BS EN 16005 Explained: Keep Your Automatic Doors Compliant in 2025

Updated, extended guide for facilities managers, architects and business owners

Automatic doors make buildings more welcoming, accessible and energy‑efficient—but only when they are safe. In the UK, that safety benchmark is BS EN 16005:2012. Whether you manage a supermarket entrance or specify doors for a new office block, you must prove those doors won’t crush, trap or injure anyone.

This expanded guide translates the technical language of the Standard into straightforward English. By the end you will know:

1. Who the Standard applies to and why 2025 is such a key year.
2. How BS EN 16005 is structured and where to look for each requirement.
3. Practical steps—from risk assessment to yearly servicing—to stay compliant.
4. What’s changing in door technology and enforcement so you can future‑proof your estate.

 

1. What exactly is BS EN 16005?

BS EN 16005 is a European (and therefore UK‑adopted) safety standard for power‑operated pedestrian doorsets—sliding, swing, folding, balanced and revolving doors that people walk through every day. It spells out design rules, testing methods and ongoing duties that stop hazards such as crushing, impact, shearing and drawing‑in.

Quick history: The Standard was first published in 2012 and became the go‑to reference for CE marking as of April 2013. Post‑Brexit, it now underpins UKCA marking too.
Format: 11 main clauses + 18 annexes covering hazards, log book, force‑testing tables, pictograms and more.
Legal weight: Compliance is a presumed route to satisfying the Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations and the Workplace (Health, Safety & Welfare) Regulations. Ignoring it can lead to prosecution under the Health & Safety at Work etc. Act.

 

2. Why 2025 matters more than ever

Driver	What’s happening in 2025	Why it affects you
Building Safety Act	Duty holders must provide a ‘golden thread’ of safety data for controlled works.	Your log book and service history will be requested during audits.
Insurance renewals	Insurers now ask for proof that automatic doors meet BS EN 16005.	Non‑compliance can invalidate a claim after an accident.
Ageing door stock	Doors installed pre‑2013 are hitting end‑of‑life for sensors and drives.	Upgrades or replacements may be cheaper than repeat repairs.
User expectations	Touch‑free access and disability inclusion are business essentials.	Outdated push‑pad doors look bad and risk Equality Act challenges.

In short, 2025 will see tougher questions—not new rules. Be ready to show evidence.

 

3. How the Standard is structured

BS EN 16005 addresses hazards in a logical flow, starting with mechanical risks, then electrics, activation devices, emergency behaviour and documentation. Annex J lists every hazard the committee considered fileciteturn1file11. Keep this map handy:

Clause	Topic	Why you’ll read it
4.4	Materials & shape of leaves	Ensures no sharp edges; mandates toughened or laminated glass.
4.5	Activation (automatic, manual, remote)	Sets the famous 1 m sensor rule and 1.5 m on escape routes
4.6	Avoiding danger points	Details safety distances, guards and low‑energy settings
4.7	Emergency & fail‑safe requirements	Doors on escape routes must open within 5 s of power loss
Annex F	Speed tables for low‑energy doors	Shows how to keep kinetic energy ≤ 1.69 J
Annex I	Log book template	Lists the data an inspector will expect to see

4. Door types & typical hazards

4.1 Sliding doors

Main risks: impact when opening, crushing at closing edges.
Safeguards: 200 mm safety distance or active sensors; low‑energy mode acceptable only if users are mainly able‑bodied

4.2 Swing doors

Main risks: impact while opening, finger trapping in the frame.
Safeguards: low‑energy (< 1.69 J) plus finger‑guard profiles; extra sensors for through‑traffic areas

4.3 Folding doors

Main risks: finger crushing at hinges; drawing‑in between panels.
Safeguards: integral hinge covers or ESPE light curtains

4.4 Revolving doors

Main risks: entrapment between leaves and drum walls.
Safeguards: touchless presence sensors (CA & CB test bodies) and break‑out function on escape routes

(Balanced and telescopic doors follow the closest rules above—always check the risk assessment.)

 

5. Key safety principles in plain English

1. Let the door see you coming. Sensors should detect a person at least 1 m away (1.5 m on escape routes) so the door is fully open in time.
2. Slow enough to be harmless. A door leaf in motion must carry no more than 1.69 J of kinetic energy—about the force of a gentle push. For swing doors that means taking at least three seconds to move from closed to 80 °.
3. Guard the gap. Where fingers or bodies could be trapped, either block the gap, keep it ≤ 8 mm or ≥ 25 mm, or fit rubber profiles and sensors.
4. Fail safely every time. If power fails, sliding and folding doors must drive or slide open within five seconds and stay open; swing doors must be openable by hand with ≤ 150 N of force.
5. Write everything down. Annex I’s Log Book is mandatory evidence of installation, tests and maintenance.

6. Step‑by‑step risk assessment (template)

1. Identify door type & traffic (staff‑only, public, vulnerable users).
2. Map hazards using Annex J list. Mark crushing, shearing and impact zones on a plan.
3. Select safeguards: low‑energy, safety sensors, guards or barriers.
4. Calculate forces & speeds: refer to Annex F tables or kinetic energy formula for non‑standard leaves.
5. Test protective devices with CA/CB reference bodies where applicable.
6. Document findings in the Log Book and issue residual‑risk instructions to the client.

A competent technician (e.g. ADSA BS EN 16005 diploma holder) should lead the process.

 

7. Installation & commissioning duties

Stage	What to do	Standard reference
Design	Specify UKCA‑marked drives, toughened/laminated glass, emergency pictograms.	4.4; 4.7
Install	Fit guards, set force limits, verify sensor coverage, label mode selectors.	4.6; 4.7.2
Force test	Use a calibrated load‑cell device accurate to ± 10 N.	5.2
Handover	Give the user manuals, Log Book and maintenance schedule.	5.3; Annex I

Failure to complete any row can void your UKCA/CE conformity.

 

8. Maintenance—think daily, monthly, yearly

BS EN 16005 states that all safety functions “shall be regularly maintained” and recommends at least one annual inspection by a competent person . A risk‑based schedule works best:

Frequency	Tasks	Who normally does it
Daily	Visual check for damage; clear floor mats; confirm sensors respond.	In‑house caretakers
Monthly	Activate emergency release; clean sensor lenses; review Log Book entries.	Maintenance team
Quarterly	Test forces with field gauge; recalibrate time delays; battery health test.	Specialist engineer
Yearly	Full BS EN 16005 safety inspection; update Log Book; issue compliance certificate.	Certified door technician

Remember: record every visit. Inspectors can—and increasingly do—ask for proof.

 

9. Case study—supermarket retrofit

Problem: A regional supermarket chain had 2009‑era sliding doors that failed force‑limitation tests, risking customer injury claims.

Solution: Sensors were upgraded to dual technology (microwave + infrared) with 1.8 m × 2 m detection zones; drives reprogrammed for 0.8 m/s max speed; finger‑guard profiles added to posts; new Log Books issued.

Outcome: Insurance premium dropped 11 %, and checkout queues reduced as doors opened sooner—an unexpected bonus.

 

10. Future trends & what they mean for 2025+ 

• Touchless activation by Bluetooth/NFC reduces cross‑infection risk but must still meet sensor coverage rules.
• AI‑enabled vision sensors can classify adults, trolleys and prams, adjusting speed dynamically—watch for updates to Annex C tests.
• Smart maintenance analytics: cloud‑connected drives now warn you when force trends creep towards the 67 N threshold.
• Energy‑saving algorithms integrate with BMS to keep doors closed during low footfall while preserving compliance.

Staying close to your door supplier’s firmware updates can be as important as physical servicing.

 

11. 7‑step compliance roadmap for 2025

1. Create an asset list of every automatic pedestrian door.
2. Locate existing paperwork—manuals, declarations, Log Books.
3. Book a BS EN 16005 safety audit for any door lacking proof.
4. Prioritise high‑risk sites (hospitals, care homes, schools).
5. Schedule upgrades—sensors, guards, drives—based on audit gaps.
6. Train onsite staff to perform daily and monthly checks.
7. Review annually and update the Log Book.

Glossary (quick reference)

Term	Plain‑English definition
Activation device	Sensor, mat or push‑button that tells the door to move.
CA / CB bodies	Foam test blocks used to verify presence sensors.
Kinetic energy (1.69 J)	Safe limit on how ‘hard’ the door can hit—like a gentle shove.
Low‑energy door	Door moving slowly enough not to need extra sensors.
Main closing edge	The edge that meets the frame when the door shuts.
Log Book	Mandatory record of installation, tests and maintenance.

Frequently asked questions

Is BS EN 16005 a legal requirement?
It is not an Act of Parliament, but it is the recognised way to meet UK safety regulations. Courts and insurers routinely reference it.

Do we need to upgrade doors fitted before 2013?
If force‑limitation or sensor coverage cannot be achieved, you must retrofit additional safety devices or replace the operator.

UKCA vs CE marking—does it matter?
Both rely on the same essential safety requirements. BS EN 16005 remains the core standard for either mark.

How long does a compliance audit take?
A pair of trained engineers can inspect and force‑test a standard pair of sliding doors in about 45 minutes, including paperwork.

 

Conclusion—act now, avoid headaches later

2025 will not introduce brand‑new rules, but regulators and insurers will ask tougher questions. By auditing your doors against BS EN 16005 today, you protect building users, minimise downtime and demonstrate due diligence.

 

Disclaimer: BS EN 16005 is an extensive technical standard and its correct application requires assessment by a suitably qualified, competent automatic-door engineer. This blog post is provided for general information only and does not constitute professional advice. Always obtain site-specific guidance before carrying out design, installation, servicing or compliance work on any door system.