at play that you need to consider before choosing your next automatic door. These factors include the type of facility involved, the type of clientele that facility will see, the level of traffic it’ll experience, the location of the facility, and much more. Getting to know how the various types of doors available work will help you choose the right one for your project. Here’s a breakdown on your choices:Sliding doors – These are great for two-way traffic and can be an efficient way to control directional traffic as well (meaning using one door for entry, and another one for exiting). This type of adaptability makes these doors suitable for nearly any environment.Swinging doors – These are typically used for one-way pedestrian traffic scenarios. What’s most commonly found is that one door is used for entry, and another one is used for exiting. You typically won’t find automatic swinging doors used for two-way traffic. There are always exceptions, however. If you need/want swinging doors for two-way traffic applications, this discussion should have taken place during early consultations with architects and designers. One such way to use this type of construction effectively with two-way traffic is with the use of a remote switch or push plate that activates the door well in advance of a person’s approach.Folding doors – Why would you install folding doors? When space is limited. If your opening width is restricted to 6 to 8 feet, yet you want to be able to have two-way traffic within this small space, then folding doors (bi-fold doors) are ideal. Single fold doors work well for directional, or one-way traffic areas.Revolving doors- Everyone loves a revolving door, right? These doors can be manual or automatic, and are proven to be effective for high-traffic usage where constant entry/exit access is needed. They can also be helpful for providing an air lock in order to control energy expenses.Defining the levels of traffic – When deciding on an automatic door for your project or facility, it’s important to consider the level of traffic that door will experience. There are various levels of traffic.

High traffic – this involves an average of more than 2 people per minute through an area, cart traffic (such as grocery stores), or doors weighing up to 150 pounds per moving panel.

Medium traffic – this involves one person per minute through an area, and doors weighing less than 125 pounds per moving panel.

Low traffic – this involves one person every five minutes through an opening, and doors weighing less than 125 pounds per moving panel.

Other things you must consider when choosing a door include any fire and smoke applications, ADA compliance, energy conservation, and your preferred method of security.

There are a number of factors at play when considering the type of door needed for your project or facility. Some factors are beyond your control, while some become a matter of preference and logistics. Be sure that you consider all your options before settling on one specific type of automatic door. Allow a skilled professional, such as the folks at Best Brothers Group, to help you choose a door that’s perfect for your project’s needs.