When we talk about door automation, it’s actually a catch-all term for a wide range of different solutions. And for any automation project, it’s essential to remember that every door in every building is different. For installers and end users alike, the motion, usage, and surrounding of a door significantly affect the automation solution selected. This guide covers different formats of automatic doors, as well as the three different modes of automation.
What are automatic doors?
Automatic doors are triggered by some kind of input to open and close by themselves, with little or no effort required by the user. They are considered a type of machine. As such, automatic door operators are subject to regulatory restrictions designed to improve safety.
Door automation is common in a wide variety of settings. Most people will come across them in supermarkets, retail stores, hospitals, and schools. In addition, they are often found in care homes, commercial offices, and hotels.
Door types
Swing doors
These doors function in the same manner as a standard manual door. They are fixed at one side with hinges which attach the door leaf to the door frame. The path of motion of the door is a rotation. With the hinge line as the anchor point, the door rotates around that point to open and allow access.
When a swing door is automated, there is usually a motor fixed above the door with an arm that extends below the motor and fixes to the door. The arm usually either pushes or pulls the door open, depending on the direction of the door’s path of motion. Automated swing doors can be both single or double doors. In some cases, the motor may also be underneath the door in the floor.
Sliding doors
Commonly seen at the entrance to supermarkets and retail stores, sliding doors are often what comes to mind first when people talk about automatic doors. The door is mounted onto a track above and below the entrance. When activated, the doors slide along the track to open up the access space. If it’s a single door, the leaf slides one way or the other. If it’s a double door, the leaves slide in opposite directions away from one another.
The motor which operates the automation and drives the movement of the doors is usually above the door, sliding the leaves along the guide track. However, the motor can also be installed in the floor below the doors as well.
Bi-fold doors
Bi-fold doors are less common generally, but can work in spaces where there isn’t enough room for a swing or sliding door. They consist of two or more door leaves which when closed stand adjacent next to one another, forming a complete barrier. The leaves of the door are connected together using hinges fixed in alternating directions. Therefore, when activated, the door leaves fold in opposite directions.
When fully folded and opened, the door leaves are stacked immediately next to one another, perpendicular to the door frame. As a result, the door opening is revealed to allow access.
Revolving doors
Often found in hotel lobbies, revolving doors do as described – they revolve. The door consists of a number of leaves joined at intervals to a central point along the long side of the door leaf. When the central point of the revolving door turns, the door leaves turn with it. The intervals between the door leaves allow enough space for people to gain access.
At the same time, the door leaves are arranged in a manner which forms an air lock – at no point is there an unbroken path from the outdoor area to the indoor area. The path is always blocked by the door leaves. This stops cold air and noise from outside getting inside. In addition, this means the entrance can be secured by stopping the revolution at any point, with no possibility for people to gain entry.
Types of automation for doors
There are three key types or modes of automation for doors. As with the type of door itself, the installer must investigate the project and judge which automation type will suit best. The security requirements, user needs, and physical environment must all be carefully considered.
Fully automatic
This mode of operation requires no input from the user. The door is triggered via a sensor which detects when a person is approaching the door. Sensors are often installed above the door frame, or sometimes on the door leaf itself. They may utilise microwave, infrared, or laser technology to pick up the presence of a person in the vicinity of the door. As soon as a person is detected, the sensor sends a signal to the door to automatically open and allow access.
Semi automatic
The door still opens automatically, but only upon input from a user. Often, there will be a button mounted on the wall on one side of the door. The user presses the button, and a signal is immediately sent to the door to trigger it to open. Any user can activate the door; there is no need for them to validate their identity first.
Security controlled
In this case, the door automation will not trigger until a user has presented a valid credential that has been authenticated by an access control system. Only people with valid credentials are able to open the door and gain access. The method of authenticating a user’s identity can be very varied. Traditional swipe cards or keypad codes remain very common. More sophisticated systems utilise biometric data in fingerprint or facial recognition systems. In high security environments, the system may require more than one valid credential to be presented before the user can gain access.
Door automation solutions
Our DIGIWAY door automation system is for push or pull swing doors. It works with both single or double doors, as well as internal or external doors. For more information about DIGIWAY or advice on an upcoming project:
