Why is my Automatic Door opening on its own?

Whether you opt for swing doors, revolvers, sliding doors or even speed doors, automatic door systems are popular in many commercial buildings. This is thanks to their ability to improve convenience and accessibility, particularly for those who require assistance to enter the property.

However, when your automatic door seemingly adopts a mind of its own and starts to open at random, you want to know why.

Troubleshooting your automatic door

When your automatic door is opening on its own, it’s likely to be an issue with the sensors. Check that there are no objects – such as a waving plastic bag, a sign or piece of cleaning equipment – in the path of the sensors that will activate the opening of the door. It is also wise to check there is no debris or a large insect on the sensor itself.

In addition, there are often sensors at different heights. So, check all areas of the door for obstructions and possible triggers, from the overhead areas to the floors where a carpet or mat could be inhibiting usual activity.

If the door is opening on its own and there is nothing triggering it, call in an expert. Sometimes the solution can be a simple clean or recalibration of the sensors, other times it may require repairing or replacing with new sensors. An expert opinion will ensure you take the right course of action and with as little downtime as possible.

Top tips for maintaining automatic doors

In many cases, automatic doors can remain fully functional for well over a decade when looked after properly. In order to keep them working at their best, create a daily inspection checklist to ensure sensors are not being over-used unnecessarily, thresholds are always clear of obstructions and the doors themselves remain free of damage.

Pay close attention to how your doors sound and report changes in sound to your provider so issues can be fixed early. Where appropriate, lubricant can be applied to support smooth operation.

Finally, you should have your automatic doors inspected at least once a year – possibly more depending on the nature of their use. Regular, scheduled servicing by professionals ensures more subtle malfunctions and ‘early signs’ can be spotted before issues become more severe, potentially dangerous, and expensive to fix.

How to carry out a daily inspection

For optimum safety and operation, inspect your automatic doors on a daily basis when no one (or few people) are using them.

Check that:

• Trip and slip hazards are removed both in and around the door area
• All required screws are present and tight in the door structure
• There are no broken parts or cracked glass on the doors themselves
• All appropriate safety stickers are present and visible
• Floor obstructions, which inhibit the doors opening and closing, are removed
• Overhead obstructions, which may disrupt sensors, are removed
• Doors stay open for the right length of time when you stand in the threshold
• Sensors are operating normally when you walk towards and away from the doors

Servicing plans for automatic doors

It is a legal requirement to ensure that all systems under your control are safe for all who come into contact with them. At Access Innovations, our servicing plans are tailor-made to suit your exact system and help your business ensure all health and safety standards are met.

Access Innovations prides itself on delivering peace of mind. Our highly trained team has a deep well of knowledge and we make sure any problems are solved quickly with minimal disruption to your business.

Contact us today about servicing your automatic doors.