What we do in South Glamorgan
- Schools, councils and public buildings. Entrances for schools, libraries, leisure centres and civic buildings across South Glamorgan, planned around term dates, opening hours and public access. See public buildings.
- Upgrades after an inspection. Work that closes the gaps a safety inspection finds on older doors in Wales, from extra safety sensors to clearer signage, quoted item by item. See safety and compliance upgrades.
- Shops and high streets. Automatic doors that hold heat in and let customers with buggies, wheelchairs or full bags walk straight in, including older shopfronts where space is tight. See shops and retail.
- Automating existing doors. Where a door and frame in South Glamorgan are sound, adding a sliding or swing operator can cost far less than replacing the entrance. The free survey checks whether it will work. See automating an existing door.
Towns we list in South Glamorgan
Automatic doors and the law in Wales
Under the Equality Act 2010, service providers and employers in Wales must make reasonable adjustments for disabled people, which can include altering a physical feature such as a heavy entrance door.
Wales has its own building regulations guidance. Approved Document M (Wales) uses a lower opening-force limit than England, 20 N at the leading edge, before a powered door is called for, and expects external doors used by the public in new buildings to give at least 1000 mm of effective clear width.
In Great Britain a new or converted powered door must meet the Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008 before it is first used, and can carry the UKCA or the CE marking. Workplace law (the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992) expects powered doors to have suitable and effective features to stop them trapping anyone and, where needed for safety, to open by hand unless they open automatically if the power fails. Doors at work must also be kept in efficient working order under a suitable system of maintenance.
Doors on escape routes and fire doors are covered by the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. In Wales, as in England, fire safety law says sliding or revolving doors must not be used for exits specifically intended as emergency exits.
Questions from South Glamorgan
Can an existing door in South Glamorgan be made automatic?
Often, yes. If the door, frame and hinges are sound, a swing or sliding operator can be added rather than replacing the whole entrance. The free survey checks the weight and condition of the door, the fixings, the space for the operator and the power supply. See automating an existing door for what is involved.
Do you fit automatic door openers in homes in South Glamorgan?
Yes. We arrange automatic openers for front, back and internal doors for wheelchair users and people with limited strength or mobility. The survey is free and looks at the door, the person using it and how carers come and go. Councils can sometimes help with the cost of adaptations, so check with yours before work starts, as approval usually comes first.
Can work in South Glamorgan be done outside opening hours?
Yes. Early mornings, evenings and weekends can be arranged for shops, surgeries, offices and schools that need their entrance during the day. Tell us your preferred times when you enquire. Any extra cost is set out in the written quote or the agreed visit price before the work is booked.
What happens to an automatic door in a power cut?
That depends on how the door is set up. Some doors open and stay open, some can be pushed open by hand, and some have a battery that keeps them working for a time or opens them once. Workplace health and safety law expects powered doors to be safe if the power fails. The right setting for a building in South Glamorgan is agreed before installation.
Is the site survey in South Glamorgan free?
For new automatic doors, upgrades, retrofits and home door openers, yes: the site survey is free and comes with a fixed, itemised written quote and no obligation. Repairs, servicing and safety inspections are different. For those, the visit price is agreed in writing before an engineer attends.
Who is responsible for automatic doors on escape routes in South Glamorgan?
The responsible person under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. Automatic doors on an escape route need fail-safe opening or break-out, and sliding or revolving doors must not be used for exits specifically intended as emergency exits.