Covering Southampton and nearby
Coverage for drive unit replacement runs across the SO14, SO15, SO16, SO17, SO18 and SO19 postcode districts and out into the surrounding parts of Hampshire. Wherever the building is, the arrangements stay the same: one contracting party, a written price before work, and a specialist engineer working under our management on site.
Out-of-hours work is common in a city, where retail entrances may only be available before opening and office lobbies at weekends. Work in Southampton can be arranged early in the morning, in the evening or at weekends where the building needs it, with any extra cost shown in the written price.
Nearby towns we also list for drive unit replacement (straight-line distance): Hythe (3.0 miles), Totton (3.9 miles), Hedge End (4.5 miles), Eastleigh (4.9 miles), Chandler's Ford (5.6 miles), Romsey (7.2 miles).
What to think about for drive unit replacement in Southampton
- Doors linked to the fire alarm or access control in Southampton need those links rewired to the new controller. Let us know which systems connect to the door.
- Busy retail entrances in Southampton may prefer the changeover after closing time or on a quiet trading day. Tell us your hours when you book the survey.
- Check the power supply. A dedicated fused spur and isolator near the door is usually needed, and older installations sometimes need electrical work before the new operator goes in.
- Hospitals and care homes in Southampton may need an alternative entrance during the changeover. Plan signs and step-free access for wheelchair users before work starts.
- Listed buildings and conservation areas in Southampton make it attractive to keep the existing frame. A new operator inside the existing header changes little that can be seen.
Drive unit replacement in Southampton: guide prices
The site survey is free, including the measured drawing and a fixed, itemised written quote. Guide price: typically £1,995 to £3,995 ex VAT.
| Item | Guide price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| New drive unit on an existing automatic sliding door | £1,995 – £3,995 | existing leaves kept, installed, ex VAT |
| New operator on an existing automatic swing door | £1,795 – £3,995 | installed, ex VAT |
| Sensors replaced at the same time | £195 – £495 | per sensor, ex VAT |
Standards and rules in England
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.
Standards are not retrospective, so an older door does not become unlawful when a standard is updated; a site-specific risk assessment shows whether any upgrades are sensible. BS EN 16005 is the current standard for the safety in use of powered pedestrian doors, and BS 7036-0:2014 is the British code of practice for risk assessment and risk reduction used alongside it. Standards are not law in themselves, but they are the recognised benchmark for showing an automatic door is safe to use, and we set up, test and document doors with reference to them.
How it works
- Send photos and the address. A few pictures of the door from both sides, the address in Southampton and a note of who uses the entrance help us understand the job before anyone visits the site.
- No-cost survey on site. We arrange a survey at a time that suits the building. The engineer records measurements, fixings and power, plus any constraints such as listed status, opening hours or access for deliveries.
- Itemised quote to approve. We price every element of the work on drive unit replacement separately in a written quote that you can check, share and approve. Lead time and payment stages are stated, and nothing is ordered until you accept.
- Fit, test and hand over. On the agreed dates the engineer installs the equipment, commissions the operator and tests each safety function. You get a demonstration, the test record and any conformity paperwork that applies to the work.
Keep the frame, replace the drive. Arrange a free survey in Southampton and receive a fixed quote covering the new operator, sensors and paperwork.
Drive unit replacement in Southampton: questions
Do you replace automatic door drive units in Southampton?
Yes. We are the contracting party for drive unit replacements in Southampton, and the survey and changeover are carried out by specialist engineers we manage. The survey is free and checks that the frame and leaves are worth keeping. You then receive a fixed, itemised quote for the new operator, sensors and any other parts the door needs.
How are prices worked out for drive unit replacement in Southampton?
Our guide is £1,995 to £3,995 excluding VAT (per door), the same guide prices we use across the UK. The free site survey in Southampton confirms the price as a fixed, itemised written quote, and the guide price tool gives you a range before anyone visits.
Do you provide paperwork for the converted door in Southampton?
Yes. When we fit a new drive unit we prepare the paperwork for the finished door, including the risk assessment, Declaration of Conformity and user instructions, and hand it over with the test results and settings. It belongs with your building records.
Can you fit a new operator to a door another company installed in Southampton?
Yes. We replace drive units on doors whoever fitted them. The survey identifies the existing header, leaves and track, and adapter plates usually let a new drive unit from one of the major European operator brands fit without changing the frame.
What is the lead time for drive unit replacement in Southampton?
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.
What happens once the installation in Southampton is finished?
The engineer tests every function, including the safety sensors and the behaviour on power loss, and sets the door up with reference to BS EN 16005. You are shown how to use the controls and which simple checks to make, and you receive the handover documents, including the test record and any conformity paperwork that applies to the work.
Which building regulations apply to a new automatic entrance in Southampton?
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.