# 3 Popular Types Of Automatic Commercial Doors | GW GeWalt Blog > Sliding, folding and swinging automatic commercial doors each suit a different building. Here is what separates them, including the fire, acoustic, sanitary and radiation variants. URL: https://gwgewalt.com/3-popular-types-of-automatic-commercial-doors/ Last-Modified: 2021-11-14 Author: GW GeWalt Technical Team # 3 Popular Types Of Automatic Commercial Doors GW GeWalt Technical Team · Published 15 June 2020 · Updated 14 November 2021 · 4 min read ![Split view of an automatic swing door beside an automatic sliding door](/images/featured/split-view-of-an-automatic-swing-door-and-an-autom.webp) Businesses that receive high volumes of foot traffic benefit from automatic commercial doors. Employees and customers generally prefer them in a busy building, but automatic doors come in different types to suit different situations. Automatic commercial doors are an important part of a range of industries, and choosing the right application for your safety and space requirements matters. Here are three common types that might match your business. ## 1\. Sliding automatic commercial doors These are a common choice for larger spaces, particularly where there is no defined entrance or exit on the exterior of the building. They come in single and double sliding options, and the double is the better fit where a wider entrance is needed for two-way traffic. ![Comparison of a belt-driven sliding door header and a swing door operator](/images/content/comparison-of-belt-driven-header-with-rollers-vers.webp) Manufacturers produce several specialised versions of the sliding glass door: **Sliding fire doors.** Suited to large commercial spaces needing large exit and entry points if a fire breaks out. Commercial kitchens and medical facilities are the usual settings. **Sliding acoustic doors.** For situations where noise pollution would otherwise affect the public or customers. Office spaces, noisy kitchens and nightclubs use them. **Sliding sanitary doors.** For commercial settings where easy cleaning and bacterial resistance are requirements, such as hospitality and medical work. **Sliding radiation doors.** Typically combined with a fire door so the opening is protected against both radiation and fire. Common in radiation facilities and large hospitals. ## 2\. Folding automatic commercial doors Folding automatic doors are popular because they use very little space. They come in bi-folding or single options and retract like an accordion, which makes them useful where a space has to serve several purposes: because the door retracts, two rooms can become one. That makes them a strong choice where there is not much room to work with. ![Folding door panels stacked flat against a wall](/images/content/folding-door-panels-stacked-flat-against-the-wall-.webp) The tight, compact folding mechanism has a trade-off. You cannot fit these doors with thick fireproofing or soundproofing materials. They can, however, be manufactured from hygienic and sanitary materials, which is why they turn up in: - Catering venues - Hospitals - Doctors’ offices - Performance venues - Warehouses ## 3\. Swinging automatic commercial doors Swinging automatic doors work like any other door and come in single or double sizes. The double swinging action is efficient in heavy-traffic situations and is commonly seen in hospital hallways. They are not the right answer where space is limited or at a premium. Their advantage is that they are often manufactured with protective fittings, and they are available in fire, acoustic, sanitary and radiation options like their sliding counterparts. ## Choosing between them Space usually decides it. If there is wall beside the opening, a slider is the most efficient answer for high traffic. If there is not, a swing door works but eats floor area in its arc. If the opening needs to disappear entirely and reappear later, a folding system is the only one of the three that does that. For the systems themselves, see our pages on automatic sliding doors [/automatic-sliding-door/ →](/automatic-sliding-door/) , the automatic swing door series [/automatic-swing-door-series-accessories/ →](/automatic-swing-door-series-accessories/) and folding glass doors [/folding-glass-door/ →](/folding-glass-door/) . ![GW GeWalt Technical Team](/images/misc/gw-gewalt-technical-team-members-in-work-polos-at-.webp) GW GeWalt Technical Team Entrance Systems & Ironmongery Specialists The GW GeWalt technical team handles ironmongery specification, on-site measurement, installation and after-sales maintenance for automatic doors and glass systems across Kuala Lumpur, Selangor and Perak. Automatic sliding and swing door maintenance specialists ## Related Posts ### 7 Things to Consider Before Installing Automatic Doors Before you order an automatic sliding door, work through power draw, reliability, design, safety, security, cost and material. Getting these wrong costs more than the door. [7 Things to Consider Before Installing Automatic Doors →](/7-things-to-consider-before-installing-automatic-doors/) ### About The 5 Most Common Mistakes When Choosing An Automated Door in Malaysia Space, power, upkeep, colour and price are where automated door decisions go wrong. Here is what each mistake costs and how to avoid it before you order. [About The 5 Most Common Mistakes When Choosing An Automated Door in Malaysia →](/about-the-5-most-common-mistakes-when-choosing-an-automated-door-in-malaysia/) ![](/images/misc/wide-shot-of-heavy-duty-automatic-glass-sliding-do.webp) Fast Local Response: Klang Valley & Perak ## Ready for an Entrance Transformation? Get a professional engineering assessment of your entrance. We analyse weight loads, traffic flow and safety requirements before quoting. 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