Covering Dundee and nearby
We do not keep premises in Dundee. Instead, enquiries about break-out escape route doors come to us, we agree the price in writing, and a specialist engineer working under our management travels to the address in the DD1, DD2, DD3 and DD4 postcode districts on a date that suits the site.
Schools and colleges in and around Dundee often want work done in the holidays, when entrances can be taken out of use without disrupting pupils. Planning ahead for half-term or summer dates makes it easier to find a slot that suits the timetable.
Nearby towns we also list for break-out escape route doors (straight-line distance): Cupar (10.5 miles), Carnoustie (10.5 miles), St Andrews (11.2 miles), Forfar (12.5 miles), Arbroath (16.1 miles), Blairgowrie (16.3 miles).
What to think about for break-out escape route doors in Dundee
- 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.
- Listed buildings and conservation areas in Dundee 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.
- 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.
- Supermarkets and large stores in Dundee see trolleys, pallets and cleaning machines through the entrance. Those knocks can stiffen or loosen break-out fittings, so set service intervals with that traffic in mind.
- Get hold of the fire strategy, or ask your fire risk assessor, before the survey. Knowing whether the door must slide open on alarm, break out, or both, saves a second visit and a revised quote.
Break-out escape route doors in Dundee: 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 Scotland
Scottish building standards guidance (the non-domestic Technical Handbook) expects an accessible entrance door to give a clear opening of at least 800 mm, says powered doors improve accessibility as long as they add no new hazard, and expects signage, sensors that hold the door open long enough, and guarding against collision or entrapment.
In Scotland, fire safety regulations say sliding or revolving doors must not be used for exits specifically intended as emergency exits, and Scottish guidance allows automatic and revolving doors on an escape route only where they fail safely to outward opening, or have a monitored fail-safe system that opens them on power failure, sensor failure and fire alarm. Whether a break-out door is suitable is decided by the fire strategy for the building and the person responsible for fire safety under the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005.
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 break-out escape route doors in Dundee, 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.
For a break-out escape route door in Dundee, start with a free survey. The fixed quote covers the entrance, alarm link, testing and handover records.
Break-out escape route doors in Dundee: questions
Our shop in Dundee 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.
What is the guide price for break-out escape route doors in Dundee?
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 Dundee confirms the price as a fixed, itemised written quote, and the guide price tool gives you a range before anyone visits.
Will a break-out door in Dundee need building regulations approval?
It can. Replacing an entrance, especially one on an escape route, may count as building work that needs approval, and the rules differ in each UK nation. We tell you at survey when approval or landlord consent looks likely, so it can be arranged before the door is ordered.
Is a break-out door suitable for an exposed entrance in Dundee?
Usually, yes. Wind pressure on the leaves is one of the things the survey checks, along with which way the entrance faces and how sheltered it is. The break-out fittings and operator settings are chosen so the leaves hold in line in normal weather but still open by hand in an emergency.
What should I send before the survey in Dundee?
A few photos of the door from inside and outside, rough measurements of the opening, the address and a note of how the entrance is used. If the door already has an operator, a photo of any label on it helps. With that, the engineer arrives prepared, the survey takes less of your time and we can put the quote for break-out escape route doors together more easily.
What is the lead time for break-out escape route doors in Dundee?
Lead times depend on the door type and what has to be made to order. As a guide, operators and accessible door kits are typically two to four weeks from order, and complete sliding entrances typically four to eight weeks from drawing approval. Curved, revolving and hermetic doors usually take longer. The expected lead time is stated in your quote.
Is a building warrant needed for a new automatic entrance in Dundee?
Often, yes. Most building work in Scotland needs a building warrant before it starts, and the non-domestic Technical Handbook sets out what an accessible entrance should provide, including a clear opening of at least 800 mm. We tell you at the survey if your job is likely to need one.