Coverage across Hertfordshire
Not every part of Hertfordshire is easy to reach, and some sites need planning around access, parking or opening hours. We take that into account when arranging automatic folding doors, and the engineer, working under our management, arrives with what the job is likely to need. The towns below, 19 in all, each have their own page, but any address in the area can be covered.
Towns listed in Hertfordshire: Watford, Hemel Hempstead, Stevenage, St Albans, Welwyn Garden City, Cheshunt, Hatfield, Bishop's Stortford, Borehamwood, Hitchin, Hoddesdon, Letchworth, Harpenden, Bushey, Hertford, Rickmansworth, Potters Bar, Berkhamsted, Ware.
What to think about for automatic folding doors in Hertfordshire
- Pharmacies in Hertfordshire with queues near the counter may want the door to fold away from the waiting area, with presence sensors set to ignore people standing nearby.
- Shops with roller shutters need the folded leaves to clear the shutter guide channels. Both are measured together so the door and shutter work side by side.
- Terraced shopfronts across Hertfordshire sometimes have timber frames and fascias that need strengthening to carry a header. The survey checks what the operator can be fixed to.
- Busy food and drink outlets in Hertfordshire may want the door to stay folded open in summer and run automatically in winter. Hold-open and automatic modes on the programme switch make that easy.
- Exposed corner plots catch the wind from more than one direction. A canopy, good seals and the right fold direction help a folding door run reliably in bad weather.
Automatic folding doors in Hertfordshire: guide prices
The site survey is free, including the measured drawing and a fixed, itemised written quote. Guide price: from £5,995 ex VAT.
| Item | Guide price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Automatic folding door, up to about 2 m clear opening | £5,995 – £10,995 | installed, ex VAT |
| Folding door with break-out for an escape route | top of range or on survey | depends on the fire strategy |
| Touch-free switch or push pad, fitted | £145 – £395 | per switch, ex VAT |
| Card or fob reader tied into the door | £795 – £2,495 | per door, ex VAT |
Standards and rules in England
Building regulations guidance in England (Approved Document M, Volume 2) says a powered opening system should be used where a self-closing entrance door would need more than 30 N at the leading edge to open, or more than 22.5 N between 30° and 60°, 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.
Under the Equality Act 2010, service providers and employers must make reasonable adjustments for disabled people, which can include altering a physical feature such as a heavy entrance door. New entrances and some alterations count as building work, so check with building control before the work is ordered.
How it works
- Get in touch. Call, email or use the form with the address and what you have in mind. If you are not sure which type of door suits, describe the entrance and we will suggest the options worth considering.
- Survey and advice. The survey costs nothing and carries no obligation. The engineer checks the site and explains which options suit the entrance, the people using it and the budget, before anything is priced.
- Quote in writing. You receive a fixed, itemised quote for automatic folding doors in Hertfordshire, covering equipment, installation, testing and handover, with the lead time and payment stages set out clearly.
- Install, test, explain. The engineer installs and commissions the door, tests the sensors, safety functions and emergency behaviour, and walks you through the controls. The handover pack records what was installed and tested.
Book a free survey in Hertfordshire to see the clear width, fold direction and fixed price for automatic folding doors at your premises.
Automatic folding doors in Hertfordshire: questions
Can you replace an old folding door in Hertfordshire?
Yes. Where the existing folding door is worn or its parts are no longer available, we can replace it with a new automatic folding door, or fit a new operator to sound leaves if that is better value. The survey looks at both options and the quote explains the difference.
How are prices worked out for automatic folding doors in Hertfordshire?
Our guide starts from £5,995 excluding VAT (per door set), the same guide price we use across the UK. The free site survey in Hertfordshire confirms the price as a fixed, itemised written quote, and the guide price tool gives you a range before anyone visits.
Will a folding door fit our narrow shopfront in Hertfordshire?
Very often, yes. Folding doors need almost no wall space beside the opening, so they suit frontages that run from wall to wall. The survey checks the opening, the structure above and the space for the folded leaves, and the drawing shows exactly how much clear width you will get.
Can a folding door in Hertfordshire open with a push button instead of a sensor?
Yes. Many shops use a radar sensor so the door opens as customers approach, but push pads, wave-to-open switches or a key switch can be used instead or as well. Internal doors often use push buttons, so the door only opens when someone needs it.
What does the written quote for automatic folding doors in Hertfordshire include?
The quote lists each item separately: the door or equipment, installation, electrical connections where we provide them, removal of anything being replaced, testing and handover. It is a fixed price for the work described, so it does not change unless the scope changes, and any change is agreed with you in writing first.
Can automatic doors be fitted to a listed building in Hertfordshire?
Often, yes, but listed building consent is normally needed for changes that affect the character of the building, inside or out. Slim operators, concealed fixings and automating the existing door can all reduce the visual impact. Speak to the conservation officer at the local planning authority early; we can provide drawings and specifications to help.
Which building regulations apply to a new automatic entrance in Hertfordshire?
In England the guidance is Approved Document M (Volume 2) for access, Approved Document B for fire safety and escape routes, and Approved Document K for glazing and powered doors. A new entrance can count as building work, so building control should be involved before it is ordered.