Automatic Door Actuators and Accessories

The importance of the correct type of actuator for the high speed door cannot be over emphasised.
If you already have one type of activation system being unsed successfully then why change what is not broken.
If you are starting from new there are several things to take into consideration.
Although the list is not complete here, we have tried to give guidance on selecting the right system.

The simplest form of activating an automatic door.
However, if your traffic is forklift, you do not want your drivers getting off the truck each time they want to open the door.
For simplicity then, this would normally only be used for pedestrian traffic or for emergency override facility.

Again, one of the more simpler systems, but one which gives more options.
Here it can be used for pedestrian traffic, as well as fork truck traffic. It is a simple device which is low cost and requires minimum maintenance.
It will slow down the fork trucks as they approach the pull cord.
BENEFITS: if there are several doorways close together or if the number of automatic doors is high, it allows much better control over which door opens and when.

Here it is important to distinguish between Infra Red and Radar. Infra red is generally used for smaller, domestic applications and is not as robust as the radar detectors.
Ideal for internal applications and the latest models can be adjusted to work directional. Door is activated when approached from in front of the detector, but not when traffic comes from the opposite direction. They can also be adjusted so that they do not pick up traffic from the side.
They will pick up fork truck as well as pedestrian traffic.

Consists of a wall mounted receiver - usually in the control panel - with an aerial if needed. Hand transmitters are then either carried by personnel or mounted on the forklift. Each transmitter is programmed individually for each door.
The number of doorways needs to be considered. 1, 2 and 4 button handsets are the norm.
BENEFITS: Allows forklift drivers to open doors but restricts pedestrians to using adjacent pedestrian doorways, so keeping traffic separated, reducing the accident risk.

One of the most popular systems.
A groove is cut into the floor and a ground loop system fitted and backfilled so that the wires are completely under the ground. A feed is taken to the control panel. In the control panel is a detection unit which activates the door each time a metal object passes over the ground loop.
BENEFITS: Where forktruck traffic is heavy, it allows continuous use of the openings so that drivers do not have to stop and wait for doors to open. Pedestrian traffic will not activate the doors if correctly adjusted.

A range of photocell activation units are available from reflective to transmit and receive. These work by a beam being broken causing the door to open.
The transmitter sends out a beam which is reflected back to the sender and if this is broken, it activates the door. With the send and receive type a signal is sent to the receiver from the transmitter and returned to complete the circuit.
Heated photocells can be supplied for low temperature areas or where condensation could be a problem.