Short answer: An automatic sensor door is a touch-free entrance system that detects an approaching person with a microwave radar, opens the glass leaves by motor and closes them once the person has passed through. A good customer experience depends on correctly positioned and adjusted sensors, a door type that suits the entrance traffic, programme settings such as winter mode, and EN 16005-compliant safety sensors.
For someone entering a shop, clinic or office tower, the first physical contact is very often the entrance door. If the door opens late, the user hesitates; if it closes too early, they feel uneasy; if it opens and closes unnecessarily, the interior heats up or cools down. The value of automatic sensor doors comes from making these small moments so smooth that nobody notices them. In this article we look at touch-free entry from the perspectives of user experience, hygiene and operational efficiency. For technical details, see our automatic sensor doors page.
How does an automatic sensor door work and how does it affect user experience?
The system works with sensors that have two different tasks. The microwave radar above the door detects the approaching person and gives the opening command. The active infrared safety sensors scan the leaf movement area and prevent the door from touching a person during passage. These two layers ensure both that the door opens on time and that it closes safely.
Movement is managed by a 24 V brushless DC motor and a microprocessor control unit. The leaf moves with soft start and soft stop at an adjustable speed. For the user, this means a smooth opening instead of a sudden, jerky movement. The belt-driven mechanism and brushless motor keep noise levels low; quiet operation is particularly noticeable in hotel lobbies, clinics and office entrances.
There are three settings that directly affect the customer experience:
- Detection zone: A zone that is too narrow makes the door open late; one that is too wide makes it open unnecessarily for people walking past.
- Opening and closing speed: At entrances with many elderly users, pushchairs and people carrying loads, the closing speed is set slower.
- Hold-open time: A short time saves energy; however, a door that starts closing before the user has passed through undermines their sense of safety.
Which type of automatic sensor door suits which area?
The width of the entrance, whether it lies on an escape route and the required level of hygiene determine the door type. The series in our catalogue compare as follows:
| Series | Construction | Suitable area | Reason for choice |
|---|---|---|---|
| PD Slide (single / double leaf sliding) | Single leaf up to 150 kg, double leaf up to 2×120 kg | Shops and supermarkets, office tower lobbies, bank branches | Standard, quiet, high-cycle entrance |
| PD Tele (telescopic) | 2 or 4 moving leaves | Entrances with narrow frontages, hospital emergency entrances | Maximum opening in limited wall space, stretchers and wheelchairs |
| PD Curve (curved) | Curved glass, half or full circle | Hotel lobbies, shopping centre main entrances, headquarters | Architectural prestige and an airlock effect |
| PD Hermetic (hermetic) | Airtight seal system | Operating theatres, laboratories, cleanrooms | Airtightness, opening by touch-free or foot sensor |
| PD Breakout (break-out) | Break-out on all leaves | Entrances on escape routes, shopping centres, hospitals, public buildings | Leaves can be pushed open in the escape direction in an emergency |
8–10 mm tempered or laminated safety glass is used for the glazing, and anodised or RAL powder-coated aluminium for the profiles. At prestige-focused, high-traffic entrances, an automatic sliding door can be planned together with revolving door systems; the revolving door handles the main flow while the sliding door provides accessible passage.
What does touch-free entry add to hygiene and accessibility?
Passing through without touching a door handle reduces the risk of contact transmission in hospitals, clinics and food areas. In operating theatres and laboratories, hermetic doors help maintain the pressure and cleanliness conditions of hygiene zones thanks to their airtight construction; they are opened with a touch-free sensor or foot sensor.
In terms of accessibility, an automatic sensor door offers barrier-free entry for wheelchair users, parents pushing pushchairs and people carrying loads. Because telescopic systems provide a wide clear opening even in narrow frontages, they are suitable for stretcher traffic at hospital emergency entrances. With an electromechanical lock and card access integration, the same door becomes a controlled security point outside working hours.
How do programme modes and maintenance affect operational efficiency?
The programme selector adapts the door's behaviour during the day to the rhythm of the business. Options include automatic, one-way, permanently open, locked and winter mode. In winter mode, the door opens to a narrower, adjustable width instead of the full width; in cold weather this reduces heat loss and draughts. One-way mode, on the other hand, allows exit only at closing time, making it easier to clear the shop.
During a power cut, systems with a battery module continue to operate for a certain period or move the door to the open position. For entrances on an escape route, it is preferable for the door to move to the open position during a power cut.
On the maintenance side, the interval is determined by the door's number of daily cycles. The checklist should include the following items:
- Testing the radar detection zone and the infrared safety sensors
- Cleaning the floor guide and bottom track; removing stones, sand and foreign objects
- Checking belt tension, carrier wheels and motor running noise
- Checking battery health and testing the power-cut scenario
- Verifying that the programme selector modes and the lock work correctly
Field note: A large share of complaints about automatic sensor doors stems not from faults but from settings. At entrances facing a pavement or footpath, if the radar zone is left wide, the door opens for everyone walking past; this leads to loss of conditioned air and unnecessary wear on the mechanism. During the site survey we observe pedestrian flow in front of the entrance and set the radar at an angle that detects only movement heading towards the door. Another common problem is small stones collecting in the floor guide and jamming the leaf; that is why the mat and grille layout should be part of the project.
Common mistakes
- Leaving the default sensor settings: Every entrance is different; the detection zone and speeds must be adjusted to the site.
- Using a standard sliding door on an escape route: Entrances on escape routes require break-out leaves.
- Not using winter mode: In the cold months, full opening causes unnecessary heat loss.
- Cutting costs on the battery module: During a power cut the door's state is uncertain; the entrance is left either locked or uncontrollably open.
- Neglecting track cleaning: Sand and stone build-up strains leaf movement and wears out the motor and belt.
Frequently asked questions
Is an automatic sensor door safe?
Yes. In EN 16005-compliant systems, the radar detects the approaching person, active infrared sensors scan the leaf movement area, and when a person is detected the door does not close or reopens. Leaf speed and closing force are limited.
What happens to an automatic sensor door when the power goes off?
Systems with a battery module continue to operate for a certain period or move the door to the open position. Without a battery, the leaves can be slid open by hand when the lock is released.
What is winter mode?
It is an operating mode that makes the door open to a narrower, adjustable width instead of the full width. It reduces heat loss and draughts in cold weather.
Can an existing glass door be converted to an automatic sensor door?
If the profiles and glass are suitable, the existing leaves can be adapted to an automatic sliding system. Glass thickness, leaf weight and the mounting space for the top carrier are checked during the site survey.
Conclusion and next step
A good customer experience with an automatic sensor door is achieved through the right door type, sensors adjusted to the site, programme modes that suit the rhythm of the business, and regular maintenance. You can explore other automatic entrance solutions on our automatic door systems page. To have your entrance assessed on site and the right system specified, send us your free site survey request.
