Installing automatic doors is an art. It requires precision, skill, and often patience. And sometimes, things go wrong. It’s frustrating when you come up against installation difficulties or challenges, especially when you’ve got other jobs to get to. That’s why we’ve packed DIGIWAY door operators with features that combat all those usual tricky bits to make every installation a breeze.
For this article, I asked ChatGPT to tell me the most common issues installers face when they’re fitting automatic door operators. And then I’ll explain how DIGIWAY solves those issues.
1 – Improper alignment of the door
Possibly the biggest recurring issue for automatic door installers. When the door isn’t fitted or aligned properly, it can cause strain on the door operator or elicit malfunction. Moreover, if a door remains misaligned, the uneven wear and tear on the operator’s components can shorten the usable lifespan of the unit. And that’s no good for anybody.
Fortunately, DIGIWAY is equipped with an arm with a double ball joint that enables up to 11 degrees of movement. That means it’s so much easier to line up with non-standard or problem doors, as well as being self-levelling. It’s a small design feature that makes a big difference.
2 – Incompatible door or frame
As we all know, not all doors are suitable for automation. If they’re too lightweight, the doors may not withstand the forces required for automation. And equally, if they weight too much, the operator might not deliver enough force to move the door adequately. And that can lead to all sorts of issues with operator motors.
There are two types of DIGIWAY door operators, each suited for different kinds of doors and sites. That means the range covers a much wider field of doors than a single operator. DIGIWAY Plus is for smaller and lighter doors, while the DIGIWAY Spring Return accommodates wider, heavier doors. Our simple chart tells you what you need to know for your next installation. Or if you need more detail, try our Suitability of Installation questionnaires.
3 – Incorrect mounting of the operator
Have you ever turned up at a site and realised the door operator you ordered won’t work on the door? Maybe the door opens the opposite way than you thought it would. Or maybe you can’t work out exactly where the operator needs to fix to the wall. Getting those parts wrong leads to a world of trouble such as motor strain and inefficient or incomplete opening and closing of the door.
Every DIGIWAY door operator comes with a universal arm kit in the pack. That means you get the parts for both an inward-opening and an outward-opening door. So you only ever have to order one part, and you don’t need to remember which way the door opens when you’re placing that order. And moreover, you also get a simple template to show you how and where to mount the door operator. Easy!
4 – Inadequate safety features
Every automatic door installation should comply with EN16005 regulations. The units are machines and the regulations aim to reduce the risk of injury and damage caused by the moving door. We always recommend that installers complete training on the regulations with the ADIA or ADSA before embarking on fitting door operators. However, every door is different and every door’s requirements to make it safe are also different. It can be confusing or challenging to figure out how to ensure regulatory compliance for your customers.
That’s why we created our EN16005 kits to make it easier. There are four kits, for each of the two DIGIWAY models, and for either single or double doors. The kits contain the door operator, infrared safety sensors, finger-guards for the hinge line, and clear safety signage. That may not be everything you need to be compliant (you should always do a risk assessment at the beginning of the project), but it’s a big chunk off your list!
The kits:
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EN16005-KIT-U: DIGIWAY Plus single door kit.
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EN16005-KIT-UD: DIGIWAY Plus double door kit.
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EN16005-KIT-U-SR: DIGIWAY SR single door kit.
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EN16005-KIT-UD-SR: DIGIWAY SR double door kit
5 – Door obstruction or resistance
Sometimes, doors stick or catch or just don’t open smoothly like you want them to. It could be stiff hinges, misalignment, rubbing on the frame or floor, or an incorrect setting in the door operator. And it’s frustrating when that happens. It’s also concerning – if a door suffers from friction on opening or closing, it can put strain on the operator’s motor, which could damage components or reduce the unit’s lifespan.
How does DIGIWAY solve this problem? We fix it before it starts! During the installation process, you’ll reach a point where you initiate DIGIWAY’s self-calibration cycle. During that cycle, the door operator completes a full open and close five times in a row. All the while, the DIGIWAY is calculating precise measurements of the weight and dimensions of the door, and the amount of electrical current to smoothly open and close it all the way. Once the operator has mapped the door’s usual path and pattern, it can notice when something is amiss. If there’s an object blocking the path of the door, it doesn’t just keep pushing until the motor is damaged. As soon as the DIGIWAY identifies that the door is needing more current than usual to push past an obstacle, or that the door has decelerated unexpectedly, it ceases movement. It’s an added safety feature for any nearby users of the door, and it protects your DIGIWAY’s components from the risk of undue wear.
6 – Incorrect configuration or programming
Anyone not familiar with the intricacies of automatic doors would probably laugh if you told them how complex it can get. But it’s true – there are so many fine details that seem minor, but make a big difference to the operation and usage of an automated door. And because every door is different, the default settings that an operators comes with are rarely optimal.
The DIGIWAY Plus Setup Wizard takes the pressure off. It guides you, step by simple step, through the configuration process and prompting you to fix each core parameter in turn. All you have to do is follow the steps to achieve a safe basic setup. And for advanced settings, our manuals are easily accessible and clearly set out the myriad of options available to optimise your installation.
Get more with DIGIWAY
So there we have it – DIGIWAY gives you more flexibility, more safety, and more simplicity. It sees your installation challenges and it says “not today”.
