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PRO INSTALLER DECEMBER 2013
PRO PRODUCTS
@proinstaller1
2013 Opens the
door for new
Automatic
door safety
Anne Saxby, Automatic Door Installation Association Director, has been involved
in Automatic door Associations for over 15 Years. Here she explains to PRO
Installer how new legislation impacted automatic door safety in 2013…
April 10th 2013 saw the
implementation of the
new BS EN16005 - Power operated pedestrian
doorsets — Safety in
use— Requirements
and test methods.
The new document sates,
“This European Standard
shall be given the status of a
national standard, either by
publication of an identical
text or by endorsement, at
the latest by April 2013, and
conflicting national standards shall be withdrawn at
the latest by April 2013.”
This has been perceived
as superseding the existing
standard BS7036:1996. The
new standard is European
wide and aimed at creating
a uniformed standard of au-
tomatic door safety throughout Europe.
The BS EN16005 is aimed
at the safety standards of all
automatic doors to limit potential dangers and hazards
for members of the public.
These include tripping,
Drawing-in, crushing and
impact hazards.
A series of Risk assessment, correct specification
of safety devices and adjustments upon commissioning
allow any automatic door to
be enjoyed safely; whilst the
safety devices are discreetly
protecting the users.
There are no noticeable
visual differences for the
consumer; all of the changes
are within the technologies
used and the correct alloca-
tion of protection devices or
guards.
One point of note when
compared to our previous
standard is the use of monitoring safety devices that
check they are fully working
before the door moves. The
aim here is to not allow the
door to start moving unless
the system knows all the
safety devices are correctly
operating.
When looking at the
market place, it’s supposed
that these sensors should
not add any additional cost
to the end user per say as it
only refers to door sets installed after April 2013. With
the widespread adoption of
these new sensor technologies across all Automatic
door companies the cost
is comparable to the older
technology.
It’s been well documented
since the invention of commercial automatic doors as
we know them back in the
1960’s; of the benefits that
these type of doors give the
safest ever technologies for
peace of mind.
Automatic doors can be
seamlessly integrated with
locks, intercoms, access
control and building management systems to create
bespoke entranceways to
suit any application.
‘Safety devices are discreetly
protecting the users’
public: Unaided access for
all including the less able
bodied, convenient environmental protection in the
building, easing congestion
in doorways and a welcoming entrance.
A study in America found
that Members of the public
prefer automatic doors and
actually expect to see them
on certain businesses.
The BS EN16005 now allows us to offer all of these
benefits along with our
There are numerous other
legislative points of difference in the standard that
need to be applied by your
Automatic door professional, which they learn and
apply by passing the accredited BS EN16005 training
course and exam.
The BS7036 has been part
of the industry for over
20 years so it’s very much
a reference for automatic
doors in the construction
and architectural indus-
tries but the new European EN16005 will surely
become the standard all
consumers and professionals look to.
All Automatic doors should
be tested to this standard
annually and the employer
should be presented with a
pass certificate. Think of it
like an MOT for your Automatic Door.
The Automatic Door
Installation Association is
a member owned organisation designed to support
and promote the benefits
of using Automatic doors
throughout the UK.
For more information
on the new BS EN16005
standard, find an Authorised Installation company
or to enquire about the
range of accredited training
courses in this subject visit
at www.theadia.co.uk - The
Automatic Door Installation
Association.