What Automatic Door Repair Involves
Automatic door repair covers power-operated pedestrian doors at a location’s entrances, vestibules and interior openings. The common types are:
- Sliding doors, suited to two-way traffic at main entrances
- Swinging doors, normally used for one-way traffic, often in pairs for entering and exiting
- Folding doors, used where the opening is limited to about 6 to 8 feet
- Revolving doors, in two-, three- and four-wing designs
Doors also differ by how they operate. Full-power doors open automatically as a person approaches. Power-assist and low-energy doors, often opened with a push plate or wall switch, are covered by a separate standard.
A repair call usually involves one of these parts: the operator (motor and gearbox), the control board, the activation sensor that opens the door, the safety sensors and holding beams that keep it open or stop it closing on someone, the track, rollers and floor guide, the lock, and the breakout or emergency function where one is fitted. Repair means adjusting, cleaning, realigning or replacing those parts, then testing the full opening and closing cycle. Manual storefront and hollow metal doors are covered on the commercial door repair page.
Codes, Standards and Requirements for Automatic Doors
Building, fire and accessibility codes are adopted locally, and the building and fire code officials for each location decide which editions apply.
- ANSI/BHMA standards. Automatic doors are built and maintained to standards published by the Builders Hardware Manufacturers Association. The editions listed by the American Association of Automatic Door Manufacturers (AAADM) are A156.10 (2024) for power operated pedestrian doors, A156.19 (2019) for power assist and low energy power operated doors, A156.38 (2019) for low energy power operated sliding and folding doors, and A156.27 (2024) for revolving doors.
- Accessibility. The 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design reference ANSI/BHMA A156.10 (1999 edition) and A156.19 (1997 and 2002 editions) for automatic and power-assisted doors under Section 404.3. A repair that changes how the door operates keeps it within those requirements.
- Exit routes. Where an automatic door is part of an exit route, OSHA 29 CFR 1910.36(d) requires that employees can open it from the inside at all times without keys, tools or special knowledge, and that it is free of any device or alarm that could restrict emergency use if the device or alarm fails.
- Inspection. AAADM recommends an inspection of every automatic door immediately after installation and annually after that by an AAADM-certified inspector, who has completed a two-day course and passed a final exam on the standards.
- Signage. AAADM’s guidance calls for decals visible from either side, mounted 50 inches, plus or minus 12 inches, from the floor to the decal centerline, with letters at least 5/8 inch high. Low-energy doors carry an “Automatic Caution Door” sign at least 6 inches in diameter, black on yellow. The completed annual compliance inspection label goes at the bottom of the safety information label.
Preventive Maintenance Schedule for Automatic Doors
An automatic door at a busy entrance can cycle all day, and a worn sensor or misaligned track does not fail all at once. Planned checks catch slow closing, weak sensing and dragging hardware before the door strikes a customer or stops at closing, extend the life of the operator, and keep the inspection record that insurers and code officials ask for.
| Task | Recommended frequency | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Daily safety check by the owner or a trained site employee: approach from several angles, confirm the door opens smoothly, stays open while someone is in the opening and closes after a short delay | Daily | AAADM |
| Inspection by an AAADM-certified inspector, with the compliance label updated | After installation and annually | AAADM |
| Check that decals are present and legible on both sides | At each annual inspectionand replaced when unreadable | AAADM |
| Confirm exit doors open from the inside without keys, tools or special knowledge | Monthly | OSHA 1910.36(d) sets the requirement; frequency is Facility First default |
| Clean tracks, floor guides and thresholds of grit and debris | Weekly | Facility First default |
| Service by a qualified technician: sensor alignment, rollers, belts, locks and closing speed | Every 6 months | Facility First default |
| Check weather seals and vestibule doors | Annuallybefore winter | Facility First default |
Facility First default is the starting interval in each program, adjusted for each site.
The authority having jurisdiction, the manufacturer and the property’s insurer can require more frequent service, and each location’s schedule is set in its program and recorded on every visit. See the preventive maintenance checklist.
Signs an Automatic Door Needs Repair
- The door opens late, slowly or only when someone is close to it
- The door starts closing while a person is still in the opening
- The door opens or closes on its own with no one nearby
- The door stops partway, reverses, or strikes the stops hard
- Grinding, scraping or clicking from the header or track
- A swinging door opens while someone stands on its safety side
- The door will not lock at closing, or stays open after hours
- Decals are missing, peeling or unreadable
AAADM advises owners not to repair or adjust a malfunctioning door themselves. Operation is stopped, the door is secured in a safe manner, and a qualified technician is called.
Records to Keep
- Daily safety check logs, with the name of the employee who completed each one
- The annual inspection, on an AAADM inspection form or a work order signed by an AAADM-certified inspector
- Repair records: date, provider, fault found, parts replaced and before and after photos
- Door details: type, manufacturer, operator model, installation date and warranty
- Notes on any change to opening speed, hold-open time or sensor settings
How Facility First Runs Automatic Door Repair Across a Portfolio
Facility First manages the work through vetted local automatic door technicians that hold the required licenses and insurance, using AAADM-certified inspectors where available. It does not perform the repair itself.
- Request. The location reports the fault through PostControl or by phone, with a short video where possible. Staff stop using the door and secure it safely.
- Triage. Facility First checks the door type, warranty, repair history and lease responsibility, and flags a door that will not lock or will not open as a priority.
- Dispatch. A local technician receives the work order and the door’s history.
- Temporary measures. The entrance is kept usable or another entrance is signed. Where a failure leaves a location unsecured, McCray can post an officer until the work is complete. See Security by McCray.
- Repair and safety check. The technician repairs the door and runs the safety check before returning it to service, with photos and notes.
- Verification and invoice. The door is checked to open, hold, close and lock. Work is invoiced in one format, and client approval limits decide what proceeds automatically and what is quoted first. See NTE meaning.
What Affects the Cost of Automatic Door Repair
- Door type: sliding, swinging, folding or revolving
- Full-power compared with low-energy or power-assist operation
- Operator manufacturer and the availability of parts
- Whether the fault is a sensor adjustment or a motor, gearbox or control board
- Track, roller or door panel damage from impact
- Glass replacement and any temporary board-up
- After-hours or weekend dispatch
- Age of the system, and whether a retrofit is more economical than repair
Automatic Door Repair for Retail Stores, Restaurants and Offices
Retail stores. The entrance is the first thing a customer touches. Repairs are scheduled before opening or after closing, and a door that will not lock at closing is treated as urgent. In shopping centers, the lease sets whether the tenant or landlord maintains the entrance.
Restaurants. Vestibule doors take heavy traffic at mealtimes, and grit and moisture from entrances build up in floor guides and tracks.
Offices. Low-energy swinging doors with push plates often serve accessible entrances and restrooms. When one fails, the accessible route is out of service until it is repaired, so these calls are prioritized.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Often Should Automatic Doors Be Inspected?
AAADM recommends a daily safety check by a trained employee and an inspection by an AAADM-certified inspector after installation and annually after that. Facility First programs add routine technician service, commonly every six months.
Can Store Staff Adjust an Automatic Door?
AAADM advises owners not to repair or adjust a malfunctioning door. Staff stop using it, secure it safely and request a qualified technician.
What Is the Difference Between a Full-Power and a Low-Energy Automatic Door?
A full-power door opens automatically as a person approaches and is covered by ANSI/BHMA A156.10. Low-energy and power-assist doors, often opened with a push plate, are covered by A156.19, and low-energy doors carry an “Automatic Caution Door” sign.
Why Does an Automatic Door Stop Sensing People?
Common causes a technician checks are a misaligned or dirty sensor, changed sensor settings, a wiring fault and a failing control board. The door is not used until the safety check passes.
Do Automatic Doors Have to Meet ADA Requirements?
The 2010 ADA Standards reference ANSI/BHMA A156.10 and A156.19 for automatic and power-assisted doors. Local building officials decide how those requirements apply to each entrance.
Sources
- AAADM: Daily Safety Check
- AAADM: Liability and Signage
- AAADM: Why Use Certified Inspectors
- AAADM: ANSI/BHMA Standards
- AAADM: Overview of Door Types
- AAADM: Frequently Asked Questions
- U.S. Access Board: 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design
- OSHA: 29 CFR 1910.36, Design and construction requirements for exit routes