Which Commercial Roller Shutter or Door is Right for My Business?

Amber Wales
November 27, 2018

With a variety of commercial roller shutters & roller doors on the market, how do you know which is the right one for your business? The differences between them aren’t always easy to spot, so let’s take a closer look...

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:

[icon_list_item icon=”fa-chevron-right” icon_type=”circle” title=”Opt for more profound guides (this means the roller door will sit further inside the guide, giving it a more secure stance).” icon_background_color=”#e85a05″][icon_list_item icon=”fa-chevron-right” icon_type=”circle” title=”Upgrade the internal hub from plastic to steel, providing more strength to your roller door” icon_background_color=”#e85a05″][icon_list_item icon=”fa-chevron-right” icon_type=”circle” title=”Thickness: the continuous sheet thickness varies from .45 mm to .5 mm thickness. The .5 grade curtain can have slots or perforations cut into each slat if you require a ventilated area.” icon_background_color=”#e85a05″][icon_list_item icon=”fa-chevron-right” icon_type=”circle” title=”Slat thickness: Commercial roller shutters are made from galvanized steel and are constructed as individual slats at varying grades of thickness, from .6 mm to 1 mm.” icon_background_color=”#e85a05″][icon_list_item icon=”fa-chevron-right” icon_type=”circle” title=”Materials: Commercial shutters are also available in corrugated slats, Perspex *Clearview slats, perforated and slotted slats. Each option determines which grade of slat you select, as when applying variations to commercial roller shutters, an increase in thickness of steel balances the strength loss.” icon_background_color=”#e85a05″][icon_list_item icon=”fa-chevron-right” icon_type=”circle” title=”Powder coating: Galvanised roller shutters can also be pre-treated and powder coated to help prevent rust accumulating on the roller shutter.” icon_background_color=”#e85a05″]

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.

white commercial roller door — Commercial roller door

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.