FAQ | Automatic Doors

Below, we have posted some of the Frequently Asked Questions that our customer support team receive relating to the installation of Automatic Doors. In this FAQ you will also find further information relating to Automatic Doors safety standards and legislation.

The FAQ’s are designed to provide guidance on how to meet these standards and ensure that automatic doors are installed and maintained correctly.

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FAQ

Is it a legal requirement to service Automatic Doors?

Under the Machinery Directive, automatic doors must be operated safely. This means that they must be safe to use for both employees and other (end) users. The doors therefore need to be maintained in accordance with manufacturer guidelines.

The law does not specifically state that Automatic Doors need to be serviced.

However, a failure to maintain automatic doors (resulting in their unsafe use) could lead to a court penalty in the case of an injury.

ERREKA recommend servicing in order to maintain safe operation.

What qualifications and training workshops are available to installation and service engineers looking to improve their knowledge of installation and servicing of Automatic Doors?

The ADSA and CITB have collaborated and developed an NVQ scheme which covers the installation and servicing of Automatic Doors. The NVQ is administered through the ADSA who have their own in-house assessing capabilities.

ERREKA have partnered with ADSA to provide high quality training at our Bristol training facility. Please contact ADSA for more details.

What is 'BS EN 16005'?

BS EN 16005 is the European standard which gives guidance on safety in use and test methods for Automatic pedestrian doorsets.

‘BS EN 16005’ is used as a guidance document by the industry in order to help companies meet the requirements of the Machinery Directive and form part of the CE Marking process.

The document provides practical advice on safety systems and outlines best practice. Following the guidance set out by ‘BS EN 16005’ ensures that automatic doors are installed with acceptable levels of safety for users.

Safety Standards: Are 'BS EN 16005' and 'BS 7036' mandatory?

The EN 16005 is a universal standard which sets the minimum level of safety allowed within the Machinery Directive for new Automatic Doors. The EN 16005 standard has been put in place to safeguard the safety of employees and end users.

National and European Standards are not legally binding. They are seen as “best practice” and are generally adopted by organisations as rules to be followed.

Note that these safety standards (16005/7036) are always referred to as best practice in courts which preside over cases relating to accidents and injuries caused by automatic doors.

When did the EU standard 'BS EN 16005' supersede the British standard 'BS7036' (parts 1-5)?

The EU Standard ‘BS EN 16005’  came into force from April 2013 and applies to new installations installed after that date. BS 7036 parts 1-5 (Code of practice for safety at powered doors for pedestrian use) continues to apply to existing installs fitted prior to April 2013.

Definitions

‘BS EN 16005’ — Power operated pedestrian doorsets – Safety in use – Requirements and test methods.

‘BS 7036’ parts 1-5 — Code of practice for safety at powered doors for pedestrian use.

What is 'BS 7036-0'?

BS7036-0 is a British Standard, which was developed by members of the ADSA technical committee in conjunction with the British Standards Institute.

BS7036-0 provides recommendations for risk assessment and risk reduction for power operated pedestrian doorsets conforming to BS EN 16005 with the intention of safeguarding users against the risk of injury. It provides guidance on the process of undertaking hazard analysis and risk assessments, whilst also providing users with technical advice.

In a case where a monitored sensor is fitted to a door that has no test function (and was fitted prior to April 2013)...Is it possible to run the sensor without the test function?

In this case, the door would come under the ‘BS 7036’ 1996 standard. As a result, there is no need for the monitoring of safety related parts of the control system for the ‘BS 7036’ standard. Therefore, leaving the monitoring disconnected on the replacement sensors would not reduce the safety of the unit, it would simply maintain the existing level.

If low energy doors are fitted externally, do they comply to 'BS 7036' or 'BS EN 16005'?

BS7036 states in the foreword that low energy doors are generally intended for internal use but BS7036 does not say that they say they cannot be used on external doors.

BS EN 16005′  embraces the concept of using low energy door movement as a safety solution. There are many instances of low energy swing drives being used at external entrances.

You must take into consideration the risk assessment, however, from the perspective of safety standards, there is no problem with using low energy doors externally.

Which test box do I need?

Adsa Test Box

 

ERREKA recommend a field test box of 700 x 300 x 200mm

with black and grey surfaces.

 

To purchase a test box, please visit: https://erreka-automaticdoors.uk.com/shop/adsa/en16005-field-test-body

Can a non-professional test an Automatic Door?

As long as the individual is aware of what needs to be tested and observed, a non-professional can test an automatic door. It is recommended that a test box is used for testing.

If our engineer finds a door unsafe, what steps should be taken (or legal requirements followed) to power down a door for safety reasons?

There is no legal requirement to follow in such circumstances. However, we would recommend that you follow best practice. This protects the service company should litigation or enforcement occur.

If a door is unsafe to the extent that it could seriously harm someone, the engineer should turn the door off and advise the customer to keep it turned off until the safety issue has been resolved. It is advisable to have this instruction included on the engineers signed worksheet as a record. The service company should then provide a written quotation (ASAP) to the customer outlining the works needed to make the Automatic Door safe.

Engineers are now being advised that shoot bolts fitted to pocket doors should be lockable on all new installations, is this true?

Yes, this is correct.

What signage size and positional height is required for Automatic Doors? Can I change its dimensions if the sign impedes the attractiveness of an Automatic Door?

“Safety in use” takes precedence over everything else, including advertising or promotional materials. Automatic Doors (Powered pedestrian doors) are classified as machines and therefore must abide by the Supply of Machinery Act 2008 and the Machineries Directive.

As part of the risk assessment for powered pedestrian doors which are used by the general public, warning signage is recommended along with safety sensors and other protective devices and guards. The inclusion of warning signs ensures that users are aware of potential risks. This therefore helps to reduce the number of injuries associated with powered pedestrian doors.

Partners with ADSA | The Automatic Door Suppliers Association