The A–Z of Automatic Doors: 26 Things Every Door Engineer Should Know

Automatic doors might look simple to the person walking through them, but behind every smooth-opening entrance is a combination of operators, sensors, controllers, safety devices, access control and mechanical components.

Whether you're an automatic door engineer, installer, facilities manager or simply trying to understand the equipment, here's our A–Z of Automatic Doors.

 

A — Activation

Every automatic door needs something to tell it when to open.

Activation can come from microwave sensors, push pads, touchless switches, remote controls, key switches or access-control systems.

Choosing the correct activation method depends on how the entrance is used. A busy retail entrance might require automatic detection, while an accessible WC or controlled office entrance may require deliberate activation.

B — Batteries

Battery backup can be an important part of an automatic door installation.

Depending on the operator and system design, batteries can provide continued operation or allow the door to move to a predetermined position following a mains power failure.

Like any battery, however, their condition should be checked during servicing rather than simply forgotten about inside the operator.

C — Controllers

The controller is essentially the brain of an automatic door.

It receives signals from activation devices and safety sensors before controlling the motor and the door's opening and closing cycle.

Modern controllers can manage parameters including opening speed, closing speed, hold-open time, safety inputs, locks and other connected equipment.

D — Door Operators

The operator provides the power that physically moves the door.

Operators are available for numerous applications, including automatic swing and sliding doors.

Selecting the correct operator involves more than simply matching the door type. Door weight, width, usage, environment and the equipment connected to the operator all need consideration.

DoorParts stocks automatic door operators and components from established manufacturers including ASSA ABLOY and record.

E — Electric Locks

Automation and access control often go hand in hand.

Electric locks allow an automatic entrance to remain secure until an authorised activation signal is received.

When integrating a lock with an automatic operator, correct sequencing is important: the lock needs to release before the operator attempts to move the door.

F — Finger Guards

The hinge area of a swing door can create a trapping point.

Finger-protection devices help reduce this risk, particularly in locations where children or vulnerable users may be present.

They're a relatively simple component that can make an important contribution to overall door safety.

G — Guides

On a sliding door, keeping the moving leaves correctly aligned is essential.

Floor guides help control the bottom of the sliding leaf while allowing it to travel freely.

A worn, damaged or incorrectly adjusted guide can contribute to excessive movement, noise and poor operation.

H — Hold-Open Time

How long should an automatic door remain open?

That's the job of the hold-open setting.

Too short and users may feel rushed through the entrance. Too long and the building can unnecessarily lose heated or conditioned air.

Correct adjustment is therefore a balance between accessibility, safety, traffic flow and energy efficiency.

I — Infrared

Infrared technology is widely used in automatic-door safety equipment.

Active infrared sensors can detect presence around the doorway and help prevent the door moving into an occupied area.

On automatic swing doors, door-mounted sensors can monitor the sweep of the door during its opening and closing cycle.

J — Jamb

The jamb is the vertical part of the door frame.

It might not contain sophisticated electronics, but its position is important when installing automatic doors.

Operator arms, sensors, finger protection, access-control equipment and other components can all be affected by the dimensions and construction of the surrounding frame.

Sometimes the smallest site detail causes the biggest installation headache.

K — Key Switches

Sometimes you need a simple way of changing how an automatic door operates.

A key switch can allow authorised personnel to select modes such as Auto, Open or Off.

They're particularly useful where building staff need straightforward control without accessing the operator itself.

L — Low Energy

Not every automatic swing door needs to fly open at maximum speed.

Low-energy operation uses controlled movement and limited kinetic energy to provide automated access.

However, "low energy" shouldn't be treated as another word for "no safety considerations". The complete installation still needs to be assessed correctly for its application and users.

M — Microwave Sensors

Microwave radar sensors are one of the most recognisable automatic-door activation devices.

Mounted above or around an entrance, they detect approaching movement and send an activation signal to the operator.

They're particularly common on automatic sliding entrances where the objective is simple: detect an approaching pedestrian and have the doors open before they reach them.

N — EN 16005

BS EN 16005 is one of the key standards automatic-door professionals in the UK need to understand.

It covers the safety in use of power-operated pedestrian doors and influences areas such as hazard protection, sensor arrangements, forces and commissioning.

Compliance isn't something that should be considered after the door has been installed.

Safety needs to be part of the system design from the beginning.

O — Operators

If controllers are the brain, operators provide the muscle.

Swing operators automate hinged doors, while sliding operators move one or more leaves horizontally.

DoorParts supplies individual operators as well as complete automatic swing and sliding door packages incorporating operators, sensors and associated equipment.

P — Push Pads

Sometimes the simplest activation method is still one of the best.

Press the pad. Door opens.

Push pads are commonly used for accessible entrances and applications where the door shouldn't automatically open every time someone passes nearby.

Wireless versions can also reduce installation complexity where running additional cabling isn't practical.

Q — Quiet Operation

A good automatic door shouldn't constantly remind everyone that it's there.

Grinding bearings, squeaking components, vibration or excessive motor noise can all indicate that something requires attention.

Smooth and quiet operation isn't merely pleasant — changes in sound can sometimes be one of the earliest clues that a mechanical component is deteriorating.

Experienced engineers learn to listen to the door.

R — Retrofit Kits

A failing sliding-door operator doesn't necessarily mean replacing the complete entrance.

Retrofit kits can allow engineers to retain suitable existing door leaves and structural elements while upgrading the drive, controller and associated equipment.

This can reduce disruption and provide a practical route for modernising older or obsolete automatic doors.

S — Safety Sensors

Activation sensors tell the door when to open.

Safety sensors help determine when it isn't safe to move.

They can monitor thresholds, swing areas and other potential danger zones, signalling the controller to stop, inhibit or reverse movement when necessary.

DoorParts carries a range of automatic-door sensors covering activation and safety applications.

T — Threshold

The threshold is one of the most important areas of an automatic entrance.

It's where pedestrians, wheelchairs, pushchairs, trolleys and the moving door system all interact.

Correct detection and protection around this area are therefore fundamental to safe automatic-door operation.

U — Upgrades

Automatic-door technology doesn't stand still.

Sensors improve. Controllers become obsolete. Motors wear. Building requirements change.

Sometimes replacing individual components is appropriate; in other cases an upgrade or retrofit provides a better long-term solution.

Understanding what can be retained — and what should be replaced — is an important part of professional automatic-door maintenance.

V — Voltage

Automatic doors contain equipment operating at different voltages.

Operators may provide low-voltage outputs for sensors, switches, locks and other accessories, while the operator itself will normally have a mains supply.

Before connecting any accessory, always check the manufacturer's wiring information.

Never assume two terminals are compatible simply because the wires fit.

W — Wiring

Ask an automatic-door engineer what causes some of the most frustrating faults and wiring will probably appear somewhere in the conversation.

Loose terminals, damaged cables, incorrect connections and intermittent wiring faults can produce symptoms that initially appear to be controller, sensor or operator failures.

Good wiring practice makes installation, fault finding and future servicing considerably easier.

Today's automatic doors can also have numerous peripherals connected, including monitored safety sensors, activation sensors, locks, touchless switches and access-control equipment.

X — eXit Activation

We admit it — X is always the difficult one in an A–Z.

But exit activation is an important part of many automatic-door systems.

A controlled entrance might use access control to enter the building while providing automatic or push-button activation for users leaving the secure area.

Designing the correct entry and exit logic is therefore an important part of integrating access control with automatic doors.

Y — Your Van Stock

The best automatic-door spare part isn't much use when it's sitting on a shelf 150 miles away.

Engineers quickly develop their own list of essential van stock: sensors, switches, batteries, commonly used accessories and other components capable of turning a return visit into a first-time fix.

For everything that won't fit in the van, DoorParts offers automatic door parts alongside same-day dispatch and click-and-collect options designed to help engineers reduce downtime.

Z — Zero Downtime

That's the goal.

Automatic doors are often installed precisely because an entrance is important — hospitals, shops, offices, care environments and other commercial buildings depend on them every day.

Good installation, appropriate components, preventative maintenance and fast access to replacement parts all help keep those entrances operational.

And when something does fail, having the right part available can make the difference between a first-time fix and another trip to site.

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Need Automatic Door Parts?

From automatic door operators and sensors to accessories, retrofit equipment and complete swing and sliding door packages, DoorParts.co.uk supplies automatic-door professionals throughout the UK.

With products covering major automatic-door brands, trade account options, same-day dispatch and click & collect from hundreds of locations, we're focused on one thing:

Helping engineers get the right automatic door parts and get the job done.

Explore the automatic door range at DoorParts.co.uk.