INFECTION CONTROL Another possibility for automatic door
activation, which also helps to improve hygiene in critical areas, is to link the automatic door to a hand-sanitiser dispenser. People entering the area must use the dispenser before the door will open, which ensures high levels of hand hygiene.
Theatres and ICU The correct specification of automatic doors can also help to maintain a clean environment in sensitive areas such as operating theatres and intensive care units. When compared with a swing door, sliding doors cause minimal airflow when opened and closed. This prevents the movement of infectious airborne particles into and out of the room. The automatic doors can be controlled with large, easy- to-use elbow push-pads or foot switches, allowing staff to avoid contact with surfaces after sanitising their hands. When selecting the sliding door
operator, it may be valuable to look for a product that features additional functionality designed specifically for healthcare applications, such as varying opening widths. Doors with partial open, full-open, and hold-open options will allow the most suitable function to be used to ensure easy movement of people and beds, or limit the movement of air. Furthermore, automatic hermetic doors that provide an airtight seal can be used where the highest levels of air purity must be maintained. While automatic doors can provide a
low-contact solution for many areas of the building, it may also be worthwhile considering if interaction with doors can be minimised further. Electro-magnetic hold-open devices can be installed on manually-operated doors, including fire doors, to prevent them closing during normal use to minimise physical interaction. These can be installed alongside the standard fire door- compatible closers, and will automatically release the door to close when the fire alarm is activated, or in the event of a power failure. The advantage of these solutions for hospital buildings is that they help ensure the free movement of beds and wheelchairs through corridors. In some cases, this may be a more cost- effective way of reducing contact with door surfaces. Alternatively, where manually-
operated doors are required, these can be made more hygienic by specifying door hardware with antimicrobial properties. Products that feature a silver ion-based antimicrobial finish will inhibit the growth of bacteria by disrupting the key cell functions. As with other surfaces in the building, the hardware will still need to be cleaned, but this finish will help limit the spread of potentially harmful bacteria.
62 Health Estate Journal March 2022
Step 1
Remove mechanical door-closers
Step 2
Install automatic swing-door operators
Step 3
Install safety sensors and touchless switch
Figure 1: Many manually-operated internal doors can be upgraded cost-effectively by replacing standard door-closers with automatic swing-door operators linked to sensors.
Hygienic access control While easy movement into and through hospital buildings is a key objective, there are areas in any healthcare environment that must be secured against unauthorised access for the safety of patients, staff, and visitors. For some facilities, such as those that provide mental health or dementia care, a level of security may have to be maintained for the entire building. One of the simplest methods of preventing unauthorised access is through the use of traditional cylinder locks or coded keypads. However, from an infection control perspective these are not always ideal, as the physical contact required to use these locks can mean that germs can spread if the surfaces are not cleaned regularly. To address this, electronic cylinders and
card readers that support contactless access can be utilised in place of conventional locks and keypads. These
can often be easily retrofitted with little disruption, so even older doors can be upgraded. There are a range of options to suit all types of doors and locks, as well as a choice of radio frequency identification (RFID) access media. It is also possible for smartphones to function as access media devices where the system features Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) capabilities. There are some key security advantages to this, as phones are less likely to be misplaced or lent to another person. They also commonly include additional security measures such as a PIN number, passcode, or biometric verification, such as fingerprint or facial recognition.
Convenience and control These digital access control systems have additional benefits in terms of convenience and control. The individual readers can usually be integrated into a single system to provide greater control
For entrances there are a range of automatic revolving, sliding, and single and double leaf swing-door options. Right: A doorset fitted with dormakaba’s Automatic Swing Door Operator.
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