Automatic doors play an important role in commercial buildings, providing convenient access while supporting safety, accessibility and the smooth movement of people. But like any mechanical system, they need regular inspection and maintenance to remain reliable.
So, how often should automatic doors be serviced?
There is no single servicing interval that applies to every automatic door. The appropriate frequency depends on factors such as how often the door is used, its environment, the type of system installed and the manufacturer’s recommendations. For many commercial automatic doors, servicing at least every six months is a common approach, particularly where doors experience frequent use.
Regular servicing can help identify problems before they become expensive breakdowns and ensure important safety features continue to operate correctly.
Why Do Automatic Doors Need Regular Servicing?
Automatic doors can operate thousands of times each year. With this level of use, components can gradually experience wear and tear.
Small issues, such as worn sensors, damaged components or misaligned tracks, can eventually affect the way a door operates. Without proper maintenance, these problems could lead to unexpected breakdowns, disruption and potential safety concerns.
Regular servicing helps to:
- Identify developing faults before they cause a breakdown
- Check that safety features are operating correctly
- Reduce unexpected downtime
- Extend the working life of door components
- Maintain reliable day-to-day operation
- Support safe and accessible entrances
- Reduce the likelihood of costly emergency repairs
For businesses that rely on their entrances throughout the day, preventative maintenance can be particularly valuable.
How Often Should Automatic Doors Be Serviced?
The recommended servicing frequency will depend on the individual door and how it is used.
For many commercial installations, servicing every six months is a sensible maintenance schedule. However, a door in a busy hospital, retail environment or public building may experience significantly more use than one serving a small office.
Factors that can affect the appropriate servicing schedule include:
Frequency of use
A door that opens hundreds or thousands of times a day will generally experience more wear than one used occasionally.
Type of door
Sliding, swing and folding automatic doors have different components and operating mechanisms, so their maintenance requirements can vary.
Building environment
Doors exposed to heavy footfall, weather, dirt or demanding operating conditions may require closer monitoring.
Manufacturer recommendations
The manufacturer’s maintenance instructions should always be considered when determining an appropriate servicing schedule.
Condition of the door
If an automatic door is showing signs of wear, developing faults or operating differently from normal, it may need attention before its next scheduled service.
Do High-Traffic Automatic Doors Need More Frequent Servicing?
High-traffic entrances can place considerably more demand on an automatic door system.
Hospitals, healthcare facilities, shopping centres, supermarkets, universities, government buildings and busy commercial premises may have doors operating continuously throughout the day.
In these environments, a regular preventative maintenance programme can help identify wear before it develops into a more serious problem.
The correct frequency should be determined based on the door’s usage, condition, manufacturer’s guidance and the requirements of the individual installation.
What Happens During an Automatic Door Service?
An automatic door service involves checking the condition and operation of the system to identify faults, wear and potential safety issues.
The exact checks will depend on the type of door and installation, but maintenance may include inspecting:
- Sensors and safety devices
- Door operation and movement
- Motors and mechanical components
- Tracks and other moving parts
- Activation devices
- Door leaves and associated hardware
- Opening and closing operation
- Signs of wear or damage
Where an issue is identified, it may be possible to make an adjustment or repair before it develops into a more significant fault.
A service visit should also provide a record of the condition of the door and any recommendations for further work where required.
What Are the Automatic Door Servicing Requirements?
Automatic pedestrian doors need to be maintained with safety in mind. J Manny’s engineers work with the relevant standards and competencies, including BS EN 16005, when assessing and maintaining automatic door systems.
However, servicing requirements can vary depending on the installation, manufacturer, door type and operating environment. This is why businesses should not rely on a one-size-fits-all maintenance schedule.
A suitable preventative maintenance programme should take the individual door and its use into account.
Signs Your Automatic Door May Need Servicing
You do not necessarily need to wait until your next planned service if an automatic door starts behaving differently.
Signs that a door may need attention include:
- The door is opening or closing more slowly than usual
- The door does not always respond to the activation sensor
- The door makes unusual noises
- The door stops or reverses unexpectedly
- The door is becoming unreliable
- Sensors appear to be malfunctioning
- There is visible damage or excessive wear
- The door has suffered a previous fault or breakdown
Acting early can prevent a relatively minor issue from becoming a larger repair.
If a door has already stopped working or is presenting an immediate safety concern, a reactive repair or emergency callout may be more appropriate than waiting for a routine service.
Can Regular Maintenance Prevent Automatic Door Breakdowns?
Preventative maintenance cannot guarantee that an automatic door will never break down, but it can significantly improve the chances of identifying potential problems early.
During planned maintenance, engineers can look for signs of wear and deterioration that may otherwise go unnoticed.
This is particularly important for businesses where a failed entrance could cause significant disruption to staff, customers or visitors.
Planned preventative maintenance can therefore be a more cost-effective approach than relying entirely on emergency repairs when something goes wrong.
What Is Planned Preventative Maintenance?
Planned Preventative Maintenance, often referred to as PPM, involves carrying out scheduled maintenance rather than waiting for equipment to fail.
For automatic doors, this means arranging regular servicing and inspections based on the needs of the installation.
The aim is to keep the system operating safely and reliably while identifying potential issues before they result in unexpected downtime.
J Manny provides scheduled maintenance for automatic sliding, swing and folding doors across commercial, retail and healthcare environments.
Automatic Door Servicing and Maintenance from J Manny
J Manny provides automatic door servicing, preventative maintenance and reactive repair services for commercial and public buildings.
Our experienced engineers can maintain a range of automatic door systems and help businesses identify issues before they become more disruptive problems.
Maintenance can help reduce downtime, improve safety, prolong the life of door assets and reduce the likelihood of unexpected repairs.
Where a breakdown does occur, J Manny also provides a 24/7 emergency callout service covering South Wales and the South West of England.
Whether you need a planned maintenance programme or assistance with an automatic door that is already experiencing problems, our team can help assess the most appropriate solution for your building.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should automatic doors be serviced?
For many commercial automatic doors, servicing every six months is a common maintenance schedule. However, the appropriate frequency depends on factors including usage, door type, environment, condition and manufacturer recommendations.
What happens during an automatic door service?
An engineer will assess the condition and operation of the door and inspect relevant components, safety devices and moving parts. The exact checks will depend on the type and installation of the automatic door.
Can maintenance prevent automatic door breakdowns?
Regular preventative maintenance can help identify wear and developing faults before they result in a breakdown. It cannot prevent every possible fault, but it can reduce the likelihood of unexpected problems.
Is automatic door maintenance a legal requirement?
Maintenance requirements depend on the individual installation, applicable standards, manufacturer guidance and how the door is used. Businesses should ensure automatic doors are appropriately maintained and that safety requirements are addressed.
Can anyone service an automatic door?
Automatic doors contain safety-critical components and should be assessed and maintained by suitably trained and competent engineers. Using appropriately qualified specialists helps ensure faults and safety issues are identified correctly.
What is BS EN 16005?
BS EN 16005 is a European standard covering the safety of power-operated pedestrian doors. It addresses requirements and test methods intended to help ensure automatic pedestrian doors operate safely.