What Is BS EN 16005? A Plain-English Guide for Building Owners

If you own, manage or work in a building with automatic doors, you will probably have heard of BS EN 16005. Here is what it means, in plain English.

What BS EN 16005 covers

BS EN 16005 is the standard for the safety in use of power-operated pedestrian doorsets. It sets out requirements and test methods so that automatic sliding doors, swing doors and other power-operated doors do not injure the people who use them.

Why it matters

Automatic doors are heavy, powered and moving. If they are not set up and maintained properly, they can cause crushing, impact, trapping and shearing injuries. The standard exists to reduce those risks, particularly for children, older people and disabled people.

What it means in practice

A door that meets the standard will typically have:

• Safety sensors that detect people in or near the door path
• Opening and closing speeds and forces kept within safe limits
• Protection at points where fingers or limbs could be trapped
• Sensible behaviour in an emergency or power failure
• Clear markings on glass doors so people can see them

Safe operation depends on the design and installation, but also on regular maintenance. A door that was safe when installed can become unsafe as parts wear or settings drift.

Who is responsible?

Employers and those in control of premises have duties under health and safety law. The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 include requirements for doors and gates, including power-operated ones. In practice, this means automatic doors should be inspected and maintained by a competent person, and records should be kept.

How to check your doors

Warning signs include sensors that do not detect people, doors that close on someone in the opening, unusual noises, doors that do not open fully, or no record of a recent service. If you are unsure, a safety inspection will show whether your doors are working as they should.

Our engineers carry out safety checks and planned servicing as part of our automatic door maintenance and services.