The festive period places significant pressure on commercial entrances as businesses experience a surge in visitors and extended trading hours. Automatic doors, manual doors, commercial shutters and steel fire doors all work harder during this time, with increased opening cycles and exposure to colder weather. This seasonal demand accelerates wear and tear on critical components, making entrances more vulnerable to faults and performance issues.
Carrying out essential door checks before the holiday rush helps prevent holiday season breakdowns and ensures your entrances stay safe, reliable and fully compliant. Proactive inspections and seasonal maintenance also improve energy efficiency, reduce operational costs and create a smoother, more welcoming experience for customers during the busiest weeks of the year.
Why Seasonal Door Checks Matter
High traffic entrances work much harder during the holiday season, and this increased demand puts added pressure on every type of commercial door system. Sliding doors, swing doors, revolving doors and manual doors all experience more frequent opening cycles, which leads to greater strain on sensors, motors, hinges and control units. As these components wear down, small performance issues can quickly develop into complete door failures if they are not addressed in time.
Seasonal maintenance is essential because it reduces the risk of unexpected breakdowns and ensures full compliance with safety standards. Key reasons seasonal checks matter include:
• Higher footfall increases operational stress on all door mechanisms
• Cold weather affects sensor accuracy and motor performance
• Minor faults can escalate rapidly during peak trading
• Safety compliance is critical when customer numbers are at their highest
Proactive inspection helps prevent downtime and keeps your entrances operating reliably.
Inspect Sensors and Safety Systems
Inspecting sensors and safety systems is essential for maintaining reliable automatic door performance, especially during winter when dirt, moisture and temperature changes can affect detection. If sensors are slow, dirty or misaligned, doors may open late, inconsistently or become unsafe for users. To prevent holiday season breakdowns, ensure activation sensors respond instantly from all angles, test presence sensors for reliable detection during door movement, and check that safety beams are properly aligned with no weak signals. Clean all sensor lenses, remove debris, and make sure protective covers are secure. Confirm that finger guards, safety barriers and trims are intact and free from damage. Watch for hesitation, delayed activation or false triggers, as these can indicate deeper calibration issues. If any sensor shows inconsistent performance, contact a professional engineer to restore safe and compliant operation.
Check Tracks, Guides, Hinges and Rollers
Essential door checks include inspecting all mechanical movement components to ensure your entrances operate smoothly during the busiest time of the year. Sliding door tracks should be thoroughly cleared of debris, and the guides and rollers must move freely without any resistance. When tracks or rollers become obstructed, the door mechanism is forced to work harder, increasing the likelihood of breakdowns during peak trading hours.
Sliding Door Track Condition
Sliding doors rely heavily on clean, well-maintained tracks. Any dirt or obstruction can disrupt the door’s movement and place unnecessary strain on the motor. Regular cleaning and visual inspection help maintain proper alignment and ensure the door glides smoothly throughout the holiday season.
Hinges and Movement on Manual and Swing Doors
For manual doors and swing doors, hinges should be inspected for signs of wear, looseness or noise. Stiff or noisy hinges indicate friction or component fatigue, which may lead to misalignment or sudden operational issues. Addressing hinge problems early ensures the door continues to function reliably as footfall increases.
Commercial Shutter Track Performance
Commercial shutters should be tested for smooth, uninterrupted operation along their tracks. Any sticking, hesitation or uneven movement may point to mechanical wear or misalignment. Ensuring shutters run freely helps prevent unexpected failures and protects the security and accessibility of your building.
Proper movement across all these components reduces strain on motors, prevents sudden operational failures and keeps your entrances performing consistently throughout the holiday season.
Assess Door Speed, Force and Cycle Performance
Automatic doors depend on precise calibration. Changes in temperature or increased usage can alter opening speed, closing force and overall cycle consistency. Test whether doors open at the correct pace and close safely without excessive force. Inconsistent behaviour can indicate motor fatigue or misalignment. Ensuring correct operation is essential to prevent holiday season breakdowns and maintain customer safety.
Inspect Weather Seals and Energy Efficiency Features
Cold weather can expose weaknesses in weather seals on steel fire doors, commercial shutters and manual doors. When seals become worn or damaged, they allow heat to escape and cold air to enter, creating drafts around your entrances. This not only affects comfort but also increases energy usage during a time when heating systems already work harder. Seasonal maintenance should therefore include a detailed inspection of all seals, insulation panels and perimeter fittings to ensure the building remains efficient and secure.
Key checks include:
• Examine perimeter seals for cracks, gaps or brittleness
• Inspect insulation panels on steel fire doors for wear or compression
• Check commercial shutter seals for splits or missing sections
• Confirm that manual door seals sit flush against the frame with no air leakage
• Look for visible light passing through gaps around door edges
• Ensure threshold seals are intact and properly aligned
Maintaining effective weather seals reduces operational strain on door systems and helps lower energy costs. For more information, visit evolutionentrancesystem.
Identify Visible Wear and Component Damage
Conducting essential door checks also involves identifying visible signs of wear that may impact performance. As footfall increases during the holiday period, mechanical components experience additional stress. Cracking glass, frayed wiring, loose fixtures and misaligned frames can quickly worsen if left unresolved. Detecting and addressing these issues early helps prevent holiday season breakdowns and avoids costly emergency repairs during peak trading times.
Important areas to inspect include:
• Check glass panels for chips, cracks or impact damage
• Look for frayed or exposed cables on automatic door repair systems
• Inspect fixings, brackets and mounting points for looseness
• Listen for unusual motor noise, grinding or stiffness during operation
• Assess door frames for misalignment or visible movement
• Evaluate handles, closers and locks for signs of fatigue
Spotting these issues early ensures your doors remain safe, compliant and ready to handle increased seasonal traffic.
Confirm Emergency Exits and Safety Doors Are Operational
Emergency exits, fire escape routes and steel doors must function correctly at all times, especially during the holiday season when buildings experience higher occupancy and increased footfall. These doors play a vital role in ensuring safe evacuation during an emergency, so they must be inspected thoroughly as part of your essential door checks. Even minor faults in panic hardware, release mechanisms or door closers can compromise safety and lead to compliance issues if left unresolved.
Seasonal maintenance should include a full operational test of all exit doors, focusing on how smoothly they open, how securely they close and whether all safety components respond correctly under pressure. Emergency exit routes should remain clear and unobstructed, and every door must meet statutory safety standards required for commercial properties. Ensuring these systems work reliably protects both staff and visitors and significantly reduces the risk of safety or security failures at the busiest time of year.
Schedule a Professional Pre Holiday Service
While basic checks can be carried out in house, scheduling a professional pre holiday service ensures every component of your entrance system is assessed thoroughly. Trained engineers have the expertise and equipment needed to identify issues that are not always visible during routine inspections. A professional service helps maintain reliability during the busiest period of the year and ensures your doors continue to meet safety, accessibility and performance standards.
A comprehensive service typically includes:
• Full calibration of automatic door operators for optimal speed and force
• Mechanical testing of motors, gears, rollers and drive mechanisms
• Detailed inspection of sensors, safety beams and control systems
• Verification of compliance with safety regulations and industry standards
• Assessment of hinges, pivots, closers and manual door hardware
• Testing of commercial shutter operation and alignment
• Identification of worn components that may fail under increased winter usage
Evolution Entrance Systems provides expert installation, servicing and emergency repair for automatic doors, commercial shutters, sliding doors, swing doors and manual doors across the Midlands. Explore the full range of services at our website.
Final Thoughts
Carrying out essential door checks ahead of the festive period is one of the most reliable ways to prevent holiday season breakdowns and keep your entrances operating at their best. From inspecting sensors and seals to checking mechanical components and arranging professional servicing, every step strengthens the safety, efficiency and performance of your door systems during the busiest time of year. Preparing early not only reduces the risk of costly interruptions but also ensures a smooth and welcoming experience for your customers.For complete confidence in your commercial entrances this season, contact Evolution Entrance Systems for expert maintenance, servicing and repair support.
