Automatic Swing Door Safety Barriers
Automatic swing door safety barriers are fitted to help stop pedestrians from being struck or trapped as the door opens. At Dasco Entrance Technology, we design, manufacture, supply and install these barriers alongside our automatic swing door products.
Enhance safety on your premises. Order automatic swing door barriers for your commercial property in and around Glasgow, Edinburgh or Stirling.
What Is an Automatic Door Safety Barrier?
An automatic door safety barrier is a fixed rail or panel that blocks pedestrian access to a swing door’s hazard zone. These safety barriers help prevent door-related accidents by creating a clear, visible boundary around the door’s arc, keeping users clear of the moving leaf.
At Dasco ET, we manufacture barriers using aluminium or toughened safety glass panels for long-term durability. Both these options offer a clean, professional look for settings such as:
Floor-to-Wall & Floor-to-Floor Fixings
Barriers can be fitted floor to wall or floor to floor, depending on your entrance layout.
Floor-to-wall: One end is fixed into the floor, the other bolts into a nearby wall, so the wall does part of the structural work.
Floor-to-floor: Both ends anchor into the floor, so the barrier is fully self-supporting. That independence is what makes it suited to open lobbies or reception areas, where there’s no adjacent wall to lean on.
Our team assesses your space before recommending the right fixing method.
How Automatic Door Safety Barriers Protect Pedestrians
Physical barriers add a visible layer of protection around the door, reducing reliance on sensors alone. Presence sensors detect people in the doorway and can stop or reverse door motion if an obstruction is found. Our automatic door safety barriers work alongside sensors for enhanced safety.
These features protect everyone who passes through your entrance, including children, older visitors and wheelchair users:
Defined safety zone: The barrier marks out the door’s swing or slide path, keeping pedestrians clear of the moving leaf.
Trip & impact protection: A solid physical boundary reduces the risk of contact injury, even if sensor detection is delayed.
Compatibility with low energy operation: Barriers complement reduced-force door settings, adding a second line of defence for any user who moves slowly through the doorway.
Clear visual cue: The barrier itself signals the hazard area, reinforcing any separate warning signage.
Manual override compatibility: Barriers are designed not to obstruct emergency break-out operation during a power failure.
Automatic Door Safety & Building Regulations
We build and install automatic door systems that comply with BS EN 16005, the UK standard for power-operated pedestrian doorsets. This standard sets out requirements for barriers, sensors and safe operating speeds. Our automatic swing doors are designed and installed to comply with this framework from day one.
Risk Assessment for Automatic Swing Doors
A risk assessment identifies where a swing door could pose a hazard to users. Risk assessments for power-operated doors are mandatory under BS 7036-0, which covers the building’s usage, traffic type and the traffic flow.
This assessment considers entrapment points, drawing-in hazards and the surrounding pedestrian traffic. It also determines whether a physical barrier or an additional sensor is the more suitable safety measure for an entrance.
Automatic Door Barrier Placement & Regulatory Requirements
Correct placement of door barriers prevents walking into the path of the moving leaf. Barrier rails should be rigid and free from sharp edges. Proper placement of barriers ensures compliance with safety standards and gives building managers confidence that the entrance meets its legal obligations.
Barriers must be at least 900mm high for compliance with BS EN 16005. They’re fitted at 90 degrees to the door face and must extend 25mm beyond the fully open door leaf. A 100mm sphere test prevents entrapment hazards by confirming no gap is wide enough for a limb or head to pass through.
Barriers must also withstand 740 N/m of horizontal force, so they hold firm against trolleys, wheelchairs and general knocks. Barriers are required wherever a swing door sweeps over 100mm.
Here’s a snapshot of these requirements:
Requirement | Specification |
Minimum height | 900mm |
Fitting angle | 90 degrees to the door face |
Gap tolerance | 100mm sphere test |
Horizontal force resistance | 740 N/m |
Extension beyond open leaf | 25mm minimum |
Trigger for barrier use | Door swing over 100mm |
Types of Automatic Door Barriers
Dasco supplies a full range of automatic door barriers to suit different premises and budgets.
Aluminium barrier rails
Toughened safety glass infill panels for a sleek, contemporary appearance
Solid infill panels for areas needing extra durability
Non-climbable, smooth-panel designs that discourage users from stepping over the barrier
Each option is manufactured in-house, so sizes can be adjusted to suit the entrance area.
Get quality products and exceptional service from a SafeContractor™-certified Automatic Door Suppliers Association (ADSA) member. Call us to get started.
Get a full service from a reliable team. Trust us to manufacture, supply, install and maintain your door systems.
FAQs About Automatic Swing Door Safety Barriers
Yes. Barriers are required under BS EN 16005 wherever a swing door’s arc exceeds 100mm. Without a compliant barrier, the installation may not meet current safety standards.
Yes. Barriers can usually be retrofitted to existing swing doors. Our team surveys the entrance first to confirm the correct height, fixing method and materials.
No. Barriers are designed to guide traffic safely without restricting access for wheelchair users or those with limited mobility. This supports Equality Act compliance.
Barriers should be checked as part of your regular door maintenance. This helps confirm fixings remain secure and panels show no signs of damage.
Protect your entrance users with compliant, professionally fitted automatic door safety barriers from Dasco Entrance Technology. Request a quote today.
