Automatic sliding doors are the standard entrance for shops, offices, hotels, hospitals and public buildings. They handle heavy footfall, are accessible for wheelchair users and people with prams or trolleys, and take up no swing space. Behind the simple function there are several decisions that affect energy use, safety and approvals: whether the door should be thermally insulated, whether it is part of an escape route, whether it is also a fire door and how it is controlled. This guide covers the main points for contractors, architects and developers.
Types of automatic sliding doors
Automatic sliding doors are built from an aluminium door system and a drive unit mounted above the opening. The most common configurations are:
- Single-leaf doors, where one leaf slides beside a fixed side panel.
- Bi-parting doors, where two leaves slide apart from the centre, the usual choice for main entrances.
- Telescopic doors, where several leaves slide behind each other to give a wide opening in limited wall space.
Aluprof MB-DPA is a sliding door system available in automatic and manual versions, with leaf widths up to 3.0 m and leaf weights up to 200 kg. It comes in thermally insulated and non-insulated versions, so the same system family can be used for external entrances and internal doors.
Insulated or non-insulated?
The choice depends on where the door sits in the building envelope.
- Insulated doors are used in external walls where the door separates heated interior from outdoors, such as main entrances without a lobby.
- Non-insulated doors suit internal doors, inner doors of a draught lobby or openings between heated spaces, where thermal performance is not needed and a slimmer, simpler door is enough.
A draught lobby with two sets of automatic doors reduces heat loss and draughts at busy entrances. The outer set is usually insulated, while the inner set can be non-insulated.
Entrances and energy use
At a busy entrance, the door may open hundreds of times a day. Every opening lets heated or cooled air out, so the control settings have as much influence on energy use as the U-value. Consider:
- Sensor range and opening width, so the door opens only as much as needed.
- Hold-open time, which should be as short as safe use allows.
- Night or winter modes that reduce opening width or keep one leaf closed.
- Air curtains or lobbies for entrances with constant traffic.
Good seals and brushes on the leaves and the threshold detail also matter, especially on insulated doors in exposed locations.
Escape routes: general considerations
Automatic sliding doors are often placed on escape routes, especially at main entrances. Whether they are allowed there, and in what configuration, depends on national building rules and the fire strategy of the building. The safety of power-operated doors in general is covered by EN 16005. Typical approaches include doors that open automatically and stay open on alarm or power failure, and break-out leaves that can be pushed open in the direction of escape.
Tell us the role of each automatic door in the fire and escape strategy when you send the enquiry: escape door, fire door, smoke door or none. It decides the door configuration, drive unit and hardware.
Fire-rated automatic sliding doors
Where an automatic door also forms part of a fire compartment, for example between a shopping mall and a shop or in hospital corridors, a standard automatic door is not enough. Aluprof MB-78EI DPA automatic fire-rated sliding doors are classified EI15 and EI30. They work as normal automatic doors in daily use and close in a fire, so the compartment line is kept without a separate fire door or shutter.
The fire class required follows the fire strategy of the building. You can see the full range of fire-rated doors, screens and partitions on our fire-rated systems page.
Automatic sliding doors or large lift and slide doors?
Both are sliding doors, but they serve different purposes.
- Automatic sliding doors are for entrances with frequent use by the public. They open on approach, are designed for continuous cycles and meet accessibility needs.
- Lift and slide doors are manually operated large glazed openings to terraces, balconies, restaurants and hotel rooms. The sash lifts off its seals before it slides, so very large panels move easily and seal tightly when closed.
Aluprof MB-82HS lift and slide doors take panels up to 3.24 × 3.3 m and 600 kg with Uw from 0.60 W/(m²K), and MB-77HS offers Uw from 0.84 W/(m²K). Procural SL1600TT is a sliding facade system with up to 8 sashes, RC2 and a motorised drive option, which suits large openings where occasional automated operation is useful but the door is not the main public entrance. For panoramic openings, Aluprof MB-SKYLINE TYPE S and TYPE R minimise visible profiles.
Rule of thumb: frequent public traffic means an automatic sliding door; a large glazed opening for views, light and occasional access means lift and slide.
All systems are shown on our sliding systems page.
What to include in your enquiry
- 1Location and function of each door: external or internal, main entrance, lobby, corridor.
- 2Clear opening width and height, and the overall door and side panel dimensions.
- 3Insulated or non-insulated version, and any fire class or smoke control requirement.
- 4Role in the escape strategy and any access control or locking requirements.
- 5Finish, glass type and quantity.
Finestra Solution supplies automatic and manual sliding doors, lift and slide systems and fire-rated sliding doors from Liepāja, Latvia. Send your drawings and door schedule through our contact page and we will reply within 1–2 working days with a proposal and a quote. The first project consultation is free.
