Coverage across Bedfordshire
There is no branch to visit in Bedfordshire; instead, specialist engineers working under our management travel to you. That keeps break-out escape route doors available across the whole area, including smaller towns and rural addresses. The page for each of the 5 towns we list below sets out nearby places, guide prices and the questions people usually ask.
Towns listed in Bedfordshire: Luton, Bedford, Dunstable, Leighton Buzzard, Kempston.
What to think about for break-out escape route doors in Bedfordshire
- Check the swing zone outside the entrance. Planters, cycle stands, bins and A-boards that are harmless beside a normal door can stop a break-out leaf opening fully, so plan to keep that area clear.
- Older entrances on high streets in Bedfordshire may have uneven thresholds or sloping pavements. Break-out leaves need a level floor and solid fixing for the bottom pivots, and correcting that can add a day to the work.
- Think about night security alongside escape. A lock that stops a leaf breaking out while people are still inside causes problems, so choose one that releases on the fire alarm where the strategy calls for it.
- Entrances facing the prevailing wind can have break-out leaves pushed by strong gusts. The break-out fittings and the door's wind settings are chosen at survey to suit how exposed the entrance is.
- Listed buildings and conservation areas in Bedfordshire may need consent before a new entrance goes in. Slim frames and the existing opening can often be kept, but check with the planning authority before ordering.
Break-out escape route doors in Bedfordshire: guide prices
The site survey is free, including the measured drawing and a fixed, itemised written quote. Guide price: from £7,995 ex VAT.
| Item | Guide price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Break-out sliding door set for an escape route | from £7,995 | installed, ex VAT; typically up to £16,995 |
| Converting an existing sliding door to break-out | Priced on survey | depends on the frame, leaves and operator |
| Battery backup for power-cut operation | £395 – £695 | per door, ex VAT |
| Touch-free switch or push pad, fitted | £145 – £395 | per switch, ex VAT |
Standards and rules in England
In England, fire safety law says sliding or revolving doors must not be used for exits specifically intended as emergency exits. Break-out sliding doors are used where an entrance also forms part of an escape route, as the fire strategy allows. Whether a break-out door is suitable is decided by the fire strategy for the building and the responsible person under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
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.
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.
How it works
- Start with a short enquiry. Use the form, phone or email. Tell us whether the work is a new door, an upgrade or an opener for a home, and we arrange the next step for your site in Bedfordshire.
- Measured survey. The free survey confirms what will fit and what the entrance needs: opening width, door type, activation, safety sensors and behaviour on power loss or fire alarm, matched to how the building is used.
- Written price, no surprises. A fixed, itemised quote sets out the specification, the work involved, the expected lead time and the warranty terms. You can ask questions or change the specification before accepting it.
- Installed and commissioned. The door is installed with as little disruption as possible, then set up and tested for its hazard zones. Before leaving, the engineer explains the controls and hands over the documents for your records.
Send us the opening size and what your fire strategy asks for, and we will arrange a free survey in Bedfordshire and a fixed, itemised quote for a break-out entrance.
Break-out escape route doors in Bedfordshire: questions
Our shop in Bedfordshire is inside a shopping centre. Can you still fit a break-out door?
In most cases, yes. Centre management usually sets rules on contractors, working hours and connections to the centre's fire alarm. We work within those rules, provide the method statements and insurance details they ask for, and plan the fitting so the unit can trade for as much of the time as possible.
How are prices worked out for break-out escape route doors in Bedfordshire?
Our guide starts from £7,995 excluding VAT (per door set), the same guide price we use across the UK. The free site survey in Bedfordshire confirms the price as a fixed, itemised written quote, and the guide price tool gives you a range before anyone visits.
Do you install break-out sliding doors in Bedfordshire?
Yes. We arrange surveys and installations in Bedfordshire through specialist automatic door engineers working under our management. We supply the complete entrance, set it up to the fire strategy you give us, test it in every mode and hand over the records. The survey is free and the quote is fixed.
We have an old sliding door in Bedfordshire. Do we have to replace all of it?
Not always. If the frame and operator can take break-out leaves and parts are still available, a conversion may be possible. If the door is older or its parts are unsupported, replacing the whole entrance is usually more reliable. The survey looks at both and the quote explains the difference.
Do you service doors in Bedfordshire after installing them?
Yes. We recommend a trained engineer checks the safety functions at least once a year, with service intervals set by the manufacturer's instructions and how heavily the door is used; busy doors are often serviced more often. Servicing can follow on from the installation, with the price agreed in writing and a record left after every visit.
How do you make sure the door works for disabled visitors in Bedfordshire?
We look at who uses the entrance: wheelchair users, people with walking aids, parents with buggies and older visitors. That shapes the opening width, the opening speed, the hold-open time and where push pads or sensors go. Service providers and employers have duties to make reasonable adjustments under equality and accessibility law, and an automatic door is a common one.
Who is responsible for automatic doors on escape routes in Bedfordshire?
Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 the responsible person for the premises must make sure escape routes work and fire safety equipment is maintained. Automatic doors on an escape route need fail-safe opening or break-out, set by the fire strategy.