Safe Automatic Doors in Compliance with EN 16005
How Sensors, Standards, and Expertise Work Together to Ensure Safety and Efficiency
Today, automatic doors are a standard feature of modern buildings. They provide barrier-free access, improve energy efficiency and comfort, and must also meet strict safety requirements. Legally, automatic doors are considered machinery under the EU Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC.
The European standard EN 16005 describes how these requirements are to be implemented in practice. It defines measures to protect people from impact, crushing, and shearing hazards and distinguishes between three safety levels:
- Low energy—low momentum, contact permitted
- Partial Coverage – Covered Subcategories
- Complete Safety – Full Protection Against Contact
In settings with vulnerable user groups, such as nursing homes or hospitals, comprehensive protection is mandatory. For operators, designers, and installers, compliance with EN 16005 provides legal certainty and ensures that modern door systems operate both functionally and safely.
From Standard to Solution—Expertise as the Foundation
Implementing door systems that comply with standards requires not only suitable components, but also a solid technical understanding of risk analysis, among other things. BBC Bircher Smart Access sees itself as a partner and source of expertise for the industry in this area: The company supports planners, door manufacturers, and installers with practical, specialized knowledge on the application of EN 16005, while also offering solutions that balance safety, efficiency, and ease of use.
With its new FutureSense and SolidSense sensors, as well as the contactless CleanSwitch switch, BBC Bircher Smart Access is introducing a state-of-the-art integrated system that is tailored to the requirements of the standard and provides installers and operators with clear guidance in the complex field of door security.
SolidSense – Maximum Safety in Accordance with EN 16005
SolidSense takes the safety of swing doors to a new level in accordance with EN 16005. The sensor uses Time-of-Flight (ToF) technology to precisely detect objects in the door’s vicinity. This ensures that hazardous areas—including those near the secondary closing edge—are reliably detected.
The benefits include:
- Maximum safety and complete protection against impacts, crushing, and shearing
- Very high safety even along the secondary closing edge thanks to a “curved” beam pattern that bypasses the hazard area
- Independence from environmental conditions such as lighting or floor coverings
- Dynamic adaptation to changes in the environment for reliable and trouble-free door operation
The sensors are compact, robust, and can be seamlessly integrated into the door design. For designers and manufacturers, this means less effort in complying with standards while ensuring the highest level of safety for the end user.
FutureSense – Smart Radar Sensor Optimizes Automatic Opening
The FutureSense uses 60 GHz FMCW (Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave) technology and detects movements, directions, and speeds with high precision. The door opens only when necessary—preventing cross-traffic and false activations. This lowers energy consumption and reduces wear on mechanical components.
The FutureSense app allows for intuitive setup and customization of the activation zones. Installers benefit from clear feedback and visualization, which simplifies commissioning and reduces sources of error. As a result, BBC Bircher Smart Access offers not just a product, but a practical solution that is highly user-friendly.
CleanSwitch: Convenient and hygienic gesture-activated opening
The CleanSwitch enables hygienic, touchless activation of automatic doors. A simple hand gesture is all it takes to trigger the opening command. The system is ideal for hospitals, doctors’ offices, laboratories, and restaurants.
The switch is compatible with standard switch lines such as System 55, provides visual feedback, and offers a wide range of design options. With the CleanSwitch Lock version, doors can even be locked contactlessly. CleanSwitch thus complements the security system in a way that makes sense both functionally and from a hygiene perspective.
The Complete Package for Modern Swing Doors
With FutureSense, SolidSense, and CleanSwitch, BBC Bircher Smart Access offers a comprehensive system designed in accordance with EN 16005. The company sees itself not only as a manufacturer but also as a solution-oriented partner that provides technical expertise to support standards-compliant implementation: Through practical consulting, application-oriented documentation, and continuous product development, BBC Bircher Smart Access provides expertise that specialized contractors and planners can apply directly in the field. The goal is safe, energy-efficient, and future-proof door technology—implemented in compliance with standards and operated cost-effectively.
