Significant advances in technology in the automatic door industry have led to lower operational costs, enhanced security and greater efficiency for building owners and maintenance managers.
Increasing numbers of businesses and public buildings have benefited from automatic doors in recent years, with the sector being valued at around £6.8 billion globally, with a projected annual growth rate of 5.5%. They have become the norm in modern buildings including in retail, office and healthcare settings.
© SeventyFour / Shutterstock.com
Advances in automation and sensor technology, as well as an increasing emphasis on sustainability and energy efficiency, are the key drivers spearheading market growth, according to data published by Market Research Future.
The consumer experience is recognised as a vital part of any business’s success, with shopfront doors in particular transitioning from heavy manual designs, which are inconvenient for elderly and disabled customers, people with prams, and shoppers laden down with heavy bags. Instead, automatic sliding doors are favoured to improve the customer experience from the moment they arrive at the entrance.
Market growth
Analysts predict the global automatic sliding doors market alone will grow from its current value of £1.9 billion to £2.9 billion by 2032, as increasing numbers of businesses recognise the value of catering for an increasingly ageing population.
In the UK, 12.7 million people, equating to around 20% of the population, are currently 65 or older, but the Office for National Statistics predicts this will increase to 27% over the next 50 years. People are living longer due to improvements in hygiene, sanitation and the control of infectious diseases, creating a gradual demographic change that has social and economic consequences.
New buildings are starting to adapt to accommodate consumers who may need extra help due to age-related frailty. This not only makes them more welcoming, but also ensures compliance with legislation such as the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 and the Equality Act 2010, which require public buildings in the UK to be accessible to everyone.
Space saving innovations
In addition, as urban areas expand and the number of commercial premises increases, there’s a greater demand for space saving entrance solutions, with automatic telescopic doors providing an option for buildings so small that their facade can’t accommodate full scale sliding doors. They offer up to 30% more opening width without taking up extra room, ensuring ease of access for wheelchair users, large footfalls of staff and customers, loading pallets or shopping trolleys.
Energy efficiency and sustainability
Automatic revolving doors are one of the most energy efficient and sustainable entrance solutions on the market, especially for commercial buildings such as hotels and offices, as they minimise draughts while maintaining a professional appearance. Particularly popular in countries with extreme temperatures, they help keep the interior climate constant, whatever the season. This means building users will be less reliant on central heating or air conditioning.
The pressure doesn’t change as the revolving door allows people to enter and leave the building, as the design doesn’t break the seal, with the action of the doors spinning round preventing air from entering or escaping. This maintains the equilibrium, which is particularly important in larger structures, making revolving doors a popular choice in bustling cities with taller buildings.
Ease of use
A popular choice for busy environments where people are constantly coming and going, automatic swinging doors are easy to use and can be installed to open in either direction. They normally consist of one or two panels hinging on a central pivot point and activated by an electronic sensor mounted close to the floor.
The sensor detects when a person approaches and sends a signal to the controller to open the doors wide enough for them to walk through. Once the pedestrian is out of the sensor’s range, the doors are closed automatically when the controller shuts off the motors.
Other designs include a press-pad accessory that will swing open the door when touched. They can be fitted to most existing doors, making them easy to install and use.
Latest sensor technology
Modern technology in automatic door design has allowed for significant innovations, with one of the most notable being laser, radar and vision based sensors that offer improved accuracy. They can detect movement precisely, differentiating between humans, animals and objects and enabling the doors to operate only when needed, avoiding unnecessary opening and conserving energy. This has become a critical consideration for building owners, who can minimise the time when the doors are open, reducing summer heat gain and winter heat loss.
More sophisticated algorithms can analyse traffic patterns and adjust the doors’ operation, optimising energy use. Smart sensors will detect when a user approaches and activate the door, allowing them to pass through safely, in contrast with conventional sensors that can’t differentiate between someone entering the building, or simply walking past. This reduces unnecessary rotations and wasted energy.
The latest automatic doors use biometric authentication to provide improved features for individuals such as smart connectivity to personalise experiences for less able people, prioritising safety with immediate response mechanisms to prevent the doors from closing on anyone.
Biometric access can also improve security by using biological traits including facial recognition, fingerprints and iris scans. This allows individuals to enter. Unlike PIN codes or key cards, it’s almost impossible to replicate biometric data.
Touchless and mobile access control
Cloud software and IoT platforms provide remote access and diagnostics features, bringing unprecedented control and convenience to the automatic doors industry. Personnel can manage and monitor the door system remotely and receive real-time alerts about perceived issues. This enables quick diagnosis and troubleshooting to reduce downtime and maintenance costs. The collected data can be analysed to predict future maintenance needs, ensuring the doors always remain in top condition.
Future technology will continue to improve the automatic door sector in many ways, with the emphasis being on enhanced reliability, security and sustainability, in line with modern business requirements.