In general, most buildings are equipped with standard, mechanical locks such as a mortise lockset. Traditional lock sets are made incredibly well and provide a satisfactory amount of security for many facilities. However, they lack in allowing you to exercise a high degree of control over the entrances to your building.

 

They’re limited in that they may only be controlled manually from the door itself, can only be used on swinging doors and the only way to authenticate users is by issuing them a traditional key which can very easily be lost or copied. Upgrading your lock sets to a higher security system eliminates these concerns.

Electromagnetic Locks

An electromagnetic lock uses electricity to create a bond between the armature and a magnet to secure the door. This particular security lock is controlled by applying electricity to these components. It provides a higher level of control since you can choose to operate manually or remotely. Another benefit of this type of lock is it can be synced up with your alarm system and fire alarm system to lock or unlock automatically depending on the situation.

An electric lockset also allows you to setup more sophisticated authentication systems. As previously mentioned, traditional keys will get the job done but they’re not exactly the most secure. With electromagnetic locks, you can setup key pads and card swipers which will also provide you with a log of the comings and goings of people utilizing them.

Access Control Systems

Access control systems provide several benefits including:
• Better control of your business
• Improved security
• Reduced manpower costs (think the elimination of a security guard)
• Access to business access logs

Being able to identify individuals who have access to your building is a huge perk for many business owners. Access control systems allow you to drill down as far as who has access to your building when and which areas they’re able to enter.

Using ID cards, key pads or even fingerprint technology, this high tech locking system offers you an entirely different level of security. Access control systems allow you to create a master key system to increase regulation over building admittance like no traditional lockset could. This is especially beneficial for organizations who house many different departments in the same building, some of which require specialized credentials to enter.

Smart Locks

Thousands of homeowners have jumped on the smart lock wagon and for very good reason. Having remote control access to your doors is a huge benefit and allows you to keep a virtual eye on things while away. Many businesses are starting to follow suit.
Smart locks, as they pertain to commercial business, can be incredibly useful. Many smart locking systems will allow your employees to use their phones to unlock building entrances. They’ll typically have another way to unlock the doors in case their phone has run out of charge, but many employees would see this as a nice work perk.

A smart lock would also enable the business owner to issue admittance for weekend repair workers and revoke those privileges as soon as the job is completed without bothering to chase down a physical key or change door codes. Smart locking systems will also typically provide user logs. This is helpful in case of missing merchandise or vandalism.

Remember, no matter how high-tech your locking mechanisms are, if you neglect to regularly maintain your doors, you could end up with an unwanted security breach. If you’re looking to upgrade the locking systems for your commercial business, contact Kenny’s Lock for more information.

While automatic doors have become more or less the status quo, there are still several business owners who have yet to take the plunge. Reasons for not updating from traditional push doors include fear of costly maintenance and installation fees, or simply not seeing them as a necessity. However, with the return you receive in the form of customer satisfaction, convenience and even monetarily, they’re well worth the effort to install.

Benefits of Automatic Doors

There are so many great benefits you receive from automatic doors, that even the most skeptical business owner shouldn’t dismiss the prospect of installation too quickly.

Cost Benefits

Energy Efficiency

With doors that open and close automatically you’re not in danger of them being left open allowing precious heating or a/c to escape.

Low Cost Installation Options

You don’t always have to replace an entire door if you’re trying to install the automatic open and close feature. There are many lower cost options allowing you to modify you existing doors making them automatic.

Ease of Access and Compliance

ADA Compliance

Installing automatic doors ensures that you’ll be in compliance with the American’s with Disabilities Act. Just be sure you’re following protocol during the initial installation.

Convenience

Customers appreciate a merchant who is easy to do business with and this extends to the accessibility of your facility. If you’ve got heavy doors that are a nuisance to your older patrons, as an example, chances are they’re going to find someone else to do their shopping with.

Overall Customer Preference

Recent surveys have shown that customers actually prefer an automatic door and wish they were installed in more places other than main entrances. This is especially beneficial for medical facilities or those where customers are shopping in very large spaces, like a warehouse.

Other Benefits of Automatic Doors

Wide Variety

Sliding doors come in several options, so choosing the best for your business will be a breeze. With space saving varieties and doors with superior aesthetic value available, you’re sure to find the perfect fit.

Low Maintenance

Just like with your standard manually operated door, automatic doors will be low maintenance and stay in working order for long periods of time if you perform regular maintenance checks. In this way, automatic doors are no different than any other piece of equipment in your building.

Safety

Automatic doors provide a higher level of safety than traditional push doors. Certain models are able to lock remotely in case of an emergency keeping staff and patrons out of harm’s way more quickly.

If you’re looking for the best automatic door for your Boston area business, contact Kenny’s Lock for the expert’s opinion.

As consumers, many of us take automatic doors and the large variety available for granted. As a business owner, that’s exactly what you want for your customer! The less of a nuisance your entry points are, the better. When choosing an automatic door for your Boston area business, there are multiple factors to consider.

ADA Compliance

Brick and mortars throughout the United States need to be sure they follow the guidelines laid out by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The ADA helps business owners properly ensure accessibility to all applicable areas of their business for anyone with a disability. This includes what type of automatic door you install.

Not all automatic doors are best suited for every entrance or doorway so choosing an automatic door that’s ADA compliant takes a bit of planning. Whether you choose a folding door, a swinging door or a sliding door will depend greatly on the surrounding areas around the door opening. Choose incorrectly and you could be faced with a possible ADA compliancy issue.

Benefits of Automatic Doors

In addition to providing ease of access, automatic doors deliver many great benefits to your business. Did you know that nearly 90% of consumers have expressed a preference toward automatic doors, as opposed to the garden variety manual doors? This is because when businesses go out of their way to increase their customers’ comfortability, the consumer feels appreciated and has an overall better in-store experience.

Beyond customer satisfaction, automatic doors provide greater security. Automatic doors regularly have remote locking mechanisms. Remote locking mechanisms help you secure your building in case of incident more quickly than a manual door, which would require you to physically be by the entrance to lock up. This is especially beneficial for facilities that may require a quick lockdown such as hospitals, schools, daycares and financial institutions.

Top Automatic Doors

As previously mentioned, the type of automatic door and door opening mechanisms you choose will depend on where they’re being installed. But generally speaking, there are a few varieties and manufacturers that are home runs all around.

Top Manufacturers

The following brands have remained consistent throughout the years as having delivered top notch doors, hardware, and the latest technology to consumers. As professional locksmiths, we highly recommend these companies if you’re shopping for automatic doors and door openers. 

• LCN
• RECORD
• Norton

Types of Automatic Doors

The best type of automatic door for you depends on needs and preferences. Below are types of automatic doors used for different purposes.

• Sliding – most common variety
• Folding – if you’re short on space, folding doors are a terrific option
• Swinging – great if you want to create directional traffic 
• Revolving – energy savers, but not always ADA compliant

Before committing to any automatic door strategy, you should speak with a professional to be sure you’re choosing the best option for your particular situation. Kenny’s Lock Inc. are professional locksmiths with a wealth of knowledge on the subject of automatic doors. If you’re in the Boston area and considering an installation, give Kenny’s Lock Inc. a call!

One of the main responsibilities of a business owner is to routinely inspect their building for maintenance needs. Ensuring light bulbs aren’t burnt out and bathrooms are operating correctly are basic checklist items, but door maintenance is often left off the list. We figure that if you can get in and out of the building with ease, everything must be running smoothly, right? 

This is not always the case, especially with automatic doors.Consider the possible ramifications of a malfunctioning automatic door at your commercial business. Perhaps it doesn’t allow people to easily exit creating a fire hazard or motion sensors go out causing you to become ADA non-compliant? 

We’ve put together some basic checklist items and a suggested maintenance schedule to help you keep your automatic doors in tip top shape, avoiding any large expenses or potential issues down the road. 

Automatic Door Maintenance Checklist

There are several checkpoints that don’t immediately come to mind when inspecting your automatic doors. Here’s a comprehensive list to get you on the right track:

• Are door sensors operating at the proper range? If they’re activating too late you run the risk of individuals becoming injured, especially by a swinging door.
• Check for obstructions on either side of the door—keep doors free of snow and ice in the winter
• Pay attention to possible tripping hazards ex: lifted door insulation strips
• Inspect door panels for cracked or broken glass
• Ensure all doors operated by the buildings fire system are functioning properly
• Assess functionality of all automatic door openers

If you find that any of these items are malfunctioning or creating a potential hazard, either shutoff the equipment or direct traffic through an alternate entrance. 

Automatic Door Maintenance Schedule

A business owner or store manager should check these items on a weekly basis. Keeping a log, recording issues or concerns, will help you to not only keep up with your maintenance schedule but will also help gauge how often the same problem is occurring. If you realize that you’re routinely finding, for example, cracks in glass or that your sensors malfunction on a regular basis you’ll be able to come up with more lasting solutions. It’s quite possible that it’s not the quality of the door but that you’ve chosen an automatic door option that isn’t best for the door’s location and requires a different type of automatic door.

Every six months, have a certified professional check your automatic doors. You may want to have someone come in more often if your doors get snow and ice build up in the winter. While anyone will be able to do a spot check for obvious issues, a professional will be able to inspect your doors with an experienced eye and may find less obvious problems that could potentially become catastrophic. If you’d like more information on automatic doors for your Boston business, contact Kenny’s Lock for more information.