Opening doors without having to touch them is more desirable than ever

Needless to say, our daily lives have changed quite a bit, due to the Coronavirus. Numerous measures should ensure that we do not infect each other. Door handles, handles and pushbuttons are notorious transmitters of the virus. Therefore, more than ever, it is desirable to be able to open doors in public environments without touching them.

The technology to do this has long been a specialty of dormakaba. The company is seeing a growing interest in touch-free encoder systems. Bas Wouters, Product Marketing Manager Entrance Systems at dormakaba, tells us about automated access systems and touch-free impulse generators.

Dormakaba revolving door with radar impulse generator.

"Sesame, open up!

Despite the fact that we are all used to automation, which ensures that we have comfortable access to a building or space, few people realize what lies behind it.

Wouters explains: "There is a lot of technology behind it that offers multiple ways to trigger an automatic door. We distinguish between public access and controlled access. With public access, we are talking about touch-free impulse generators such as radar and/or infrared sensors, for example. For example, you can trigger a door with a hand movement within 10 to 50 cm of a radar sensor. We usually supply these access devices along with one of our automated door solutions. Within our "Entrance Systems" portfolio, you will find revolving doors, revolving doors and sliding doors, all of which operate automatically. We supply the sliding and revolving doors ourselves, in the case of revolving doors we supply the operator with accessories that allow them to open and close automatically and safely."

What about access control? "Specific access control can be granted in a touch-free manner by using a personalized pass or tag that can be held in front of a card reader or a personal transmitter with a push button, which a person can carry with them," Wouters outlines.

Automatic door opener with personal transmitter.

Comfort and safety

Dormakaba's touch-free solutions for access are first and foremost very convenient but, above all, serve security. "That you prevent infections with these is obvious. However, you also find our systems in places where there is a lot of public. It promotes flow. Specific divisions into general access and access based on privileges are found mainly in the healthcare sector and in utilities. In addition, dormakaba provides numerous sensors that make the use of automatic entrances extra safe. For example, there are safety sensors that prevent being trapped or hit when using an automatic door."

Automatic sliding door with infrared sensor and card reader.

Solutions for all

Despite the fact that touch-free impulse generators are in most cases included with one of the 'Entrance Systems' solutions from our own stable, these products are usually also applicable to third-party automatic access systems. "dormakaba is appreciated for the quality of the technology used and the excellent service provided with the products. However, it also happens that we do not supply the sliding or revolving door itself, but rather the technology that provides access control," Wouters says in conclusion.