Opening The Door To Better Energy Performance Under New Building Standards

As the next phase of the Future Homes and Buildings Standards approaches, TORMAX is urging architects, specifiers and building owners to consider the contribution entrance systems can make to the energy performance of commercial buildings.

Amendments to England’s Building Regulations put energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions firmly at the centre of building design. Published in March 2026, the changes supporting the Future Homes and Buildings Standards include a revised Approved Document L for buildings other than dwellings, due to come into effect from 24 March 2027 for relevant non-higher-risk building work.

While the regulations do not specifically require energy-efficient automatic doors, the direction of travel is clear: building performance is increasingly considered as a whole, with designers and building owners paying closer attention to how individual elements contribute to energy use and carbon emissions.

“As the industry prepares for the next stage of the Building Regulations, it’s worth looking beyond the major building systems and considering the performance of elements that interact with them,” says Simon Roberts, MD at TORMAX UK. “The way an entrance is designed, controlled and operated can have a bearing on how effectively the building maintains its internal environment.”

In high-footfall buildings such as shopping centres, supermarkets, offices, hotels and public buildings, entrances can be in constant use throughout the day. Every opening provides a route between the conditioned internal environment and the external conditions. For architects and specifiers, this means considering more than appearance and basic operation of an entrance. Door configuration, traffic levels, control systems and how people move through a building can all influence entrance performance.

“With over 60 years’ experience designing and delivering automatic entrance systems, TORMAX can advise on the most appropriate door configuration and design for each application,” continues Roberts. “Our range includes sliding, revolving, swing and folding door systems, with our in-house designed iMotion door drives providing dynamic door movement that can easily be controlled to minimise energy consumption.”

“Entrances are the interface between a building and its environment. Giving them appropriate consideration in the design process can form part of a more joined-up approach to building performance.” www.tormax.co.uk