Automatic doors offer great convenience to consumers and businesses alike, but it’s essential that they are regularly inspected and maintained to ensure they continue to operate safely for all users.
As the occupier, building owner or duty holder, you have a responsibility to ensure your automatic doors are serviced in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations.
Like any powered equipment, while automatic door servicing and maintenance should always be carried out by qualified engineers to demonstrate compliance with Workplace Health and Safety legislation, occupiers and building managers also have an important role to play.
BS EN 16005, the recognised European safety standard for power-operated pedestrian doors, highlights the importance of ongoing inspection, maintenance and safe operation. This standard applies to automatic sliding doors, automatic swing doors and other powered pedestrian door systems installed from April 2013 onwards. For powered pedestrian door systems installed before April 2013, BS 7036 applies.
Industry guidance recommends that simple weekly automatic door safety checks are carried out to identify any obvious faults, damage or safety concerns before they develop into more serious issues.
These checks are also recommended by the Automatic Door Suppliers Association (ADSA) and form an important part of your ongoing duty of care to staff, visitors, customers and building users.
The process is similar to routine fire alarm system testing, where simple checks carried out by building staff help to ensure compliance and safe operation of your automatic doors.
ADSA has created two useful videos that demonstrate the recommended safety check procedures for automatic sliding doors and automatic swing (hinged) doors – and advises when to call in professional help.
To demonstrate good practice and support compliance requirements, occupiers should carry out these checks weekly and record the results, keeping the data for at least a year.
As part of your inspection, you should ensure:
For the threshold safety test, we recommend using a dedicated safety test box with the following dimensions: Height: 700mm * Width 300mm * Depth 200mm.
The test box helps confirm that the automatic door’s safety sensors and protection devices are functioning correctly and can detect an obstruction within the doorway.
To help occupiers carry out their recommended weekly safety checks, we offer an Automatic Door Safety Test Box at a special discounted price of £25 with every new service and maintenance contract taken out with Automatic Access (usual retail price £50).
For compliance and record-keeping purposes, we recommend recording:
Maintaining a simple inspection log provides evidence that regular checks are being completed and can support wider health and safety procedures.
If an automatic door fails any part of the safety test, you should report the issue as soon as possible and arrange for a qualified engineer to inspect the system. Common issues may include:
Weekly safety checks are just one part of keeping an automatic door system safe for all users.
Automatic doors are classed as powered pedestrian doors and need regular inspection and servicing by qualified engineers to help demonstrate compliance with Workplace Health and Safety legislation, BS EN 16005 requirements and manufacturer recommendations.
Our automatic door service and maintenance contracts are a cost-effective way to help ensure your doors remain compliant, safe and reliable throughout their operational life.
To help occupiers carry out their recommended weekly safety checks, we provide an Automatic Door Safety Test Box at a special discounted price of £25 (usual retail price £50) with every new service and maintenance contract taken out with Automatic Access.
If you would like to discuss automatic door servicing, maintenance contracts, compliance inspections or occupier safety checks, our experienced service team is here to help.
Call us on 0330 4410 666 to discuss your requirements, arrange a maintenance quotation or learn more about our service contract options.
