The importance of keeping up with the door industry legislation for Automatic Doors (BS EN16005 2023)
Commercial automatic doors are not the type of product you can simply “fit and forget”. Since 1988 there has been a regulations and best practise documents regarding automatic doors to allow them to be –
- Specified
- Installed
- Commissioned
- Serviced
- Maintained
During this time technology has also played its part to change how these automatic doors function, adding features and more importantly become safer.
The manufacturers have also looked at these regulations to ensure that any current and future products will of course comply.
What is BS EN 16005?
BS EN 16005 is a European standard that outlines the safety requirements for automatic pedestrian doors. It covers the design, installation, and maintenance of these doors, as well as the safety features and sensors that they should be equipped with.
The standard applies to all automatic doors, including sliding, swing and folding doors.
The aim of the standard is to ensure that automatic door systems are safe and easy to use for everyone, including people with disabilities or mobility issues.
It also aims to prevent accidents and injuries caused by the misuse or malfunctioning of automatic doors.
What are the Key Requirements of BS EN 16005?
BS EN 16005 outlines a range of requirements for automatic doors, including:
- Safety Sensors: Automatic doors must be equipped with safety sensors that detect obstructions and prevent the doors from closing on people or objects.
- Safety Zones: The area around automatic doors must be clear of obstructions to prevent accidents or injuries from occurring.
- Emergency Escape: In the event of a power failure or other emergency, automatic doors must be designed to allow for emergency egress.
- Signage: Automatic doors must be clearly marked with signage indicating their presence and the direction of opening.
- Maintenance: Regular maintenance is required to ensure the safe and efficient operation of automatic doors.
What Does BS EN 16005 Mean for Your Business?
If your business has automatic doors, or you’re thinking about installing an automatic door system, it’s important to ensure they’re compliant with BS EN 16005.
Failure to comply with the standard could result in accidents, injuries, or legal action. Compliance with the standard also demonstrates your commitment to safety and accessibility, which can improve your reputation and attract more customers.
To ensure compliance, it is important to work with a reputable installer and maintenance provider who understands the requirements of the standard. Regular maintenance and inspections are also essential to ensure that your automatic doors are –
- operating safely and efficiently
- Any risks eliminated or reduced to a safe level
- fits the users’ needs
So, to avoid the consequences, it’s vital that we at BH Doors are able to keep up:
Importance of Staying Up-to-Date with Health and Safety Regulations
Health and safety regulations serve as guidelines and standards for organizations and individuals to maintain a safe and healthy environment. By staying up-to-date with these regulations, individuals and organizations can ensure compliance, minimize the potential for accidents or injuries, and protect the well-being of employees, customers, and the general public.
Benefits of Staying Up-to-Date
If you’re a Facilities or Building Manager, staying up-to-date on the latest legislation will be a major facet of your role. While you may initially see this is as an unimportant burden, you quickly realise that this enables you to make much better decisions when it comes to running your organisation. If an upcoming rule-change has the potential to make a significant impact on your business, you will only benefit from having more time to make alternate plans. As the old proverb goes, “He who is prepared has won half the battle.”
How to Keep up with any Changes
With this in mind, you’re likely wondering what the best ways to keep up with changing legislation are. Websites like www.legislation.gov.uk or the BSI which provides full access to UK legislation online. However, many Facilities Managers simply don’t have the time to keep up with the news and legislative text can be difficult to fully parse. To ensure that you have a full understanding of what’s happening, consider hiring a specialist contractor.
Whatever the industry, ultimately, it’s about attaining as much relevant knowledge to ensure the building, product or service is compliant and to pass any relevant changes onto our customers.