In construction projects, handover is often treated as the finish line. Documents are signed, keys are passed, and teams move on to the next site. An Automatic door is usually expected to keep working quietly once this moment arrives—as if its job is done the day the project ends.
As a project manager, I know that handover is not the end of a building’s life. It is the beginning of real use. And this is when assumptions about doors are most often tested.
Handover Marks a Shift in Responsibility
Before handover, every issue has an owner. After handover, responsibility becomes fragmented. Operations teams take over, contractors step back, and warranties replace daily oversight.
When an Automatic door begins to behave inconsistently, the first question is rarely how to fix it. The first question is who is responsible.
Real Usage Starts After the Paperwork
During construction, doors are tested under controlled conditions. After opening, they face real traffic—crowds, weather, varying behavior, and constant repetition.
Many issues do not appear during commissioning. They emerge weeks or months later, once usage patterns stabilize and stress accumulates.
Why Post-Handover Problems Feel Unfair
From the client’s perspective, a problem after handover feels like a failure. From the contractor’s perspective, the system met requirements at delivery.
An Automatic door often sits in the middle of this tension—technically functional, yet operationally frustrating.
Assumptions Are the Hidden Risk
Many door selections are made with the assumption that “it’s standard” or “it’s been used before.” These assumptions reduce discussion but increase long-term risk.
When real conditions differ from expectations, those early assumptions become costly to revisit.
Callbacks Are More Than Inconvenient
Post-handover callbacks strain relationships. They consume time, create frustration, and blur the line between defect and design choice.
An Automatic door that triggers repeated callbacks reflects not just a technical issue, but a decision that did not fully consider long-term use.
Operations See Problems Differently Than Builders
Builders focus on completion. Operations teams focus on continuity. What passes inspection may still disrupt daily routines.
An Automatic door that technically works but behaves inconsistently creates friction that operations teams must absorb.
Design Decisions Echo After Teams Leave
Once a project team moves on, the building continues to speak for them. Doors, corridors, and systems reveal whether decisions were made for delivery—or for longevity.
An Automatic door that ages well protects the project’s reputation long after the last meeting ends.
Why “Standard” Rarely Means Suitable
Standard solutions are appealing under schedule pressure. They simplify procurement and reduce discussion.
But buildings are rarely standard in use. An Automatic door chosen without considering real behavior often becomes the first system questioned after handover.
A Smooth Handover Includes the Unnoticed
Successful handovers are remembered by what does not happen. No urgent calls. No repeated complaints. No unexpected workarounds.
An Automatic door that fades into daily operation contributes more to a smooth transition than any checklist item.
The Door That Outlives the Project Team
From a project manager’s perspective, the best Automatic door is one that continues to perform long after everyone involved has moved on.
When a door works quietly year after year, it proves that the project was not just delivered—but delivered with foresight. That is the difference between finishing a project and building something that truly lasts.