Horton Automatics has unveiled the BH Slider, the first sliding door system engineered specifically for behavioral health (BH) environments. The company says the product answers a longstanding industry challenge: providing a single, safety-focused solution that reduces ligature risks, prevents barricading, and supports controlled access without relying on multiple third-party components.
According to Horton Automatics Vice President of Marketing J Elias Campos, the new system fills “a major void in the behavioral health market,” bringing together anti-ligature design, emergency egress capabilities, and access control in a single integrated platform.
Built for Safety and Clinical Demands
Developed in partnership with healthcare architects and facility personnel, the BH Slider addresses five core safety needs in BH environments: preventing patient self-harm, preventing harm to staff, eliminating opportunities for patients to barricade themselves inside a room, avoiding weaponization of door parts, and reducing the risk of IV line entanglement.
The BH Slider offers both manual self-closing operation and a low-energy automatic option using Horton’s 2000B header. It can also interface with building management and patient monitoring systems, supporting facility-wide safety protocols.
Key features include:
- Anti-ligature construction with no pinch points or exposed fasteners
- Emergency access through flush hardware and override functions
- Compliance with UL 1784, UL 325, ADA, FGI and Joint Commission standards
- Configurations up to 9’ x 8’, including smoke-rated options
- A full range of commercial finishes designed to support therapeutic environments
Meeting a Growing Market Need
Demand for behavioral health infrastructure continues to rise, with more than 100 new U.S. facilities opening annually. Historically, most BH environments have relied on swing doors due to safety concerns. Horton’s BH Slider introduces a new category, offering architects and facility planners an alternative that can improve workflow, patient privacy, and corridor space efficiency.
The BH Slider is now available for specification through iSpecifyIt® and for order via EQ. Horton provides technical documentation, architectural files, and sales support through its website and customer service channels.
Horton Automatics is part of Horton Pedestrian Access Solutions, a division of Overhead Door Corporation, serving North America through multiple manufacturing sites, service locations, and more than 200 distribution partners. Overhead Door Corporation supports a wide range of residential, commercial, and institutional markets through its network of more than 6,000 professional partners.
