SPECIFICATION  ·  ENTRANCE SYSTEMS

Sliding, Swing Or Revolving: Choosing The Right Entrance For Your Building

The right entrance system depends far less on what looks good in the drawings and far more on how many people use it, what the building does, and what happens to the air every time it opens.

Entrance specification is often settled late in a project, and frequently on aesthetic grounds alone. That is a shame, because the choice has consequences that run for the life of the building: energy performance, accessibility, security, maintenance cost, and the daily experience of everyone who walks through it.

Each of the main entrance types has a genuine set of strengths. The question is which set matches your building.

Automatic sliding doors

Sliding doors are the default for a reason. They handle high footfall efficiently, they need no swing clearance, and because the leaves move parallel to the facade they suit constrained entrances where a swinging leaf would obstruct the approach.

They are also strong on accessibility. There is no leaf moving toward the user, the opening is wide and unobstructed, and the movement is predictable, which matters for anyone with reduced mobility or vision.

WHERE THEY WORK BEST

Offices, healthcare buildings, retail, transport, and anywhere with steady two-way traffic and a need for straightforward, unobtrusive access.

THE TRADE-OFF

The full opening is exposed during every cycle. In a busy building, that means a repeated exchange of conditioned and external air. This can be mitigated with sensor tuning, appropriate closing speeds, and in some cases an air curtain or lobby arrangement, but it is a real consideration in energy terms.

Automatic swing doors

Swing doors are the most economical automated option and the most common retrofit, because in many cases an existing manual door can be automated with an operator rather than replaced entirely.

They suit lower traffic entrances, secondary doors, and situations where a full sliding installation would be disproportionate to the use the door actually gets.

WHERE THEY WORK BEST

Secondary entrances, internal doors, smaller buildings, accessibility upgrades to existing openings, and locations where budget or structural constraints rule out a sliding system.

THE TRADE-OFF

A swinging leaf needs clear space to move through, and that space has to be kept clear. In busy two-way traffic, swing doors become a bottleneck, and the moving leaf presents a greater risk of contact than a sliding one, which makes correct sensor setup and safety configuration especially important.

Revolving doors

A revolving door is the only common entrance type that maintains a continuous barrier between inside and outside while people are passing through it. At any moment, a set of wings is closing the opening.

That has a direct effect on energy performance, because the exchange of air is dramatically reduced compared with a door that opens fully on every cycle. It also gives significantly better control over draughts in the reception area, which is a common complaint in buildings with large, busy entrances.

WHERE THEY WORK BEST

Prominent commercial entrances, hotels, headquarters buildings, and any high footfall entrance where energy performance, draught control, and a considered arrival experience all matter.

THE TRADE-OFF

Revolving doors need more space and a larger capital investment, and they require a compliant alternative alongside them for wheelchair users, people with pushchairs, and anyone moving large items. That is a design requirement, not an optional extra.

The questions worth asking before you decide

How many people use it, and when? A door handling constant two-way traffic has completely different requirements from one used a few dozen times a day. Peak flow matters more than daily totals.

What happens to the air? If the entrance opens directly into an occupied reception, air exchange affects both comfort and running costs. If it opens into a lobby, that buffer does much of the work for you.

Who needs to get through it? Accessibility is not a feature to be added later. It shapes which systems are viable and what has to sit alongside them.

What does the building need to say? The entrance is the first thing every visitor experiences. That is a legitimate factor, provided it is weighed alongside the practical ones rather than instead of them.

Frequently asked questions