How to Choose Your Commercial Door: a Must-read Guide
With a vast variety of commercial roller shutters and roller doors on the market, and styles and specifications for almost any application, how do you know which is the right shutter for your business? The differences are not always easy to spot, so let’s go through some of the key differences now.
STEP 1: Roller Door vs. Roller Shutter
The first hurdle is knowing the difference between a roller door and a roller shutter because, it is hard to spot the difference.
Roller doors are made up of corrugated steel sheets made to complete a full curtain. This curtain is attached to the barrel (drum) and forms the roller door. The drum usually has torsion springs running through it internally, which are fixed to the main shaft of the roller door. At each end are hubs that keep the form of the roller door as it opens and closes. These run through guides fixed to either side and are installed to a steel or concrete angle.
Options
Depending on the type of door you choose, you can:
Now we have the basics sorted, there are more options to ensure you choose the right door for your needs.
Industrial/commercial roller door
Commercial/Industrial Roller Doors
Commercial or industrial roller doors are similar to their residential counterparts. However, we usually install a thicker grade of guide. (As the door is larger, it sits further in the guide, creating a more secure operation). As commercial doors usually have high cycle usage, this option is beneficial. You can also opt for increased steel thickness. Typically, a residential roller door is around .45 to .46 mm but could go as high as .50 mm.
Roller doors can also be strengthened with the provision of steel braces every 2/4th indent and upgraded wind locks. This ensures an even more secure grasp in the guides.
You can operate roller doors via motor or hand chain/planetary gearing. This is best assessed against the size. While the service component ensures that your door runs safely and efficiently, a larger door would be suitable for automation due to operation function.
The downside
A maximum size of 5.5 m high and wide is usual for an industrial roller door. Suppose your door is impacted, or the springs fail on this door. Then, you’ll have to replace the entire door, rather than just the area affected. So while they may initially look more cost-effective, if you need a repair, it’s likely you’ll need to replace it entirely.
Commercial roller shutter with slats
Commercial roller shutters
Roller shutters are made from varying grades. These grades usually range from .6 mm to 1 mm, in 90 or 100 mm slats. Shutters provide strength over a larger area than roller doors. This is because they’re made on individual interlocking slats. And, they are installed with nylon windlocks every second slat. Usually, guides are made of a minimum of 100 mm. You can fix or weld them to the angle at the top of the shutter. You can also operate roller shutters manually to a specific size. After that, they require single or 3-phase operators. Suppose you have an incident with your shutter. You can easily replace the effected slats alone. Replacement negates the need for a full replacement.
Perforated industrial roller shutter
Another benefit of shutters is customisation. They can be perforated to allow ventilation and can have slots pre-cut into the steel curtain for up to 30% ventilation (commonly used in car parks). They can be made from transparent or tinted perspex, allowing visual access (these usually installed on shopfronts inside of shopping centres).
The Downside
Shutters are a solution that suits most commercial building needs. But they do cost more due to the necessary time for correct installation and the higher-grade material used.
With so many options available for your industrial door, take time to speak with a professional, experienced door company like Guardian Doors. Reputable door companies will have a portfolio of their installations which you can view. This way, you’re guaranteed to get the result and product that your business needs.
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Need a commercial door? Call Guardian Doors: 9408 1602