Allegion (formerly known as Ingersoll Rand Security Technologies) has completed a project to provide a door for an external airside smoking shelter at Aberdeen Airport – the first of its kind for a Scottish hub. The smoking shelter by the airport’s main departure lounge lets passengers smoke after they have gone through security. There is a charge of £1 or one euro to access the shelter, with the revenue generated used solely on its upkeep.
The smoking shelter is intended to help reduce the number of costly full terminal evacuations caused when passengers light-up in prohibited areas and activate the smoke alarms. A study by the airport in 2012 showed passengers were in favour of the introduction of an airside smoking shelter. The survey showed 96 per cent of smokers were in support of the project and even 61 per cent of non-smokers felt such facilities would be a good idea.
Steve Hepworth, Area Sales Manager for Allegion, said: “Having previously worked within the tightly controlled and regulated airport environment, the Allegion team quickly identified that the door solution had to be designed to comply with Scottish legislation and the strict safety and security controls of a busy airport. It also had to provide ease of access for around 90 people a day.
“Following the consultation process, Dor-O-Matic automatic single slide doors were specified and installed. Allegion automated openings, under the Dor-O-Matic brand, provide one of the widest choices of automatic doors and operator systems available and are widely used in commercial environments. One of the greatest single benefits of automatic doors is the ability to offer ease of access to everyone. This is highly important for a public smoking shelter which could potentially be in use for 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
“As aesthetically attractive as they are functionally effective, Dor-O-Matic single slide doors are a technologically-advanced solution, with clean lines, space saving properties, and extra security features making them the ideal option for the airside project.
“The microprocessor-controlled system has several key safety features. Auto-reverse immediately returns the doors to the fully open position, should any presence be detected during the closing cycle, and protection is also provided by horizontal safety beams across the threshold. A ‘reduced opening’ facility provides additional security, meaning the doors can be set to open automatically to a pre-set distance and will then electronically lock. We were also able to integrate our doors with a coin machine, which was a key requirement of the project.
“The external airside shelter is already proving to be well-used and passenger feedback has been very positive. And with Allegion’s unrivalled year-round maintenance and repair service, Aberdeen Airport can be confident of keeping its airside smoking shelter open and with minimum disruption.”
Allegion (UK) Ltd is a BS EN ISO 9001 registered company, so products manufactured under the Dor-O-Matic brand meet requirements for automatic door equipment, including dimensions, quality, detailing, function, grade and type of material. Dor-O-Matic automatic doors comply with BS 7036 Code of Practice which provides guidance on the general safety recommendations applicable to powered pedestrian doors.
Dan Peck is Head of Development at Aberdeen Airport. He said: “Access to the smoking area is by a controlled sliding door, supplied by Allegion, which is operated by the passengers inserting a £1 or 1€ coin into a slot. The door was designed specifically to ensure passengers get quick and easy access to and from the smoking area. The door is also interfaced with the building fire alarm and CCTV systems to maintain the highest standards of safety and security required at an International Airport.”
