You probably won’t give a well-placed door much thought during the workday. Put it in an awkward spot, though, and you’ll notice it every time you walk through. The dos and don’ts of commercial door placement deserve a look before you commit to an opening. Once construction starts, moving that opening involves considerably more work than changing a drawing.

Do Make the Entrance Easy to Find

People should be able to spot your entrance as they walk toward the building. If most visitors arrive from the parking lot, place the automatic doors facing that direction. An entrance tucked around the corner leaves first-time visitors searching for a way inside.

To assess a proposed location, look at the building from the walkway visitors will use. You should be able to see the doorway before reaching the building. If a projecting wall hides it from sight, consider moving the entrance farther along the facade.

Don’t Put the Door Beside a Waiting Area

When people wait too close to an automatic door, its sensors may detect them and hold it open. For example, visitors lining up at a reception desk can end up standing near the doorway. The door then stays open until they move out of the detection area.

Before choosing the door’s location, consider how far that line extends when several people arrive together. You’ll need enough distance between the entrance and reception for visitors to wait away from the sensors. Otherwise, you’ll find yourself asking people to move just to let the door close.

Do Leave Space for Sliding Panels

Automatic sliding panels need room beside the doorway when they open. Measuring only the passage width leaves out the space those panels occupy after sliding aside. A nearby structural column may prevent you from installing the configuration you’ve selected.

Your installer can provide the full dimensions of the assembly before you finalize its position. With those measurements, you can check whether the wall has enough uninterrupted space for the system. Confirming that space early avoids committing to an opening that accommodates people but doesn’t accommodate the door’s movement.

Don’t Block Access to the Operator

The operator above an automatic door needs to remain accessible for maintenance. If you position the entrance beneath a low ceiling feature, a technician may struggle to open the operator cover. Even a routine repair becomes more involved when someone must remove surrounding finishes first.

During planning, ask your installer how much space the technician needs to reach and service the equipment. Account for that access before approving the ceiling layout around the entrance. You shouldn’t have to dismantle part of the room whenever the door needs attention.

Plan Your Next Door Installation

Keep the dos and don’ts of commercial door placement in mind as you prepare for your next installation. At Pacific Entrance, we’ll discuss your building’s layout and help you choose a location for your sliding commercial doors. Contact us to talk through your project and request a quote before you commit to an opening.