Many myths surround automatic door systems, not unlike the kind of stories you might hear in a small town. People are quick to say they can read your mind and believe they consume excessive electricity while constantly breaking down. Put those kinds of tales aside and look at the technology objectively automatic door mechanism, though, and you will find little to back them up. We have put some of these assertions to the test.
Consider the belief that automatic doors dramatically increase electricity costs compared to manual doors. This assumption seems reasonable: a continuously operating motor sounds expensive. In fact, the motor runs only briefly during each opening and closing cycle. Once you consider the heating or cooling lost because an employee has left a conventional door propped open, the automatic version is the sensible choice.
Do Automatic Doors Constantly Break Down?
This is a common complaint. There is some truth in it, the claim is often exaggerated. Under the hood of an automatic door there is a motor, control boards, sensors; more parts naturally create more opportunities for failure. However, a properly maintained system is highly reliable. More often than not a breakdown is due to poor maintenance and not bad engineering. It is akin to blaming the car for a flat when one has never thought to check the tire.
Do Automatic Doors Save Time?
The case can be made either way. If it is just one person coming into the building, saving a couple of seconds is insignificant. But in a hospital or retail environment where thousands come and go in a day, those seconds quickly add up. A customer with his arms full or a nurse with a gurney would rather not be fiddling with a handle. The goal is to make daily operations smoother and more efficient.
Automatic Doesn't Mean Maintenance-Free
It would be an error to think “automatic” means foolproof. Weather, dirt, and everyday wear eventually affect performance. Without regular upkeep, even a well-installed automatic door can begin to develop problems over time. Like any mechanical system, automatic doors require routine maintenance to stay reliable. Ignoring maintenance can allow small issues to become costly repairs.