Your Guide to Choosing the Best Automatic Door System

Your Guide to Choosing the Best Automatic Door System

If you’re looking to install or replace automatic doors in your place of business, you may not know where to start. The doors you choose must fit in seamlessly with the style of your building, must be secure, and your staff and clients the convenience they need. But how do you choose? This guide will show you how. 

Step 1: What’s the Purpose of the Automatic Door?

The first step is to understand exactly why you need the door so you can select the right one. Obviously, the purpose of the door is to open automatically so the person walking through doesn’t have to do it themselves, but consider: 

  • Are you installing it to be convenient for handicapped staff members? 
  • Should it be unobtrusive to the eye (glass) or visible? 
  • If the power should cut out, does it need to work manually? 
  • What design features should it have to fit in with the rest of the building? 
  • Do you want automatic doors on your retail store to eliminate barriers to entry? (Literally!) 

While the differences may seem small, automatic doors required for somewhere that is catering for handicapped staff members but also needs to double as a fire door is very different to a quick, full glass door on a retail store. 

Step 2: Assess the Space 

While a glass sliding door may seem like a no-brainer option, when you look at the opening you may find that there’s not enough room to accommodate the automatic door you first thought of. Look at the doorway and assess what kind of doors will best fit there. 

Step 2: What Style of Automatic Door?

Next, think about the aesthetics of the door. Maybe it needs to be more functional than stylish, or maybe you are installing the doors in an old building and so certain styles may not work for you, your establishment, and your branding.

Different Types of Automatic Door

  • Automatic Sliding Doors: these are the typical sliding glass doors we experience at most stores. They are great for heavy traffic areas, improving convenience for customers and employees, and keeping in the heat or cool air despite the high traffic. These doors come in a variety of sizes.
  • Automatic Swing Doors: Automatic swing doors are useful in low traffic areas, for example, an alternate entrance to a store for handicapped users or where there isn’t room to install a full sliding door. In most situations, swinging doors require a guide rail.
  • Automatic Revolving Doors: These doors often constantly revolve throughout the day. You’ll find these in places where there is low traffic or where you want to control the flow of traffic. They aren’t often suitable for locations where customers need to carry or push large objects, or for the elderly who may find the revolving door a stressful situation if they have low mobility issues.
  • Automatic Folding Doors: If space is at a minimum, folding automatic doors are a great choice, and often have a swing feature for emergency situations. These doors have multiple panels and automatically concertina when someone approaches.
  • Barrier-Free Sliding Doors: These doors are sliding doors but suitable for residential applications. If you are looking for doors suitable for the handicapped, care homes, or hospice applications, these doors are ideal.
  • Low Energy Swinging Doors: these doors are common in low traffic areas where the users may be elderly or handicapped. In most cases, there is a plate on the wall that must be pushed for the doors to open. 

Step 3: Additional Features 

Consider what additional features your doors need to have. Do they need to have additional security measures? The doors we offer can be controlled via video monitoring and even biometric data. The doors you choose may also need to integrate seamlessly into established systems, not just work independently. Be clear on what you need so you don’t waste time looking at options that ultimately aren’t right for you.

Step 4: Speak to the Professionals 

Once you’ve established what automatic doors you believe will be right for you, it’s time to ask the professionals. Enquire with local locksmith services and automatic door manufacturers to find out if they can make any suggestions and help you find the best automatic doors for your business’s budget, building styling, and most importantly, the users.  

If you’re looking to install automatic doors in your development, retail, or commercial premises in the Greater Toronto area, we’re more than happy to discuss your needs and advise you on the best automatic doors for you. If you’d like to learn more or request a quote, click here

Your Guide to Choosing the Best Automatic Door System

If you’re looking to install or replace automatic doors in your place of business, you may not know where to start. The doors you choose must fit in seamlessly with the style of your building, must be secure, and your staff and clients the convenience they need. But how do you choose? This guide will show you how. 

Step 1: What’s the Purpose of the Automatic Door?

The first step is to understand exactly why you need the door so you can select the right one. Obviously, the purpose of the door is to open automatically so the person walking through doesn’t have to do it themselves, but consider: 

  • Are you installing it to be convenient for handicapped staff members? 
  • Should it be unobtrusive to the eye (glass) or visible? 
  • If the power should cut out, does it need to work manually? 
  • What design features should it have to fit in with the rest of the building? 
  • Do you want automatic doors on your retail store to eliminate barriers to entry? (Literally!) 

While the differences may seem small, automatic doors required for somewhere that is catering for handicapped staff members but also needs to double as a fire door is very different to a quick, full glass door on a retail store. 

Step 2: Assess the Space 

While a glass sliding door may seem like a no-brainer option, when you look at the opening you may find that there’s not enough room to accommodate the automatic door you first thought of. Look at the doorway and assess what kind of doors will best fit there. 

Step 2: What Style of Automatic Door?

Next, think about the aesthetics of the door. Maybe it needs to be more functional than stylish, or maybe you are installing the doors in an old building and so certain styles may not work for you, your establishment, and your branding.

Different Types of Automatic Door

  • Automatic Sliding Doors: these are the typical sliding glass doors we experience at most stores. They are great for heavy traffic areas, improving convenience for customers and employees, and keeping in the heat or cool air despite the high traffic. These doors come in a variety of sizes.
  • Automatic Swing Doors: Automatic swing doors are useful in low traffic areas, for example, an alternate entrance to a store for handicapped users or where there isn’t room to install a full sliding door. In most situations, swinging doors require a guide rail.
  • Automatic Revolving Doors: These doors often constantly revolve throughout the day. You’ll find these in places where there is low traffic or where you want to control the flow of traffic. They aren’t often suitable for locations where customers need to carry or push large objects, or for the elderly who may find the revolving door a stressful situation if they have low mobility issues.
  • Automatic Folding Doors: If space is at a minimum, folding automatic doors are a great choice, and often have a swing feature for emergency situations. These doors have multiple panels and automatically concertina when someone approaches.
  • Barrier-Free Sliding Doors: These doors are sliding doors but suitable for residential applications. If you are looking for doors suitable for the handicapped, care homes, or hospice applications, these doors are ideal.
  • Low Energy Swinging Doors: these doors are common in low traffic areas where the users may be elderly or handicapped. In most cases, there is a plate on the wall that must be pushed for the doors to open. 

Step 3: Additional Features 

Consider what additional features your doors need to have. Do they need to have additional security measures? The doors we offer can be controlled via video monitoring and even biometric data. The doors you choose may also need to integrate seamlessly into established systems, not just work independently. Be clear on what you need so you don’t waste time looking at options that ultimately aren’t right for you.

Step 4: Speak to the Professionals 

Once you’ve established what automatic doors you believe will be right for you, it’s time to ask the professionals. Enquire with local locksmith services and automatic door manufacturers to find out if they can make any suggestions and help you find the best automatic doors for your business’s budget, building styling, and most importantly, the users.  

If you’re looking to install automatic doors in your development, retail, or commercial premises in the Greater Toronto area, we’re more than happy to discuss your needs and advise you on the best automatic doors for you. If you’d like to learn more or request a quote, click here

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