What Makes an Automatic Door Accessible?

Automatic doors are often associated with accessibility, but fitting an automatic door operator does not automatically make an entrance accessible.

A powered door can remove one significant barrier by reducing the physical effort needed to open a door, but accessibility depends on the complete entrance.

The door itself, the opening, threshold, activation method and surrounding space all need to work together if the entrance is going to be practical for the people using it.

For businesses, facilities managers and building owners, understanding that distinction is important when upgrading an existing entrance or specifying a new automatic door system.

Does an Automatic Door Count as an Accessible Door?

An automatic pedestrian door uses powered equipment to open and close the door.

Depending on the system, it might operate through a movement sensor, push pad, access control system or another activation device.

This can make access considerably easier, particularly for people who would find a heavy manual door difficult to operate.

However, simply automating a door does not address every potential accessibility barrier.

For example, a powered door may still be difficult to use if the entrance has an unsuitable threshold or insufficient space for a wheelchair user to approach the door comfortably.

That is why the entire entrance needs to be considered.

What does Approved Document M Say About Accessible Entrances?

In England, Approved Document M Volume 2 provides guidance on access to and use of buildings other than dwellings.

It states that principal entrances, main staff entrances and associated lobbies in new buildings should be accessible. Where this is not possible in an existing building, an alternative accessible entrance may need to be provided.

The guidance also considers several features around the entrance itself.

For example, it recommends a level landing immediately outside an accessible entrance and says that a level threshold is preferred, particularly at frequently used doors. Where a raised threshold cannot be avoided, the guidance sets limits on its height and construction.

Importantly, Approved Document M also states that entrance doors should be accessible particularly to wheelchair users and people with limited physical dexterity. These doors may be manually operated, power-assisted or power-operated.

So automatic operation can form part of an accessible entrance, but it is only one consideration.

How Much Space Is Needed Around an Accessible Entrance?

Someone using a wheelchair, mobility aid or walking frame needs sufficient space not only to pass through the doorway but also to approach and manoeuvre around it.

This means the available clear opening width, landing space and relationship between the door swing and surrounding area should all be considered when assessing an entrance.

Approved Document M, for example, specifies a level landing of at least 1500mm by 1500mm immediately in front of an accessible entrance, clear of the door swing.

This is a good example of why accessibility cannot be judged from the automatic operator alone.

How Should an Accessible Automatic Door Be Activated?

Activation is another important consideration.

Automatic pedestrian doors can be triggered in several ways, including:

• movement or presence sensors
• push pads
• access control systems
• contactless activation devices

The most appropriate option will depend on the building and how the entrance is used.

Where a manual activation device is provided, its position needs to make sense for the people who need to use it. A push pad that is difficult to reach from a wheelchair, for example, may undermine the reason for automating the door in the first place.

Approved Document M also states that door entry systems at accessible entrances should be accessible to deaf and hard-of-hearing people, as well as people who cannot speak.

What Safety Features Do Accessible Automatic Doors Need?

An accessible automatic door also needs to operate safely.

The current British Standard covering the safety of power-operated pedestrian doorsets is BS EN 16005:2023+A1:2024.

It covers safety requirements and testing for powered pedestrian doors, including sliding, swing, revolving, balanced and folding doors. The standard addresses hazards associated with powered doors throughout their use and lifecycle.

For an automatic entrance, this can include considering how the door detects people and how risks associated with moving door leaves are controlled.

Sensors and other safety equipment therefore need to be correctly specified, positioned and tested as part of the complete system.

Making a door easier to open should never introduce another obstacle or unnecessary risk.

Does the Equality Act 2010 Require Accessible Doors?

Accessibility is also relevant to duties under the Equality Act 2010.

Government guidance for service providers explains that reasonable changes may be required where disabled customers would otherwise experience a substantial disadvantage compared with non-disabled people.

It also specifically gives automatic doors as an example of an adjustment that can benefit disabled customers as well as other people using a building.

This does not mean every business is automatically required to install automatic doors.

What constitutes a reasonable adjustment depends on the individual circumstances, including practicality, cost and the benefit the adjustment would provide.

The important point is that organisations should consider whether physical features of an entrance create barriers for disabled people and what reasonable steps could be taken to address them.

Can an Existing Door Be Upgraded for Disabled Access?

Often, yes.

Where an existing pedestrian door is still suitable, it may be possible to add a DFA automatic door operator rather than replacing the entire door set.

Before doing so, the existing installation needs to be assessed.

The condition of the door, frame and hardware all matter, along with the available installation space and the way people use the entrance.

The activation method and necessary safety equipment also need to be considered.

For some buildings, upgrading an existing door can therefore provide a practical way of improving access without replacing serviceable equipment unnecessarily.

Is Your Whole Entrance Accessible?

The key point is simple: an automatic door and an accessible entrance are not necessarily the same thing.

Automation can make a significant difference, but good accessibility comes from considering how the whole entrance works for the people who need to use it.

At Elite Entrance Systems, we can assess existing pedestrian doors, install automatic door operators and help identify suitable activation and safety solutions for different environments.

If you are considering an entrance upgrade or want to check whether your current automatic doors meet the needs of the people using them contact the Elite Entrance Systems team.