Managing door safety across a building is rarely simple. One site might have timber doors, aluminium entrances, glass partitions, sliding panels, low gates and self-closing fire doors. Each one moves differently. Each one creates its own risks.
That is why choosing door safety products is not a case of finding one guard and fitting it everywhere. The product has to suit the door, the way it moves and the people using it.
Most doors fall into three broad groups:
Hinged doors
Sliding doors
Fire doors
Some overlap will occur. A fire door can also be a hinged door for example. It needs extra checks because it must close and latch properly.
Facilities managers should record each opening’s door material, hinge or track type, opening angle, level of use and any gaps that could trap fingers. They should also consider who uses the door. A door in a nursery will not have the same risk profile as one in a locked staff area.
A wide gap forms between the door and the frame as a hinged door opens. The closing door can trap fingers that enter the gap. The hinge pin side can also create a smaller risk, especially where people can reach the door from both directions.
Safety Assured’s Door Finger Protector covers the main hinge cavity and stops fingers from entering it. The right version will depend on the door thickness, hinge layout and opening angle.
Measure the door when it is fully open. A protector can look fine with the door shut, but it could stretch too far or leave part of the gap exposed once the door reaches its usual open position.
Facilities managers should also assess the hinge pin side. Some locations may need extra door finger protection when someone can stand behind the open door or approach it from the other side.
PVCu, aluminium, steel, glazed, pivot and bi-fold doors are not the same as standard timber doors. Their frames can be narrower and their hinges may sit differently. Some surfaces may also not accept the usual fixings.
Mark these doors as non-standard in the specification. That gives the supplier or installer a chance to choose the right product and fixing method before arriving on site.
The leading edge usually creates the main danger on a sliding door. The moving panel can catch fingers between itself and the frame, jamb or another panel. A hinge protector will not solve this.
Safety Assured offers Slide Safe for suitable sliding doors. It creates a safer space near the leading edge so the panel does not close directly onto fingers.
Facilities managers should first check how the door works. An in-line sliding system should be suitable, while tilt and slide or lift and slide doors will need their own assessment.
Measurements are important here too. Frame width, panel size and material all affect the product choice. Aluminium, PVCu and timber systems can all need different setups.
Inspect the full path of the door, not just the closing edge. Trapping points can occur at both ends or where two panels meet.
Low-level gates can have two exposed gaps: the main vertical hinge cavity and an opening at the top. They may need both a hinge protector and a cap over the upper gap.
Outdoor gates also need checks for rust, movement and poor alignment. These problems can make a trapping gap wider over time.
A total product quantity is not enough. The specification should show what each opening requires. Include:
Door reference and location
Door type and material
Opening mechanism
Maximum opening angle
Accessible trapping points
Fire-door status
Proposed product
Installation requirements
Testing and maintenance needs
This gives installers clearer information and makes quotations easier to compare. The schedule also helps teams inspect, maintain or replace products later.
The biggest mistake is using the same guard on every door. Other common problems include measuring doors only in the closed position, protecting the main hinge gap but missing the hinge pin side and choosing products from photographs without checking the door in person.
Facilities managers can also easily confuse finger protection with fire-door retention. They are not interchangeable. A finger protector covers a trapping point. A fire-door retainer controls when it holds a fire door open and when it releases the door.
Surveyors need to check door thickness, frame depth, hinge shape and opening restrictions on site.
Hinged, sliding and fire doors do not create the same risks. Each opening needs the right product, measurements and fitting method.
Safety Assured can survey your site, identify trapping points and recommend suitable products. The team can also support installation and ongoing maintenance across your estate. Visit the Safety Assured website or contact the team online to discuss your doors.
Can one door safety product be used throughout a building?
One door safety product will not usually suit every door in a building. Hinged, sliding, fire and non-standard doors move in different ways and create different trapping points.
What information is needed before choosing a finger protector?
Record the door material, thickness, hinge type, maximum opening angle and every trapping point that users can reach.
Is Safety Assured’s Slide Safe suitable for every sliding door?
No. A specialist must check the sliding mechanism, frame material and dimensions before recommending a product.
Why should facilities managers survey the site?
A survey can uncover unusual doors, hidden trapping points and fitting problems that may not appear on drawings or photographs.