New generation DORMA low energy operators for Surrey Respite Centre

A new Respite Accommodation Centre, being built by Surrey County Council for children with disabilities, is one of the first projects in the country to incorporate the groundbreaking new DORMA ED100 low energy swing door operator.

The new Centre at Tadworth is set to open in February 2010 and to ensure safe and easy access throughout the building, 16 ED100 operators have been fitted to the bedrooms, bathroom and to a disabled visitors toilet. Three single DORMA ED200 operators and three pairs of ED200 operators are also being installed at the new Centre.

Ian Irvine of contractors Hilife Construction comments: “In this type of setting it is obviously crucial that we meet the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act and the new DORMA ED100 low energy swing door operator is the ideal solution. It functions as a conventional manual swing door, until overridden by the low energy operating unit, which enables the door to be opened under power when assistance is required. We have fitted push pads to all of the bedroom doors to activate the units”.

The new ED100 drive unit is an electromechanical system consisting of a powerful DC motor and multi-stage high-performance gear, which is so quiet in operation it is barely audible – an important factor for the bedroom doors. The new operators are the most powerful DORMA has ever manufactured, even though they are smaller than previous generation products – and a key feature is that the unit utilises DORMA’s unique cam-action closer design.

This linear drive mechanism and heart shaped cam mean that when the door is opened manually the opening force falls away rapidly after the first few degrees, resulting in little resistance throughout the opening cycle. This technology is an innovation for swing door operators, as the cam allows a single system to be used on both push and pull applications without any drop in performance. As a result the DORMA ED 100 is suitable for 60 minute fire rated doors for both push and pull applications.


The ED 100 is an attractive unit too, being CONTUR design styled and with an elevation height of only 70 mm. The ratio between the low elevation height and the length of the operator perfectly supports the design, so that the operator looks like an integral part of the door and results in an unobtrusive yet distinctive design to suit any environment.

The new Children’s Respite Centre at Tadworth is a single storey building arranged in three inward looking wings. It has a central courtyard, a special play area and incorporates features that enable it to achieve a BREEAM rating of ”Very Good” including on site generation of renewable energy through solar panels.

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