AADIF FAQ

Some of the most commonly asked questions about automatic pedestrian doors are:

• Why have automatic doors?
• How does an automatic door work?
• What regulations apply to automatic doors in Australia?
• Should an automatic door be maintained regularly?
• How do I obtain further information?

Why have automatic doors?

Automatic doors enable pedestrian’s unimpeded entry and exit through a doorway without having to push or pull the door open. Automatic doors also ensure a safe, convenient and efficient method of opening and closing a door and have become part of our every day lives.

Automatic doors provide the following benefits to users and building owners:

• Improved accessibility and convenience for customers to enter your shop, office or business
• Increased safety
• Increased security
• Reduced noise, dust and dirt entering your building
• Reduced climate control and air conditioning costs
• Improved aesthetics
• Interfacing with access control, intercom, fire alarm or building management systems
• Compliance to the Australian Standards and Building Code of Australia

How does an automatic door work?

Typically, automatic doors are sliding, swing, folding or revolving. The doors are moved by a door operator, which has a drive motor and an electronic logic controller and is connected to motion detection devices and safety devices. The detection devices identify movement within a defined area of the door and when activated, the door opens to enable a person or object to pass through the doorway. The safety devices are used to detect a person within the doorway threshold that prevents doors from closing. While these devices are very reliable, for safety a person should continue to move through the doorway without stopping.

What regulations apply to automatic doors in Australia?

Automatic doors supplied and installed in Australia must comply with:

• Australian Standard AS5007 ‘Powered doors for pedestrian access and egress’ replaces existing standards AS4085 ‘Automatic sliding door assemblies’ and ‘AS4290 ‘Automatic revolving door assemblies’. AS5007 with is endorsed by AADIF and sets out new performance, safety and maintenance requirements for automatic pedestrian doors including sliding doors, swing doors, folding doors and revolving doors.
• Australian Standard AS1428 “Design for access and mobility, Part 1’.
• The Building Code of Australia (BCA), clauses D2.19 and D.2.21.
• The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA), which directly references the BCA and AS1428.

Should an automatic door be maintained regularly?

AS5007 requires inspection and maintenance of the equipment at intervals not exceeding a time period of 4 months and the building owner or agent is responsible for the safe operation and maintenance of each individual automatic door in the building and adopt safety checking and planned maintenance procedures.

Failure to properly service and maintain powered pedestrian doors may cause an electrical and/or mechanical failure. This could result in a possible personal injury and related liability claim by the aggrieved party against the building’s owner and facilities manager citing that the service and maintenance procedures contained in AS5007 were not adhered to.

Regular inspection and maintenance of the automatic door entrance in accordance with AS5007 is important to ensure safe operation, long term reliability and working efficiency of the automatic door entrance, including safety devices and safety systems.

How do I obtain further information?

For further information contact your AADIF member company by clicking on 'MEMBER DIRECTORY' and follow the links or consult your ASOFIA Directory of Members publication.