When considering the design and construction of new public buildings there are few areas which have an impact as great as the method of access and egress to and from the building. Through thorough consideration of the options that are available to the public institution a method of access can be selected which is most appropriate to the building but also user friendly. With so many options available on the market today it is important to consider the specific requirements of those who will use the building on a regular basis.
Speed of access can often be a critical consideration when constructing a new public building with an associated means of access. Often users of buildings such as council offices, leisure centres, schools and public libraries are working to a tight timescale and therefore desire to be able to move around the building at a good pace. In this instance automatic sliding doors present an extremely attractive option as they do not delay the progress of the user of the building in any way. By the time the user approaches the doors the automatic door opener will have been triggered, clearing the path of the user almost instantly.
Under similar circumstances the ease of access is also important when moving around a public building. Particular in buildings such as schools and public libraries those who use the building may often have their hands full with paperwork or books or other materials. In this instance automatic sliding doors offer the user the most convenient option, providing a ‘hands-free’ means of opening doors. The operation of an automatic door opener in place of a conventional door handle eliminates the inconvenience of juggling whatever is being carried in order to proceed beyond the door.
With the drive for cost savings ever increasing, particularly during the current harsh economic climate, public institutions would be wise to select a method of entry and egress that will offer exceptional value for money. The choice of door used within a public building can have a large impact on heat loss within the building. This is particular true for buildings that experience large volumes of traffic. By choosing automatic sliding doors the public institution can ensure that doors are only opened when access is required and that they will return to a closed position at all other times. This will greatly reduce the heat that is lost to the external environment and therefore drive down heating costs.
There are many factors to consider when choosing a method of entry and egress for a new public building including operating costs and the convenience of the users of the building. Automatic sliding doors offer public institutions an attractive solution which can minimise the heat loss from the building and therefore reduce heating costs but can also ensure that access to the building is rapid and can be achieved in a ‘hands-free’ manner. While saving the public institution money such a means of access will also greatly enhance convenience for the building’s users.
