Running a commercial property entails a high level of responsibility. Your external commercial doors alone need to comply with safety, security and accessibility standards while also looking professional and working well.
So how do you choose the right doors for your business, office block, college or school? Here are a few of the most important considerations:
The look:
Your door is the first thing visitors see when visiting your commercial space. You can use this to your advantage by choosing a look and material that matches your culture or brand. Wood will complement a homely and welcoming organisation, while aluminium may look better for a modern, slick business.
Accessibility:
No business can afford to be appearing to exclude people with accessibility needs. The Disability Discrimination Act and the Equality Act of 2010 provides more information on what you should consider. Certain doors will need to be wide enough to allow wheelchair access – and this critically includes fire doors. You could also consider installing automated opening devices for a smooth and welcoming experience.
Fire doors:
Fire doors can save lives and are essential for commercial properties. Regulations around fire door installation and maintenance are understandably strict, so it’s useful to do your research. If you’re installing doors at a school, you should consult ‘Building Bulletin 100: design for fire safety in schools’. WindrushDoor and Window Services can give further guidance on fire door installation.
Security:
Vandalism and theft are always a threat for commercial properties, especially when they’re viewed as easy targets by often being uninhabited at night. Ensure your commercial doors are correctly installed to help prevent both opportunistic and calculated break-ins. It’s not just about protecting property either. If you have a break-in and you’re claiming for insurance, you may need to provide evidence that you had taken appropriate preventative measures. Windrush professional locksmiths are on hand to upgrade your locks and check your entry and exit systems.
Energy savings:
The winter months can be cold in the UK, and can get colder if your doors aren’t installed properly. Chilly drafts aren’t just a discomfort for users of your commercial property, they can also prove expensive. Getting your commercial doors – and windows – right first time can help save money on your energy bills, while ensuring you and your employees are nice and snug.
Regular maintenance:
The last think you want is for a fire door to become a barrier just when you need to use it. To be fully compliant and up-to-date with relevant regulations, you should have your commercial doors serviced regularly. This has the additional benefit of ensuring that they are fit to stay in service for the long-term, and can avoid incurring high costs through unforeseen call-outs.
Our experts can properly examine your commercial doors, and check over the main features, such as handles and panic bars. They can also identify indications of wear within the essential small parts – hinges, locks and pivots, door cylinders and brush seals. We can carry out general door maintenance too, making sure there are no security issues or uncomfortable drafts in your workplace. We work with a wide range of door brands from Adams Rite and ASSA, to Union and Yale, and we carry spare parts with us which means we can usually make any required fixes on the same day that we visit.
If you’re looking for support in choosing or repairing commercial doors, get in touch with Windrush Door and Window Services today. We provide a peerless service across Oxfordshire, and can help to make sure the doors in your commercial property look superb, and work just as they should for the long term. Call 01993 701193 or email our team for any door or window advice.
