There are a lot of options when it comes to choosing doors for your retail space, from sliding doors to swing doors and either automatic to manual. What you choose should depend on many factors, including the size, layout, and location of your store. Your security requirements are also a factor, as you want to invite customers and not vandals or thieves.
You should consider customer experience when selecting the appropriate automatic door solution. You want to provide an attractive entrance, but also make it as convenient as possible. As it is a public space, your shop will need to be fully accessible by everyone according to the AODA.
Size of the Shop
If there is limited floor space in your building or if you have a large amount of inventory, you need to carefully consider the amount of space needed for your doors. A swing door needs a clear space to swing into, so you’ll have to think about where to place your stock, and how big your door will be. Sliding doors take up less room but need a wide space to operate in, which isn’t suitable for narrow buildings or stores with limited wall space.
Aesthetics
Narrow stores would have to consider that a sliding door could impact their window display, making the outside of the shop less attractive. On the other hand, if you have a wider shop front, a sliding automatic door makes for an impressive looking entrance that is convenient and accessible. You will need to carefully consider all options before you decide to invest in an automatic door. Although it is only a small part of the overall building, it is the first thing your customer sees and should make a great first impression.
Security
To install a heavy steel security door at the front of your shop would not be appropriate. Even a discreet high-security door would not be as aesthetically pleasing. A customer should ideally be able to see through the glass to decide if they want to enter the store or not. The ideal solution is to get a discreet security grille. They can be fitted to cover both the door and the window display, giving you a level of protection. It can be fitted on the inside or outside of the shop depending on your doors and preferences.
You need to consider security shutters or grilles at the same time you are choosing your doors. This will eliminate any risk of choosing incompatible systems that will obstruct each other either at the top of the door or at the guide rails, preventing the door from opening all the way or stopping the shutter from rolling down.
Obstructions/Access
One way of getting around the limited space in a small building is to have a swing door that goes outwards. This can only work in certain circumstances, however. An outward-swinging door is likely to be inappropriate for a shop that is located on a high traffic street with limited pavement space. However, if your shop front is slightly set back into the wall of a building, isn’t in a high-traffic area or is inside a shopping centre, this might work for you. An automatic swing door may be the ideal solution for allowing easy access for all customers, complying with the AODA. It can be installed to swing in either direction to fit with your specific needs.
A heavy security door is rarely the right choice for the front of a store or building, even if you have valuable inventory and require the level of security. In this case, choosing an easy access automatic door combined with roller shutters is a great solution. If you need any guidance planning the security for your storefront you can always contact us on 1-888-205-4036.
