First impressions are everything in business and one of the first things you will see when entering a business property is the door. Without even realising, your clients and customers will judge your building partly by the door they enter through. Due to this, you should take your time when it comes to deciding on an automatic door.
When it comes to choosing the right type of power-assisted doors for your business property, there are lots of things to consider before you go ahead and buy. The EA Group have put together the pros and cons of each door to help you make an informed decision.
Revolving doors
You can install either automatic and manual revolving doors. They both typically consist of two, three or four doors that are attached to a central shaft and rotate around an axis within a cylindrical enclosure. You will typically find revolving doors in places like airports, hospitals, and shopping centres.
Pros
- Attractive
There is no denying that revolving doors look attractive and they are often associated with wealth. Having this type of automatic door at your entrance will instantly add elegance and make your business property look more professional.
- Good for climate, draft and noise control
Revolving doors are always simultaneously closed and open, meaning your heat stays in and the cold stays out. This works for noise too, because the doors aren’t ever fully opened any noise from the street will be kept outside.
- Customer flow management
This type of automatic door isn’t just an entrance to a building, it is an exit too. They are brilliant for managing foot traffic allowing people in and out, simultaneously. They also prevent lots of people entering the building at the same time which has added security benefits.
Cons
- Take up lots of room
It is clear to see that revolving doors are bigger than your standard automatic sliding door, not just by width, they are also deeper and can cut into reception areas. You have to have lots of spare space to install an automatic revolving door, especially if you need a large diameter revolving door to accommodate for prams, wheelchairs or luggage.
- Expensive
Unfortunately, they aren’t a cheap option. Their price can vary dramatically and there are various factors that can change their price, including size, materials and how many doors you need for your building. Although they are expensive to install, they can save you money on energy costs so, this is something to consider when you are factoring in the overall cost.
Sliding doors
We offer straight and curved sliding doors, they usually both open horizontally by sliding parallel to a wall. You will commonly find this type of door in offices and shop entrances and they are the go-to option for many businesses.
Pros
- Similar in size to a normal door
These doors are a great option if you don’t have much space but you still want to offer an automatic door option. The only additional space you will require is next to the door, to allow the doors to slide open and shut.
- Wider entrance point
Sliding doors, when open, provide a much wider entrance point. They are usually the size of an open double door, if not bigger. This allows lots of people to enter at once and they also take into account anyone who has a double pushchair or people who require disabled access.
- Cheaper
Although slidings doors still cost more than a standard automatic door, they are considerably cheaper than any of the revolving doors you will find on the market. They are a much more affordable investment and the upfront cost is much nicer on your pocket.
Cons
- Let in the cold
Due to the amount of time that they are open and also how frequently they are opened, sliding doors are known for letting in the cold air and letting out hot air during winter and the opposite in summer. If you have a reception or waiting area on the other side of your entrance doors then they might not be the best option.
- Need separate doors for in and out
In order to properly manage traffic entering and exiting the building, depending on the foot flow you have, you may want to consider having two separate sliding doors. This avoids traffic jams of people trying to get in whilst others get out. However, it also makes it more expensive and requires more space.
Automatic sliding doors are also an effective emergency route, as the width of the door opening often allows more people to pass through in a given period of time than smaller revolving doors. To meet fire safety building regulations, sliding doors can be installed to supplement a revolving door.
Which is the door for you?
Taking into account all of the factors mentioned above you may now be able to decide on the best power-assisted doors for your business property. Whichever option you have chosen please don’t hesitate to contact the EA Group for assistance. As specialist sliding door and revolving door suppliers we will be able to provide you with the automatic door that meets all of your needs and requirements.
