How Automatic Doors Can Improve Student Traffic in Schools

Schools are busy places, with heavy student traffic flows, particularly in between lessons or at break times. Keeping everyone safe and ensuring they can get where they need to go before the next bell can be a challenge. One way to alleviate congestion issues and improve accessibility for all students is with automatic doors. 

In this post, DUK Doors reviews why student traffic management matters, how automatic doors can address common issues, the wealth of additional benefits they provide and how you can find the right automatic doors for your school. 

Why student traffic management matters 

Managing student traffic flow can be a real challenge for schools of all sizes, with peaks and troughs in student movement creating periodic rushes that can cause congestion, safety risks and accessibility issues without proper management. 

Congestion at peak times – schools tend to experience massive fluctuations in student traffic, with hundreds released all at once following lessons or at break times. These surges can lead to congested corridors and traffic choke points around doors. Managing this is key to helping everyone reach their destination on time. 

Safety and security risks – if these crowds are not managed effectively, students can become injured in the rushes and security issues cannot be addressed as easily. The rushes make it easier for unauthorised persons to enter your school and harder for you to control access in emergency situations. 

Accessibility – some students have more complicated access requirements than others, and manual doors or entry points that are too small can pose serious problems for those with mobility issues. Accessibility must be a core feature of any school traffic management strategy. 

How automatic doors solve traffic challenges 

Faster and smoother movement  

By opening as students approach, rather than causing them to stop, automatic doors can improve traffic flow throughout your school site, reducing bottlenecks and helping everyone reach their next lesson on time. 

Enhanced safety 

Many automatic door systems can be integrated with access control technology, allowing you to monitor who’s on your premises at any given time as well as remotely lock certain doors if required. A reduction in clogs and bottlenecks also lowers the chance of students becoming injured in crowded spaces. 

Improved accessibility 

Automatic doors vastly improve accessibility for all students, allowing equal access for those using wheelchairs, crutches or any form of mobility assistance. They also help you ensure compliance with the Equality Act 2010. 

Additional benefits of automatic doors 

Energy efficiency

As heating costs rise and school budgets shrink, automatic doors can help you improve the energy efficiency of your buildings. By closing when not in use, they help retain more heat, and many models feature double glazing to further increase their thermal efficiency. 

Hygiene and cleanliness 

It’s no surprise that schools can act as ideal transmission grounds for germs, and reducing touchpoints is an effective way to mitigate this. By opening without the need for physical contact, automatic doors help to control the spread of illnesses. 

Modern and professional image 

Finally, automatic doors can also help provide your school with an aesthetic boost. Their sleek, modern appearance can bring your buildings into the 21st century, improving your chances of attracting new students. 

Choosing the right automatic doors for your school

There are a few key factors you need to weigh up when selecting the right automatic doors for your school: 

Durability and safety standards – before you purchase your doors, make sure that they meet all the latest safety standards and can withstand the heavy use they’ll be subjected to. 

Customisation – each school is different, and being able to customise your automatic doors before they’re installed is a huge bonus, allowing you to alter features such as colour and window placement or apply graphics and lettering. 

Energy efficiency features – make sure to identify door models with suitable energy efficiency performance, as this is key to helping reduce your heating costs. 

Ready to upgrade your school’s traffic management infrastructure? 

The best place to find the right automatic doors for your school is to reach out to a reputable, recognised automatic door company. They should be able to help you identify the ideal doors, arrange installation and even provide ongoing maintenance and repairs. Be on the lookout for those with healthy customer testimonials and a wealth of successful projects. 

Once installed, your automatic doors should help you stay on top of your student traffic management issues as well as improve security, safety and accessibility.