Covering Southampton and nearby
Our coverage of Southampton takes in the SO14, SO15, SO16, SO17, SO18 and SO19 postcode districts and the neighbouring parts of Hampshire. If your address sits close to a boundary, it is still covered: send the postcode with your enquiry about sensor upgrades and replacement and we will confirm the arrangements and the price in writing.
Older civic and commercial buildings often sit alongside modern blocks in Southampton and the surrounding parts of Hampshire. Where a listed building or a conservation area is involved, the owner may need consent from the planning authority before work on the entrance starts.
Nearby towns we also list for sensor upgrades and 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 sensor upgrades and replacement in Southampton
- Shiny, wet or newly polished floors can confuse infrared safety sensors. Mention any recent floor changes at your building in Southampton so the zones can be set for the new surface.
- Entrances facing busy roads in Southampton can see false openings from passing vehicles and cyclists. A sensor with direction detection and a tighter zone usually helps.
- Rain, snow and blowing leaves can trigger radar sensors over exposed doors. Some sensors filter weather better than others, which the engineer weighs up when choosing a replacement.
- Swing doors in narrow corridors need sensors on the leaf to protect people on both sides. The engineer checks the swing path and any walls or fittings close by.
- After a near miss at a door in Southampton, keep a note of what happened and where the person was standing. It helps the engineer judge which zone the sensor failed to cover.
Sensor upgrades and replacement in Southampton: guide prices
The visit price is agreed in writing before an engineer attends; parts and any further work are quoted before they are done. Guide price: typically £195 to £495 ex VAT.
| Item | Guide price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Add or replace a safety or activation sensor | £195 – £495 | per sensor fitted, ex VAT |
| Touch-free switch or push pad | £145 – £395 | per switch, ex VAT |
| Side-screen or light-curtain protection | from £295 | per door, ex VAT; on survey |
Sensor prices cover the part, fitting and set-up. If a sensor is fitted on a visit of its own, the visit charge (from £95 ex VAT) is added, and we confirm the total in writing before an engineer attends. Each sensor is set up for the door and tested before the engineer leaves.
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. HSE guidance on those regulations says the frequency of maintenance depends on the equipment and the manufacturer’s information.
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. 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.
How it works
- Make contact. Phone, email or use the form. Tell us the type of door, what it is doing and whether it is safe to use, so the right visit for sensor upgrades and replacement can be planned.
- Written visit price. The cost of attending is agreed in writing before the visit is booked. For a planned service or inspection, the price per door and what each visit includes are set out at the same time.
- On-site work. The engineer, working under our management, checks the door from end to end, deals with the fault or the service, and tests every safety function and sensor setting before signing the door off.
- Report and quote. You receive a report of the findings. Where a repair, part or upgrade is recommended, it is quoted in writing so you can decide, and the door is left in a safe state if it cannot be used.
For doors that open for passers-by or close too soon in Southampton, talk to us about new sensors and detection zones set for your entrance.
Sensor upgrades and replacement in Southampton: questions
Can you price new sensors for my door in Southampton from photos?
Often, yes. Photos of the sensor, the door from both sides and the label on the operator cover usually tell us which sensor is needed and whether it suits the controller. We can then quote the sensor and fitting in advance, with the visit price confirmed before anyone travels.
How are prices worked out for sensor upgrades and replacement in Southampton?
Our guide is £195 to £495 excluding VAT (per sensor fitted), the same guide prices we use across the UK. We agree the visit price in writing before an engineer attends in Southampton, and quote any parts or further work before doing them. The price guide lists typical repair and service costs.
Do engineers carry sensors for doors in Southampton?
Engineers carry common combined and safety sensors, so many replacements can be fitted at the first visit. Light curtains and specialist sensors are ordered once the door is identified, with delivery typically 1 to 2 weeks. Photos in advance help us bring the right part first time.
Can you upgrade sensors on an old door in Southampton?
Most older doors can take modern sensors. A few very old controllers cannot monitor current safety sensors. If yours is one of them, we explain whether a controller upgrade or a new drive unit is the better option, and quote it, before any work is done.
Are parts quoted before they are fitted?
Always. If a repair or service in Southampton needs parts, such as rollers, belts, sensors, a control board or a motor, we quote them in writing first. Some common parts may be on the engineer's van; others are ordered once you accept the quote and fitted on a return visit at a price already agreed.
What if a door in Southampton is found to be unsafe?
The engineer explains the problem and, where needed, leaves the door in a safe state, for example switched off or set so it cannot trap or strike anyone. You receive a written note of the issue. The repair or upgrade that would put it right is quoted before any further work is carried out.
Who is responsible for automatic doors on escape routes in Southampton?
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.