Automatic doors are one of those things that people hardly notice – until they go wrong. Most people probably use one multiple times a week, whether it’s at the office, the supermarket, the GP surgery, or a retail store. With automatic doors in such frequent use, it’s essential that facilities managers and building owners carry out regular maintenance to keep them moving smoothly and safely for as long as possible.
DIGIWAY is an automatic door solution for swing doors. Luckily, DIGIWAY is packed with features that make maintaining them simple. This guide will run through how to prolong the operational lifespan of your automatic doors, as well as helping you troubleshoot common issues.
Why does maintenance matter for automatic doors
Automatic doors are machines with moving parts. They are also often subject to some abuse from the general public. And that means regular maintenance is essential. Over time, automatic doors may suffer wear and tear on their component parts. They may become misaligned with the door frame, or you may find errors with sensors. But with regular, proactive maintenance, those issues can be handled, risks can be mitigated, and the lifespan of the door operator can be extended. Keeping everything working smoothly also helps ensure your automatic doors remain compliant with all the relevant accessibility and safety regulations, such as EN16005.
Routine maintenance checklist
Maintenance doesn’t always mean taking a door operator apart for a full service. Those are of course important as well, but inspections of that level don’t need to be carried out every month. There are much simpler, quicker ways to check on the operation of an automatic door without needing to get the professionals in.
We recommend that monthly, or perhaps quarterly if your door operator is not covering a high-traffic doorway, someone carries out a routine maintenance check. That might involve items such as:
- Visual inspection of the device. Check on the hinges, arms, and motor housing. Does everything look as expected? Can you see any signs of wear?
- Cleaning sensors and touch points. The effectiveness of sensors can be impacted by dust and debris. Cleaning them regularly, along with any points of contact between two components, ensures better operation for longer.
- Checking for unusual sounds or delays. Is anything squeaking? Can you hear rubbing or friction? Is it taking longer than usual for the door to start opening?
- Observation of the door’s operation. Watch the door opening fully and closing fully a few times. Is it moving smoothly? Is there any juddering or friction? What happens if the door encounters an obstacle?
With DIGIWAY, maintenance is easy. All the components facilities managers need to regularly check are easily accessible for quick inspections. With an LCD screen that can be controlled either from the unit, from a handheld transmitter, or from our smartphone app, it’s a simple and user-friendly device. And remember, DIGIWAY comes with a self-diagnostic service mode. So when your device is due a service, the unit will tell you it’s time to call your installer. If there are any larger issues in play, DIGIWAY indicates what they are, so your installer isn’t going in blind to try and fix it.
Common issues and how to troubleshoot them
Remember, if you’re ever unsure about an issue with your automatic door operator, call in the professional installer who fit the device.
| Issue | Possible Cause | Quick Fix |
| The door isn’t opening fully | An obstruction, or low motor power | Clear the door’s path and check the internal settings |
| Door dropping and catching on flooring | Misalignment | Adjust the door and/or the hinges |
| Sensor isn’t detecting users | Dirt on the sensor, or a misaligned sensor | Clean the sensor thoroughly and realign it |
Staying compliant and safe
Regular maintenance helps keep your automatic door operator safe for all its users. As well as the legal duty building owners have to ensure safety, we all have an ethical responsibility to make our physical environment safe for everyone. Complying with regulations such as EN16005 is a great place to start.
DIGIWAY door operators make safety a priority. They’re packed with features that put safety first. For example, their obstacle detection function ensures the door isn’t pushing past obstacles, potentially damaging both the door and the operator’s motor. As soon as the DIGIWAY detects an obstacle in its path, it ceases movement.
When to call a professional
While we recommend regular checks for all DIGIWAY door operators, there are some things that should only be touched by a trained installer. Facilities managers and building owners can generally handle visual inspections and minor fixes like cleaning sensors, but for more serious issues, always contact your installer. For example, those might include suspected electrical faults or reprogramming of the unit.
Conclusion
Automatic doors are moving machines, and that means that just like us, they need regular checkups and maintenance to keep them operating at the high level we expect. Something as simple as a monthly inspection of the door’s full range of movement helps you to identify and rectify any issues quickly and without fuss. The last thing you want with an automatic door is prolonged periods of downtime.
With safety, simplicity, and flexibility at its heart, every DIGIWAY door operator helps keep traffic moving in schools, hospitals, public buildings, offices, libraries, and many more environments. To find out how to get more with DIGIWAY, visit our website. Or, request a demo of a DIGIWAY door operator here.
