BS EN 16005 COMPLIANCE & AUTOMATIC DOOR SAFETY
UNDERSTAND YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES
Keeping automatic door systems safe, maintained and properly documented.
BS EN 16005 AUTOMATIC DOOR SAFETY
Automatic door safety and compliance
Automatic doors are an important part of many commercial and public buildings, providing convenient and accessible pedestrian access. However, as powered equipment with moving parts and safety systems, they need to be appropriately assessed, maintained and checked throughout their working life.
South East Door Services provides BS EN 16005 compliance assessments and automatic door safety inspections, helping clients identify potential issues, understand recommended remedial works and maintain appropriate records.
IMPORTANT: BS EN 16005 IS A SAFETY STANDARD
BS EN 16005 is a safety standard rather than legislation in itself.
The legal duties that apply to a particular installation depend on the circumstances, including applicable health and safety and machinery requirements. BS EN 16005 provides recognised technical requirements and test methods for the safe use of powered pedestrian doorsets.
UNDERSTANDING THE STANDARD
What is BS EN 16005?
Understanding the standard for automatic pedestrian doors
BS EN 16005 – Power operated pedestrian doorsets. Safety in use. Requirements and test methods sets out requirements and test methods relating to the safe use of power-operated pedestrian doorsets.
The current designated version is BS EN 16005:2023+A1:2024. It covers the safety of powered pedestrian doors in normal access applications and also addresses doors used in escape routes and doorsets with fire-resistance and/or smoke-control characteristics.
AUTOMATIC DOOR TYPES COVERED
✓ Automatic sliding doors
✓ Automatic swing doors
✓ Automatic revolving doors
✓ Balanced doors
✓ Folding doors with horizontally moving leaves
✓ Certain powered pass doors
It applies to external and internal power-operated pedestrian doorsets operated by electro-mechanical, electro-hydraulic or pneumatic systems.
Why Does BS EN 16005 Matter?
A recognised framework for automatic pedestrian door safety
BS EN 16005 provides a recognised framework for assessing and managing safety risks associated with powered pedestrian doors.
For existing doors, the current standard can also provide an important benchmark for good practice and risk reduction.
Automatic Door Safety is More Than the Door Itself
SAFETY SENSORS
Sensors should detect movement and presence correctly providing protection for people approaching or passing through the door.
PROTECTIVE MEASURES
Depending on the installation, side-screen protection, safety barriers and other safeguards may be required.
DOOR MOVEMENT & FORCES
The door should operate safely, with appropriate opening, closing and stopping behaviour.
USERS & ENVIRONMENT
The location, traffic flow, building use and characteristics of people using the door can all affect the risk profile.
Who is Responsible for Automatic Door Safety?
Responsibility for automatic door safety doesn't simply end when the door has been installed.
Building owners, occupiers, landlords, managing agents and facilities managers may have responsibilities for ensuring that powered doors under their control remain safe for users.
HSE guidance states that owners and those responsible for powered doors and gates need to ensure that equipment is safe, regularly checked and properly maintained, with appropriate competent assistance where necessary.
EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT SHOULD INCLUDE:
For managers of commercial premises, this means having appropriate arrangements for:
✓ Risk assessment
✓ Regular safety checks
✓ Planned maintenance
✓ Inspection and testing
✓ Defect reporting
✓ Remedial works
✓ Record keeping
✓ Competent maintenance
✓ Monitoring changes to use or the building environment
INSPECTION & MAINTENANCE
Automatic Door Inspection Requirements
How often should automatic doors be inspected?
There isn't a universal inspection interval that applies to every automatic door although an annual inspection and service by a qualified person is recommended as a minimum.
Inspection and maintenance arrangements should take account of manufacturer recommendations, door type, use, environment and risk.
Components wear, sensors can fail, door settings can change and the surrounding environment can change.
Ongoing inspection, maintenance and record keeping are therefore an important part of managing automatic door equipment.
HSE guidance states that inspection frequency for work equipment should be determined through risk assessment, taking account of manufacturer recommendations, industry advice and experience with the equipment.
FACTORS TO CONSIDER:
✓ Manufacturer recommendations
✓ The type of automatic door
✓ Frequency and intensity of use
✓ The environment
✓ The consequences of failure
✓ The people using the door
✓ Previous inspection findings
✓ Any modifications or changes in use
As a minimum, automatic doors should be included within a planned maintenance programme, with the frequency determined according to the door, its use, environment and risk. Annual servicing is commonly recommended, while occupiers should also carry out regular routine safety checks.
Building Occupier Safety Checks
Regular checks between professional servicing
Professional servicing shouldn't replace routine checks by the people responsible for the building.
Industry guidance recommends weekly safety inspections of the complete automatic door system and associated safety equipment, with records retained for at least a year.
Routine checks can help identify obvious problems between planned maintenance visits, such as:
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Damage to doors, screens or surrounding areas
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Unusual operation or noises
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Changes in opening or closing behaviour
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Problems with sensors
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Obstructions around the doorway
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Damage to safety equipment
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Issues affecting access or escape routes
If a potentially dangerous fault is identified, the door should be taken out of service or otherwise controlled until the safety issue has been addressed by a qualified engineer.
Helpful guidance from industry experts
The Automatic Door Suppliers Association (ADSA) has produced a series of short, informative videos to help building and facilities managers carry out simple occupier safety checks on automatic doors.
These step-by-step guides demonstrate the key checks you can carry out regularly to help ensure your doors are operating safely and effectively. The videos cover a range of automatic door types and provide clear, practical advice on what to look for.
We recommend watching the ADSA occupier safety check videos and using them as part of your routine building management procedures.
Remember to keep a record of your checks and retain them for at least a year.
AUTOMATIC SWING DOORS OCCUPIER'S SAFETY CHECK
AUTOMATIC SLIDING DOORS OCCUPIER'S SAFETY CHECK
PLANNED PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE
Automatic Door Maintenance
Automatic doors contain mechanical, electrical and electronic components that can deteriorate through normal use.
HSE guidance states that work equipment must be maintained in an efficient state, efficient working order and good repair, and that maintenance should be carried out safely by people with appropriate competence.
A planned automatic door maintenance programme can help identify deterioration before it develops into a more serious safety or operational problem.
We can provide bespoke service contracts covering the door assets within your building or across multiple sites, with maintenance requirements tailored to your equipment and operational needs.
PPM can help you:
✓ Identify potential faults before they become failures
✓ Maintain reliable operation
✓ Plan maintenance expenditure
✓ Reduce unexpected disruption
✓ Keep accurate maintenance records
✓ Support effective facilities management
✓ Plan future repairs and replacement requirements
RECORD KEEPING
Documentation & Automatic Door Records
Good records help demonstrate responsible management
Keeping clear records is an important part of managing automatic door assets.
Each automatic door asset should have its own log book, normally provided by the manufacturer or installer, to record checks, repairs and maintenance, providing evidence of how the door is ebing safely managed.
HSE also recommends that inspection results are recorded and retained until at least the next inspection.
Depending on the installation and maintenance arrangements, records should include door identification and location, manufacturer and equipment details, installation information, service dates, inspection findings, safety checks, repairs undertaken, parts replaced, defects identified, recommended remedial works, follow-up actions and relevant risk assessment information.
Good documentation can help the responsible person or facilities manager:
✓ Demonstrate a clear history of inspections and servicing.
✓ Track defects and remedial works
✓ Plan future expenditure and replacement requirements
✓ Manage asset information across a wider property portfolio.
✓ Support risk management
DO YOU KNOW IF YOUR AUTOMATIC DOORS ARE SAFE?
Don't wait for a door failure or safety issue to highlight a problem
South East Door Services can assess your automatic pedestrian doors and provide clear advice on safety, maintenance and any remedial action that may be required.
WHY CHOOSE SOUTH EAST DOOR SERVICES?
75+ YEARS
Decades of practical experience across automatic, manual and commercial door systems.
MANUFACTURER INDEPENDENT
Advice based on the door, building, application and requirements — not a particular manufacturer.
CLEAR REPORTING
Straightforward findings and recommendations to help you understand what needs attention.
SAFETY FOCUSED
We assess automatic door systems with the safety of building users and the environment in mind.
LOCAL RESPONSE
Supporting businesses, property owners and facilities managers across the South East.