Anyone who runs a shop, surgery or office in Hull will know the feeling: the automatic door at the front is used hundreds of times a day, by wheelchair users, parents with buggies and everyone else in between, and it’s easy to take for granted right up until the moment it doesn’t open, or worse, doesn’t stop. That’s exactly why 2026’s tightening of building safety rules matters to every business with a set of automatic doors.
Automatic doors are now firmly treated as safety-critical equipment under updated UK regulations, building on the Building Safety Act 2022 and the newer BS 8214:2026 standard. In practice, that means doors installed in shops, offices, care homes and public buildings across Hull fall under the same standards used nationally: BS EN 16005, which covers safe operation of automatic pedestrian doors, and BS 7036, the long-standing code of practice for powered doors. Automatic doors are also classed as machinery, bringing them under the Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations too.
What this means for business owners is straightforward but easy to overlook: at least one inspection a year by a competent engineer, with proper records kept of what was checked and when. The ‘Golden Thread’ principle behind the newer rules, originally aimed at higher-risk buildings, is increasingly shaping how any safety-critical system, automatic doors included, gets documented and maintained.
In practice, a proper service checks sensor sensitivity, closing force, emergency break-out function and the general condition of tracks and motors, catching small issues — a sticking sensor, a worn belt — before they become a hazard or an embarrassing breakdown during opening hours.
Gem Automatic Doors has been keeping doors across Hull compliant, safe and running smoothly for years, from installation right through to servicing and repairs. If your automatic doors are due a check, get in touch via gemautomaticdoors.com/.