Automatic doors are becoming more and more popular, the 2 most favoured types seen here in the UK are automatic swing doors and automatic sliding doors. Which one is more popular? And which one is best suited to your need? We will be talking about the pros and cons of both sliding and swing doors. I will explain how they operate, what the door does. How it works, the features, the maintenance, and the cost etc
Automatic Swing Doors Versus Automatic Sliding Doors
What is an Automatic Swing door?
An automatic swing door is an electronic mechanical machine that is used to operate a door for pedestrians to use it.
This door is easy to install and can be installed onto an existing door as well. This type of door can open both internally and externally. They are simple access and easy to use, this door type is very secure, and they are typically effortless to set up doors and easily programmable to suit the customer’s needs. They are also good with space and width as you do not need any side space for the door to move into.
How do Automatic Swing doors work?
An automatic swing door is an electronic mechanical device that operates by opening a hinged / pivot door for the use of pedestrians. It is activated via a motion sensor or a push button. It works by pushing or pulling the door open as the user requires.
A control system powers a low voltage motor with reduction gearbox – Controlling the speed and movement by counting and predicting encoder counts.
Possible other activations:
Power Assist – enables the user to activate the door manually at a reduced force.
Push and Go – it will activate if the doors are manually operated.
Sensor Activated – Most commonly seen, a motion activated radar triggers the door to open when it detects movement of people.
Press Pad – A touch activated Button tells the door to open.
Access Control – The door can linked to open only after an authorised user has passed the access test from your access control system.
Usability:
Automatic swing doors can be configured to sweep open in the inwards direction or outwards depending on the building environment. They are commonly used in commercial office spaces, as well as government buildings, shopping centres, and schools.
Most seen fitted overhead on the transom or door frame. These systems can also be installed “underground” installed underneath the door.
Features:
Available in single and double versions.
Can be fitted to most existing doors.
Opened in both directions.
Fixed on pivot / hinge points.
Infinite Door leaf finishes.
Can be fitted with handles.
Various Glazing options.
Can be integrated with an electronic locking system.
A high % of clear opening width can be achieved.
Lead time:
Automating an existing door can be surveyed and installed within as little as 3 days, commonly these doors are accompanied with an aluminium door with a 3–4-week manufacturing lead time.
A top-quality job fitting the door would take anywhere from 6-12 hours depending on the door specification.
Regular maintenance check-ups are legally obligated to ensure they are kept in a working order. They should be properly maintained by a certified service company at least once a year.
Purpose of a swing door:
They are defined by the fact that they swing open in either direction. They are perfect when you don’t have a free hand to open or close a door.
Automatic swing doors are perfect for unaided access into a range of shops, businesses and public buildings – providing non discriminative access for all.
Long term performance:
The long-term performance of having a swing door is very good. With regular maintenance you can expect between 5-10 years of hassle-free building access. Over a period of time, it will start to show signs of safety hazards and wear; which will then need to addressed and they need regular maintenance visits. BS EN16005 explains the safety standard the door should be assessed to.
Where are swing doors more suited for?
It all comes down to what is the best solution for the application, swing doors are best suited for automating existing doors or where replacing an existing swing door set. Often seen in corridors of hospitals, schools, and public buildings.
Options for the Automatic swing doors:
- Push or pull
- 100’s of colours
- Magnetic Lock or solenoid Bolts
- Low energy or Fully Automatic
- Press pad or Sensor activation
- Integrate with Access control
- Open via intercoms or Building management
- Fire rated options
- Installs on Wooden, Aluminium, steel or glass doors
What Is an automatic sliding door?
An automatic sliding door is a door set that uses an electromechanical machine that automatically operates a door in a side way sliding motion, for pedestrian use – the door opens, waits, then closes.
A sliding door is very a very popular automatic door, as it is more commonly used for business buildings, at the front entrances.
A sliding door is ideal for opening entrance where large volumes of people flow through.
This type of automatic door comes in a wide range and sizes, they have single and double openings.
They are also easy to maintain and due to the minimal number of internal components can be very economical in ownership.
They are ideal for 2-way traffic as people come and go either way in or out. They automatically open, often with the use of motion sensors.
They are a much sleeker design due to the lateral opening function. They make the buildings look inviting, giving the building a welcoming approach.
Often seen as safer, as the chance of a sliding door colliding with persons is reduced when compared to a door that moves towards a user.
They are germ friendly; these automatic doors do not require to be touched so there is no microorganism spreading.
Sliding doors allow you to plan out the design of your space without limitations.
How an Automatic Sliding operator Works
The door is suspended on the rollers attached to the top of the door, connecting a motor to the doors with a re-enforced belt loop.
A control system then commands the door to open or close, managing speed, force and positions.
Built in features
- Battery backup for mains failure
- Force limitation for safety
- Safety sensors for supervising any potential collision / entrapment zones
- Selectable functions – Automatic/ close /Hold open/ One Way / Off
Multi-glass doors can be configured to slide to one side or two. It can be designed to disappear into wall pockets in this case sliding panels disappear altogether giving the appearance of a full opening in an otherwise solid wall area.
Sliding doors allow for efficient use of space – for people to be able to walk through and for the doors to be able to slide.
Allows natural light to enter through – Often a high % of glass is used in the design, creating a brighter and more professional entrance area.
Silent and low maintenance – the doors are practically silent when in motion and they are easy to maintain.
Unmatched aesthetics and variety – no door can be compared to this type of door due to the vast array of deign options available.
Usability:
Automatic sliding systems can be utilised as a single sliding door, double doors that part from the centre and telescopic – where multiple door leaves slide in a single direction.
They are commonly seen in place for shopping centres, public lease facilities and government buildings.
Most seen fitted overhead on the transom or door frame, these systems can be installed “underground” beneath the floor surface.
Features:
- Multiple Safety sensor inputs
- Built in battery backup
- Can be utilised on fire rated doors
- Sliding doors allow for efficient use of space
- Dimensional flexibility
- Low maintenance
Lead time:
A Professional team can have it fitted in about 1 day. This door type needs a specific door frame to allow this to be installed, so often the whole entrance is changed and upgraded.
As each door set is bespoke designed and manufactured your typical lead time is 3-4 weeks from initial enquiry/quote.
These doors need regular visits and to be properly maintained by a certified service company at least once a year as that is what they are legally obligated to have under recommendations of BSEN 16005 to follow the manufacturers maintenance instructions.
Purpose of a sliding door:
They are perfect doors for when you want something that looks very simple and very professional. Great for high volumes of traffic, this fast-opening door can help control your building environment but allow unaided access during peak use times.
Automatic sliding door systems are perfect for workplaces, buildings, shops, and hospitals as no activity needs to be used to access this door.
What are Automatic sliding doors most suited for?
Sliding doors are best suited in places with big entrances. For example, these doors are popular in hospitals and supermarkets as they have the large amount of space to have this type of door fitted.
Advantages of a sliding door:
One obvious benefit is their saving space where hinged doors require space in which to swing open. Sliding doors operate sideways. This makes them ideal for use in smaller rooms where space is at a premium. These types of doors are the sleeker doors. They look much nicer when you approach a building, they are high maintenance doors which give off a good first impression. They make the building look more professionally approachable.
Disadvantages of a sliding door:
These types of doors would not be an option if there was very restricted opening and hardly any room. They do cost more when new doors are required. They are more complex to install, and they can not be automated onto existing doors.
Opinions and perspectives:
Jon Oliver, J Manny ltd- Business development manager:
Jon quoted-
‘Swing doors are handy and effective; they are good fire exit doors. Good for places like the office, apartment buildings, shops etc. They are handy with their push pads attached on the wall next to the door. They are good for space. Easily fitted and can be fitted onto an existing door.
Sliding doors are popular as they are commonly used in places where there are a lot of people, they are used in shops, hospitals, buildings and places with large entrances. They are the much sleeker design compared to swing doors as they give off a good first impression to the customers as they are entering the place’
Kristian Manny, J Manny ltd- Technical manager:
Kristian quoted-
‘Sliding door is the better door. As swing doors deal with a lot more forces coming against the door such as wind which is a big factor as the swing door deals with the wind pushing against it. Whereas sliding doors do not deal with that sort of thing, and do not get affected by the wind pushing against the door. Sliding doors work better and are much efficient in my opinion as they are popular, and they are easier to maintain in the long run’
Lynn Weeks, J Manny ltd- Sales manager:
Lynn quoted-
‘It all depends on the perspective, sliding doors are the more user-friendly doors. With sliding doors there does need to be somewhere for the door to slide so it will require space for these types of doors to be fitted.
Swing doors are the easier selection as they can be installed on an already existing door. However, it is all about what people want and what they’re looking for and how they are looking to use it, also down to what is the best solution for the application.
The swing doors are more practical and simpler, for example a fire door can easily be automated on a swing door, also with covid going on at the minute, these doors can provide pads with coverings and touchless pads to clean entry. But also, that is why sliding doors are good because it is contact free and no need to press buttons to access.
In my opinion sliding doors are the best option as they are pedestrian friendly, easy to use and access, they are the sleeker doors’
(This is an opinion piece with an overview applied. We insist on surveying each doorway we Automate as Site Environments, building conditions and Owner preferences are always taken into account alongside our risk assessments to provide the perfect door solution for you)
Automatic sliding doors and Swing doors:
Pros:
Cons:
Automatic swing door
- Can be fitted on an existing door.
- Cost-effective
- Complies with standard disabled access.
- Creates a wide opening
- Ideal for one way traffic.
- Can handle heavy doors.
- Looks conventional.
- Locked Secure.
Automatic swing door
- Need more space
- Can make spaces become cramped
- Increased chance of collision
- Multiple safety protocols
Pros:
Cons:
Automatic sliding doors
- Popular door.
- Installed in constant flow of people.
- Wide range and sizes.
- Single/double openings.
- Fewest parts= long term cost effective.
- Ideal for 2 way traffic.
- Open with use of sensors.
- Popular with hospitals.
- Suitable interior and exterior.
- Sleeker design due to lateral opening function.
- Reduced chance of a collision.
Automatic sliding doors
- Requires wide openings.
- Expensive as whole door set.
- Tracks need constant cleaning.
- Can not automate all existing doors.
Other Automatic door types to consider:
- Do you have a narrow door or suffer in a windy area? – Look at an automatic folding door
- Do you have high traffic flow in a high-rise building? – Research Automatic Revolving Doors
- Need a wider opening on your sliding door? – An automatic telescopic sliding door could be the best solution
Automatic Conclusion
In conclusion to this blog automatic swing doors vs automatic sliding doors, overall either door has its perks and cons; it’s all down to the perspective of the situation and which door is best suited for the end solution.
If you have an existing swing door you would like to keep, or the door has no space to the sides to facilitate a slide; then we would recommend automatic swing doors.
However, if you have the opening width to install an automatic sliding door and you are dealing with a high pedestrian traffic flow then the sliding automatic door is likely to be the best option for you.
Still unsure which door is best for you? Contact our team today who will be happy to talk you through the options available.