Do automatic sliding doors need the same clearances as swing doors?

Because they operate similarly to manual systems, automatic sliding doors provide all the space-efficient benefits designers and specifiers expect of a sliding door. By gliding along the wall, these commercial door systems reduce maneuvering and approach clearances required for accessibility.

But automatic sliding doors do more than save space.

Questions to Ask Beyond “Does a sliding door save space?”

Beyond space efficiency, automatic sliding doors can ease opening force maximums listed in the Americans with Disability Act standards (ADA). This is because these doors are activated with a push of a button or wave of the hand.

That said, it is important to ask what kind of operators and activation an automatic sliding door has. High-energy operators that activate without a knowing gesture are often used along a building’s exterior or in high-traffic areas. Low-energy operators that require a knowing gesture are more appropriate for locations that experience lower traffic volumes, such as patient rooms or pharmacy storage.

Asking what a door system’s operators and activators are can help project teams specify the right door for an application.

Find the right automatic sliding door for your next project

Specifiers can flip through AD Systems’ Design Guide to learn more about manual and automatic sliding doors. Or contact us to leverage our integrated approach to design to find options from us or our collaborative partners.