Automatic doors are an easy way to increase customer satisfaction in high-traffic locations. They are also energy efficient and can help businesses cut energy costs. They can also be hands-free to reduce the spread of germs in healthcare facilities, food factories, and other crowded spaces.
However, these systems must adhere to measurable government standards. Facility managers might need more staffing resources to test their doors to ensure they are code-compliant proactively.
Safety
When doors are left propped open, energy waste occurs as warm air escapes and cool air enters the building. This forces the air conditioning system to work overtime, leading to higher utility bills and a more carbon footprint. With automatic doors, there’s no need to prop the door open, and this will save your business money.
Automated doors are a simple way to create a more customer-friendly atmosphere in your business. When customers can enter your premises quickly, it gives them a positive impression of the company. Moreover, they are likely to recommend your business to friends and family.
The 2021 IBC requires that accessible public entrances include power-operated automatic doors for groups A-1 through A-4 (assembly, theaters, restaurants, and museums) and in groups B, R-1, and R-2 (business, mercantile, and hotel occupancies). However, these doors must meet specific automated door energy compliance requirements. This means they must have clear floor space at the activation plate and controls, consistent opening and closing times and force of operation, and be equipped with sensors to protect people from serious injury.
Efficiency
While automatic doors have many advantages, including improving building accessibility for individuals using wheelchairs or mobility aids, they also consume energy. This constant use of power can result in higher utility bills and may conflict with environmental and sustainability goals.
Automated door systems are complex, with mechanical and electrical elements that determine operating cycles and forces of operation. These components can wear out and must be replaced periodically to maintain functionality. They may also require additional maintenance and repairs due to environmental factors, such as wind load and air pressure, that affect opening force and closing speed.
Exterior doors are required to close quickly, and they must withstand high wind loads and air pressure. Because of these factors, the maximum opening force for these types of doors cannot be met consistently. However, facility managers need to ensure that these doors meet government standards. Otherwise, they can create dangerous conditions for people who use them.
Reliability
While there is no objective standard for what percentage of doors should be defective, facility management is responsible for ensuring that the defect rate of safety-relevant equipment like automatic doorways is as low as possible. This is especially important during emergencies when manual operation or alternative entrances must be available to individuals.
Automatic doors provide a high-end customer experience while providing energy efficiency and compliance with ADA standards. They can be triggered by motion sensors, pressure mats, or light beams and offer the convenience of touchless opening and closing, making them ideal for facilities with heavy foot traffic.
Additionally, they help maintain a consistent indoor temperature, reduce heating and cooling costs, and prevent contamination by eliminating the need to touch door handles. For these reasons and others, many businesses voluntarily provide an automatic door as their primary entrance in consideration of the needs of their customers and employees. However, like any technology, these systems can be subject to cybersecurity attacks and other problems that require vigilance and frequent maintenance.
Maintenance
While low-energy automatic doors are a welcome convenience for users where hands-free options are essential, these systems can potentially cause dangerous malfunctions if they are not regularly tested. This is because the various mechanical and electrical elements that determine cycle times and forces of operation can become out of adjustment over time.
This is particularly true if the door-activation push plates are battery-operated rather than hard-wired into the power system. These batteries eventually wear out and must be replaced to maintain functionality.
The ability of custodial crews to monitor these doors’ functionality and code compliance can be limited by staffing constraints. As such, facility managers often rely on reactive feedback from users to alert them when the door is malfunctioning.
