Covering Lancaster and nearby
Homes, businesses and public buildings throughout the LA1 postcode district can arrange drive unit replacement with us. We are the contracting party and organise every visit; the engineer, who works under our management, travels in to Lancaster for the job rather than working from premises in town.
Libraries, health centres and council buildings in Lancaster still need accessible entrances, whatever their size. A single automatic door with a push pad or touch-free switch is often enough to give everyone easy access.
Nearby towns we also list for drive unit replacement (straight-line distance): Morecambe (2.9 miles), Heysham (3.8 miles), Fleetwood (12.0 miles), Thornton-Cleveleys (15.0 miles), Poulton-le-Fylde (16.5 miles), Blackpool (18.9 miles).
What to think about for drive unit replacement in Lancaster
- If the door is on an escape route, the new drive unit must be set up to open, break out or be openable by hand, as the building's fire strategy requires.
- Ask for the paperwork. A converted door should come with its risk assessment, Declaration of Conformity and user instructions, which belong with your building and maintenance records.
- Hospitals and care homes in Lancaster may need an alternative entrance during the changeover. Plan signs and step-free access for wheelchair users before work starts.
- Heavy glass leaves need an operator rated for their weight. The survey records the size and glass type of each leaf so the right drive unit is specified.
- 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.
Drive unit replacement in Lancaster: 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
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.
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.
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 Lancaster.
- 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.
If parts for your door in Lancaster are obsolete, talk to us before replacing the entrance. A free survey shows what can be kept and what it will cost.
Drive unit replacement in Lancaster: questions
Will you remove the old operator from our premises in Lancaster?
Yes. The old drive unit, sensors and any other replaced parts are taken away as part of the job, and the work area is left clean. Disposal is included in the fixed quote, so there is nothing extra to arrange or pay for afterwards.
Can you give me a price for drive unit replacement in Lancaster?
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 Lancaster 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 Lancaster?
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.
How long will our entrance in Lancaster be closed for the changeover?
A standard sliding door changeover typically takes a day, and a swing operator often less. The work can be scheduled early, after closing or at a weekend so it causes less disruption. Your quote shows the planned date and how long the entrance will be out of use.
What power supply is needed for drive unit replacement in Lancaster?
Most powered doors need a fused spur close to the operator, and some activation and access control devices also need a low-voltage link. The survey checks what is already there. If a new supply is required, the quote says whether we arrange it or your own electrician does, so nothing is left unclear on the day.
Can automatic doors be fitted to a listed building in Lancaster?
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 Lancaster?
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.