Tips for repairing automatic doors

Automatic doors are very useful in all types of buildings. They facilitate the access and transit of people and vehicles, obtaining a great experience for the users. But how can we repair an automatic door if it stops working or gets stuck in its movement?

In most cases, we will face a problem with the engines. It can happen that the motorization of the door is damaged and must be revised or replaced. For this, we advise contacting the technical service of the brand, which will be qualified for that task. It is not recommended to entrust this task to anyone with simple knowledge.

The technical service will take care of the repair of the engine. There may be several cases. For example, that the door jams, that the motion sensor does not respond or that the remote control system has stopped working.

Whether it is a swing, roll-up or sliding door model, it is essential to contact the technical assistance service so as not to enlarge the problem with a bad or erroneous repair. Manusa’s technicians are qualified professionals who will use the best materials and tools for the arrangement. In addition, the presence of the brand in more than 80 countries demonstrates their professionalism and dedication.

Manusa professionals will inspect the status of the door and its engine and examine its adjustments to resolve the incident.

The maintenance of the automatic doors, when having electrical elements, is necessary every so often. It is not enough to install the door and forget. According to the number of people who cross this type of access, constant openings and closures require the technical service to review the products.

A preventive review to avoid problems is recommended. The key to everything working correctly is that the facility manager of the company, whether it is a shopping center, offices, hospital, industry or hotel, the property manager if it is a community of neighbors, or a particular that have some of these products in home, be aware of periodic reviews to prevent the door from opening correctly.

The best motors for automatic doors

One of the fundamental elements in an automatic door is, without a doubt, its motor. It is the part that starts the gearing and makes the door open and close without the user having to push it.

Visio motors are a guarantee of effective, top-quality operation. There is a series of models available, some of the most notable being the Visio 175, Visio 100 and Visio 125 systems.

Depending on the model, bi-parting doors can bear up to 90, 120 or 220 kg per glass leaf; while side-opening models can support up to 120, 160 or 300 kg.

How long do automatic doors take to open? The opening speed achieved with this type of drive unit is around a thousandth of a second. This means that when someone approaches the door and is detected by the motion sensor, it will start to open almost instantaneously without the user having to wait.

Motors for automatic swing doors

Besides the models mentioned above, there are also the Visio Curvo, Visio fireproof and Visio Hermético, Activa+ and Batiente drive unit systems. In the last example, which is for swing doors, the opening speed ranges from 3 to 6 seconds.

Bear in mind that this type of access and automation is becoming increasingly popular in all kinds of public building such as hotels, hospitals, shopping centres and even apartment blocks.

There are also a lot of individuals and companies that have opted for automatic doors for their garages. It is a logical choice because they can be opened and closed using a remote control and without getting out of the car.

It is very important to choose an automatic door with a good drive unit that meets the user’s expectations; in this respect, the Visio motors used in Manusa doors offer excellent value and top quality.

The BIM methodology and automatic doors

Currently, architects and designers have the advantage of being able to see their architectural and design projects on screen. For example, some offices of a company or a block of houses. Automatic doors are increasingly incorporated into all types of buildings and, therefore, projected in BIM.

The automatic accesses both in the exterior façade and in the interior spaces represent an advance for the society of the 21st century. Thanks to the internet we can download and send a BIM automatic door object of any model available for use in the construction plans.

Designing, for example, the entrances of a building gives architects a product that will help achieve results that visitors will enjoy in the coming years. In addition to the free BIM objects, there is the possibility of working together in a relationship between the characteristics of the automatic doors and the architectural specifications that will help in the construction project.

The BIM methodology in projects

BIM objects help us design the perfect personalized entry for a project like a hospital, shopping center, airport or any other type of building. This technology is also widely used when designing large spaces such as hotels, where the revolving door or garage doors are the most important, without forgetting the elevator doors.

BIM is the acronym for Building Information Modeling and refers to an integral method for the innovative planning of buildings using software. The construction data is recorded, processed and connected digitally through BIM. This methodology allows buildings to be designed, modeled, optimized and simulated. From the planning phase to the construction and operation, and even the demolition. BIM is also being used to optimize the maintenance of buildings and the management of their services, a specialty known as Facility Management.
 

All this is done in a single model in three dimensions (3D) in which all the participants work together. The model is improved throughout the planning and, in the end, an image of a real building is created.

Advantages of the BIM methodology

The BIM method provides the following advantages during the planning of the building:

  • Better exchange of information among all participants.
  • Continuous availability of high quality data.
  • Improved productivity
  • The errors are identified before
  • Greater planning and security in terms of costs

Manusa automatic doors are available with many personalized options, including motorizations, different dimensions and glass sheets, both transparent and framed, for example. This allows to adapt perfectly to the architecture and the aesthetics of any entrance according to the needs of the client.

How do automatic doors work in supermarkets?

Hypermarkets and supermarkets always want the best for their customers. They hope that when customers enter their stores they enjoy an outstanding user experience. This wellbeing is not only based on the ambient lighting, the colours of the products, the temperature, the atmosphere created by the piped music or the information broadcast over the PA system, but it also depends on the points of access.

Most of these establishments – whether large commercial centres or small grocery stores – have automatic doors fitted at the building’s entrances and exits. They are essential to ensure shoppers and retailers can enter and exit without having to worry about pushing on a door.

The accesses open and close automatically by means of motion sensors. As we know, when someone approaches the door it opens automatically. They then close a few seconds after the user leaves the area defined by the motor’s software.

Supermarkets and their accesses

What are they like and how do these automatic doors work? They are normally constructed with glass leaves in sliding or swing models. This means they can be adapted to any access point. Obviously their price depends on their size.

This type of accesses in retail outlets are very convenient for customers in wheelchairs, those pushing a shopping trolley or those who have their hands full with shopping bags.

In addition, the owners and companies managing the shops will save money by improving their energy efficiency. Automatic sliding doors help save energy, as they reduce the amount of time the doors stay open. They are only open when people are entering or leaving the shop.

Manusa is one of the manufactures of the best automatic doors for supermarkets. If you are looking for a supplier of this type of high-quality automatic door, you can obtain more information here.

What to do if an automatic door opens by itself and for no reason?

When we install automatic doors, there are only advantages. They make it easy for people to move around, users do not have to perform any actions and our doors increase the building’s energy efficiency by regulating the temperature.

But what happens when a door opens by itself and for no apparent reason? Most suppliers of these products tend to have a customer support service, but they are not always 100% reliable. Manusa’s experience means we always achieve high levels of customer satisfaction. The company is ever-present throughout the purchasing process and after-sales period.

How to resolve automatic doors opening by themselves without any reason? In the case of an office building, the company should contact our customer support service to report the incident, so we may resolve it as soon as possible. We can be contacted by telephone, probably the most suitable option, or via email.

Automatic garage doors that open for no apparent reason

Private customers who have a problem with an automatic door in their home such as a garage door should contact us by email. It can be a relatively common problem among users with this type of access in their homes. If it needs to be resolved as a matter of urgency, customers should contact us by telephone to talk with a maintenance technician in order to fix the problem as soon as possible.

In general, garage doors open by themselves because of a fault with the drive unit. This may be due to an error during installation or poor-quality technical equipment. The most recommendable units to avoid such problems are the latest models of Visio motors. An automatic door, whether a sliding or swing model, which does not close correctly or opens by itself is an example of “you get what you pay for” if you do not select a good drive unit.

Which are the best automatic doors?

Automatic doors with solar panels. What is a solar kit?

As is generally known, photovoltaic solar panels absorb energy from sun light and generate electricity. The installation of solar panels is viewed as an action that promotes clean energy and caring for the environment and planet.

But is it possible to operate an automatic door with solar energy? The straightforward answer is yes. The user just requires a battery to store all the energy produced by the sunlight and then employs it to open the automatic doors.

Although the doors can only be opened and closed a limited number of times using this 100% clean energy system, it still translates into some help and cost savings on the electricity bill, besides favouring energy efficiency.

The solar kit

There are already solar power kits on the market for supplying energy to the motors used in automatic doors. One of the most popular locations for using these systems are garages, because garage doors are not in constant motion, which means the motor does not need as much energy to open and close. They are often used in private homes such as villas and cottages.

In recent years, automation, which is the ability to manage different spaces and technologies via a remote control, tablet or smartphone, has also been introduced in both private homes and office buildings. Typical glass sliding doors that are often found leading to patios and roof terraces can also be actioned using a kit that collects and distributes solar energy.

Additionally, there are other types of automatic door such as swing or sliding models whose operation lends itself well to the use of solar energy. Solar energy systems are already used to action doors weighing 400, 600 and even 1,000 kilograms. In this regard, prices and voltages vary according to each customer’s needs.

Some users, such as the owners of rural properties with enclosed spaces for animals, for example, chicken coops, have installed a solar kit to open and close different doors.

Which are the best automatic gates for rural properties?

Some people own properties in the countryside, whether they are for personal or professional use, such as plots for livestock or agriculture, vineyards, fruit trees or vegetables. Countryside properties are popular.

Such large spaces are delimited by fences that can be kilometres long and which require gates at certain intervals to provide access for people, animals and vehicles. Automatic gates have been introduced in recent years, affording users security, convenience and prestige.

Sliding automatic gates are an excellent solution for this type of requirement. They are operated using a remote control. There are several models of controls on the market that allow us to remotely monitor and know the status of one or more automatic doors.

The system also provides information about the state of each access point. Its outstanding feature is that it eliminates the need for wiring by creating a wireless network between gates.

Besides the wireless program switch, before installing automatic gates in a rural property, we should also consider the option of including photocells, buzzers, enclosures and locks to optimise the user experience.

In this respect, it is not worth leaving security to luck by installing cheap or second-hand gates which could result in a nasty shock. Cheap solutions never produce good results. You must trust in the professionals.

Automatic doors in agricultural buildings

Automatic doors can also be fitted to the property’s buildings. For example, in the case of livestock or arable farms, we recommend automated access points in the sheds housing the animals and farm equipment. It is the same situation in industrial warehouses and factories.

Worn and deteriorated doors may eventually break or cause own or third-party damage. Their maintenance is essential. Rapid roll-up doors are the best solution in these cases. They are usually made from canvas, open vertically and roll up rapidly.

The keys of BIM technology in architecture

Who could have told ancient architects and designers that they would be able to see their complete project before laying a single stone on the ground? While it is true that our ancestors drew plans and accurately measured elevation, plan and profile views of the buildings they planned to construct, they did could not count on the level of detail offered by BIM technology.

Before explaining what BIM technology is, we should explain the meaning of the acronym. BIM stands for Building Information Modelling. The system offers a digital three-dimensional (3D) view of an architectural project. It is undoubtedly a very popular software tool with architects, engineers and many other professionals in the construction industry, including designers.

We can use this type of software to design, plan and construct a building’s infrastructure with maximum efficiency. Projects can be collaborative since several people can work on them simultaneously because everything is centralised in one software tool. Furthermore, it includes information on the duration and life cycle; on sustainability and environment; and about the construction’s maintenance. The aim is to construct buildings that stand the test of time and can be enjoyed by their users.

Several architects and designers cover these aspects related to sustainable construction and caring for the environment by incorporating automatic doors in their projects. Let us remember that, among other benefits, automatic doors help maintain a building’s temperature, thus avoiding problems associated with a poorly controlled internal climate. Energy efficiency is an essential element of any company’s corporate social responsibility.

The chance to design a building’s entrances is a wonderful opportunity for any architect. Project designers already take this into account in order to achieve highly efficient housing and office complexes. For example, if designing a new company headquarters, we could include sliding doors with motion sensors, whereas in the case of a garage, remote-controlled automatic doors would be a better choice.

Companies that offer their catalogue of products in BIM are helping suppliers and distributors, the construction sector appreciates this because it unifies working methodologies. It is no longer enough to simply add a symbol representing a door, architects now wish to include even the fine details of this feature.

What isn’t BIM technology?

There are software programs that look like BIM, but they aren’t BIM. For instance, programs that assist with 3D design but without providing further information such as that mentioned above. These tools are perfect for visualisation, but cannot be used to incorporate data and analyse the design.

Automatic doors with motion sensors

Shopping centres, hotels, hospitals, offices and so on, it is becoming increasingly commonplace and natural to find automatic doors that open as users approach in a wide variety of buildings. The doors are all designed to open proactively when a motion sensor is activated.

Automatic doors can also be activated using a remote control, a feature that is typically encountered, for example, in the entrance to apartment block garages. However, this type of system is discussed in other posts in this blog.

Motion-controlled automatic doors offer users a great advantage because they can be doing other actions without having to worry about opening the door. The software is programmed to perform an action when it detects motion in a previously determined area through the use of infrared sensors.

Advantages of motion sensors in doors

Society is becoming increasingly aware of the benefits of automatic accesses such as sliding, revolving or swing doors. Although it may be subconscious, users feel “inconvenienced” when they arrive at one of the buildings mentioned at the beginning of this post and they need to use their hands to open the door.

Sensors have therefore become particularly relevant in these products, a notable example being the DDS hybrid model; as have drive units fitted with the appropriate Visio model, important versions including the 125 HD, 175 HD and the 100.

Temperature regulation is another advantage of automatic doors with motion sensors. Buildings fitted with this type of product are guaranteed to minimise their heating or air conditioning costs as nobody will leave the door open by accident.

The type of door leaves is also very important in this regard. Transparent and framed leaves are very popular; they are chosen by a large number of customers and installed in areas with a high circulation of people.

Automatic doors that not only open, but also change lives

We pass through them everyday. More often than not we don’t even look at them. We only focus on them if there is a problem or they bang against us. Automatic doors are part of daily life for millions of people worldwide. Centuries ago, nobody imagined that doors would open without having to push them with your hand.

We will never obtain global statistics for the benefits provided by all the automatic doors that have been, are currently and will be installed across the five continents. Nevertheless, if we conducted a survey, the vast majority of responses would be positive.

Over the years, automatic doors have epitomised the challenges of design and user interaction, aspects which this product has incorporated while generating confidence and innovation. But what is so attractive about an automatic door?

Lives with a story connected to automatic doors

As children start to take their first steps, they are always surprised when a door opens as they approach. This does not normally happen in their home, they usually discover it in a shopping centre or their parent’s workplace. Some of this wonder remains as adults and, unconsciously, it still pleases us and catches our attention when an automatic door opens by itself as we approach – we see it as being natural, logical even.

Maybe there are stories in the world that began upon crossing the threshold of an automatic door. It is doubtless that some people’s lives changed after leaving their job under a toxic boss and starting a new stage in their career; or taking a deep breath before buying an engagement ring and asking their partner to marry them; or was biting their finger nails while expecting the birth of a child; or missing a flight which led to them meeting the person of their dreams. All these experiences have occurred around an automatic door: in an office, a shopping centre, a hospital or a railway car.

And you? Do you have a story about an automatic door that not only opened and closed but also changed your life?