Pedestrian doors are a key part of any retail storefront. Whether you need automatic doors to let in walk-ins from the street or you are looking for a shutter to secure your shopping mall premises after-hours, selecting the right door is imperative to successful operations. 

With our guide on how to choose pedestrian doors for retail environments, you’ll be fully informed about what the best options are for you and your store. 

Types of Pedestrian Doors

Any retail owner or manager will understand that retail environments vary wildly, and so do their pedestrian door needs; a shopping mall storefront will have different requirements than a standalone storefront on a busy street. Fortunately, there are a range of types of pedestrian doors available to help meet the varying needs that come with the retail sector. 

Automatic Glass Sliding & Swing Doors

Automatic doors are the most common type of pedestrian door used in retail for storefronts. Available in both sliding and swinging formats, these pedestrian doors offer hands-free operation for efficient, two-way traffic flow, giving you the freedom to choose what suits your needs best. With modern automatic doors, you never have to compromise on style or function. 

Automatic glass pedestrian doors also play a big role in ensuring your store is more accessible to everyone, improving your foot traffic, and allowing people with mobility issues, such as seniors or people with disabilities, to patronize your store. Paired with other accessories like motion sensors and keypads, you can also greatly improve the safety and security of your property. 

Hollow Metal Doors

Durable and cost-effective, hollow metal doors are widely used in commercial applications. A steel frame gives them enviable durability, and their core material adds insulation and sound-dampening properties that make these doors perfect for retail spaces in noisier areas. 

If public safety is a significant factor in your choice of pedestrian door, a hollow metal door is a great choice. Many models can be used as fire doors and can be equipped with emergency exit devices known as crash bars for extra layers of safety. 

Shutters, Grilles, & Rolling Doors

Shutters, grilles, and rolling doors are all variations on the same concept: a lightweight door that can be easily rolled across the opening to provide security. They each offer different levels of durability and safety and are suited to different applications:

• Rolling Doors: rolling doors are available in a wide range of materials, from aluminum to stainless steel. They’re excellent for businesses where safety, speed, and durability are needed. They perform well as loading dock doors for retail outlets. 
   
• Grilles: grilles provide security for light retail applications, while also saving on space. Often used for storefronts in shopping malls, they can also provide security for retail parking garages. They can easily be customized to fit any space. 
   
• Shutters: shutters offer industrial-quality security and durability while being easy to operate. They’re used in everything from gift shops and cafeterias down to shopping mall kiosks for security outside of operating hours and even in spaces such as libraries. Shutters are available in wood options too, which gives you an aesthetically pleasing look. 

With all these pedestrian door options available to you, you can easily outfit your retail space with the one that works best for you. All you need to do is determine which type of pedestrian door is best suited to your specific situation. 

Choosing the Right Pedestrian Door for Your Needs

Selecting a pedestrian door for your space comes down to a few different considerations. One significant factor you’ll need to assess is your security needs. While accessibility and functionality should be top priorities, you shouldn’t compromise on security either. A pedestrian door should be able to withstand break-in attempts while also complying with fire and safety codes. If your retail space is in a high-risk area or if you operate during off-hours, you should be looking for a highly durable door that offers compatibility with access control solutions. 

Next, you’ll want to consider the various materials that pedestrian doors are available in. Options include steel, fibreglass, and aluminum, each one having its own pros and cons:

• Steel: offers great durability and weather resistance. It also provides the best security, making it a great choice if that’s a top concern. A high-quality steel door will offer the option of a rust-resistant coating that protects it from the elements, making it a lower maintenance solution.
   
• Aluminum: lightweight and slim for an aesthetically pleasing appearance. It’s highly weather-resistant and requires very little maintenance thanks to the natural barrier against corrosion that aluminum forms when exposed to oxygen and moisture. It offers less security than steel due to its lower durability, making it a good option for low and medium-risk environments. 
   
• Fibreglass: offers great insulation properties and is impervious to rot and rust, making it very low maintenance. It’s perfect for low-risk environments and can be easily customized with other security features to suit a broader range of applications.     

Your pedestrian door creates the first impression visitors will have of your business, so considering style and visual appeal is also important. Whether you want the security and durability of steel, the lightweight, low-maintenance appeal of aluminum doors, or the customizability of fibreglass, Creative Door Services has pedestrian doors that can complement your brand and architecture.

Creative Door Services is Your Guide to Pedestrian Doors

Creative Door Services is Canada’s largest supplier of pedestrian door and hardware solutions for retail spaces. We have been working with retail owners and managers for more than 55 years, providing pedestrian door solutions that have stood the test of time. We carry a range of products from the top manufacturers in the business, offering design, installation, and maintenance services on everything we carry. 

Let Creative Door Services be your guide to choosing and installing the right pedestrian door for your retail space. Find us in Kelowna, British Columbia; Vancouver, British Columbia; Calgary, Alberta; Edmonton, Alberta; Fort McMurray, Alberta; Regina, Saskatchewan; Saskatoon, Saskatchewan; and Winnipeg, Manitoba for a quote.