High-speed doors (also rapid action doors and industrial doors) are electrical entryway systems designed for faster, easier, and safer access to and from a private space.
An evolved, enhanced, and energy-efficient version of the traditional door, high-speed doors offer an elevated level of speed, security, and sustainability to a home or a business, with a minimized risk of malfunction.
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Types of High-speed Doors: According to the Opening
Roll Up High-Speed Doors
Roll-up high-speed doors consist of slim, horizontal slats that give the door flexibility as it opens and shuts. On opening, roll-up doors rise and wrap around a cylinder hidden within the ceiling area above, concealing it from sight.
High-speed roll-up doors are often steel – ideal for industrial settings, as they offer robust security and increased fire resistance. They are also suitable for spaces with controlled airflow, such as storage premises.
Stacking High-Speed Doors
Stacking high-speed doors are constructed from multiple panels and operate using a track system.
Like a deck of cards, when the door opens, each panel moves and stores itself behind the one in front 一 until all are collected and stored at the end of the circuit until the door is closed.
Stacking doors are an optimum option for homes, as they maximize a view and can seamlessly merge indoor and outdoor areas while saving storage space. They are also customizable to adapt to corners and cavities and are available frameless.
Self-Repairing High-Speed Doors
Self-repairing high-speed doors repair themselves in the event of an impact.
If a self-repairing door becomes damaged or dislodged, the internal mechanism resets or reinserts the affected area, enabling the door to continue functioning effectively 一 minimizing maintenance and downtime.
This type of door is perfect for the hustle and bustle of high-traffic environments where hits and bumps frequently occur, such as busy factories and transport companies.
Horizontal High-Speed Doors
Horizontal high-speed doors are similar to other high-speed doors but open sideways instead of upwards, with the door panels sliding into the walls.
Horizontal high-speed doors are an excellent addition to any area with limited headroom. They are also valuable anywhere if extra speedy access, cleanliness, or temperature control is of central importance (such as shopping malls, hospitals, or laboratories).
Types of High-speed Doors: According to Materials
Fabric High-Speed Doors
Lightweight and resilient fabric high-speed doors are the optimum option for those seeking an affordable, no-frills door with minimal maintenance.
Made with a plastic-based material, fabric high-speed doors are easy to operate and repair, weather-resistant, and wipe clean.
Available insulated fabric doors can minimize moderate noise levels. Their easy-clean design makes them well-suited to wet and clinical environments.
Metal High-Speed Doors
Made from aluminium or steel, metal high-speed doors offer robust safety and durability 一 an ideal choice for external spaces and those where security is a high priority (such as banks and jeweller shops).
Although forged from denser material, metal high-speed doors can still offer top opening speeds 一 with some more expensive models operating at an impressive 80 inches per second.
Their springless design makes metal high-speed door designs extra reliable, resilient, and easy to repair.
Rubber High-Speed Doors
Weatherproof and resistant to wear and tear, rubber high-speed doors offer an eco-friendly and energy-efficient choice for commercial environments.
Their sturdy construction is produced from a petrochemical rubber curtain reinforced with a polyester weave 一 making them perfect within a heavy-duty, hygiene-conscious setting such as a food preparation factory.
Rubber also works as a natural insulator and assists in temperature and airflow control 一 making rubber high-speed doors ideal in settings such as cold storage and operating theatres.
Types of High-speed Doors: According to Applications
High-Speed Clean Room Doors
A high standard exists for hygiene and humidity conditions in the medical, pharmaceutical, chemical, and food and beverage sectors to operate.
High-speed clean room doors enable these industries to enhance control over their environments and minimize the risk of cross-contamination and deterioration of their products.
Acting as a sealant to a controlled space, they limit exposure time to dirt, drafts, debris, and other unwanted pollutants or changes 一 preserving an optimum balance of conditions for longer.
High-Speed Loading Dock Doors
High-speed loading dock doors (or dock delivery doors) operate within the transport and logistics sectors in airports, railways, naval ports, and warehouses.
They assist in separating areas of a multi-functional space, help to maintain optimum air, cleanliness, and timing control, and enable a high volume of staff, customers, and transportation to enter and leave an area quickly and safely.
There are three forms of loading dock doors: sectional dock doors (for secure and customizable enclosure), swinging dock doors (for maximum opening width), and the more common commercial roll-up doors.
High-Speed Freezer Doors
High-speed freezer and cool-room doors are needed whenever there is a need for cold storage. As such they exist across numerous sectors, including food and beverage, hospitality, medical, pharmaceutical, and chemical.
High-speed freezer and cool-room doors maintain a low temperature in a space to preserve biodegradable products or substances as efficiently as possible. They also work as a sealant to prevent cross-contamination against bacteria, pests, and anything else that could compromise its quality.
High-Speed Parking Garage Doors
As their name suggests, high-speed parking garage doors operate in parking garages – plus other places owned vehicles can be found, such as car washes, auto dealerships, car manufacturing plants, and apartment buildings.
They facilitate the fast, secure movement, processing, and storage of cars, whether for production, professional, or personal purposes. Opening and closing far faster than a standard roller door, they also help to protect vehicles from harsh climactic conditions.
Things to Consider Before Purchasing High-Speed Doors
Budget
If you have decided that your space could benefit from a high-speed door, the first step should be determining your budget.
The price of high-speed doors varies considerably depending on factors such as the style, size, material, and opening speed – so maximize the benefits of your purchase, deciding on the essential elements for your high-speed door about its purpose and environment.
Size
Measure the interior or exterior space carefully to ensure your new door will fit your space. Three size aspects are relevant:
Speed
The precise speed of a particular door will vary according to factors such as style, the material used, opening size, and activation method.
On average, a high-speed door takes just 3 seconds to fully open 一 with some premium models opening in as little as 1.7 seconds.
As the chief selling point, opening speed highly influences the cost of a high-speed door. Expect to pay more for your chosen door the faster you want the opening to be.
Measure the interior or exterior space carefully to ensure your new door will fit your space. Three size aspects are relevant:
- Structural Opening Size: The size of the walls just before the door fitting;
- Frame Size: The size of the frame accommodating the high-speed door and
- Cleared Opening Size: This is the size of the clear entryway when the door is fitted and open.
To determine the structural opening size needed, you can add the measurements of the clear opening size + frame size + space allowed for fixtures and fittings.
Safety Features
Emergencies and unexpected events can occur 一 so considering safety features is crucial.
High-speed doors have several safety features available as a standard or optional addition. These include:
- Emergency Stop Button: Immediately halts door movement;
- Motion Sensors: Detect movement within the door clearance area;
- Light Curtain: enhanced motion detection via a network of beams;
- Automatic Reverse: The door rewinds if it encounters a person or object;
- Photocells: Detect unfamiliar sources of light nearby
- Vision Panels: Can be added to the door to improve visibility.
Customization
Almost all high-speed doors come with the choice to customize your door to specific personal or professional requirements.
There is a choice of size, finish, material, color/pattern, and trigger method with many models, and add-ons such as extra safety features and insulation are also widely available.
Customization, however, drives up the cost — so factor this into your budget.
Maintenance/Aftercare
High-speed doors are typically robust and resilient, requiring minimal maintenance, and are easy to repair.
Further, reduce the risk of your door breaking down with three steps:
- Professional Installation: Ensure a reliable and experienced professional who is aware of industry guidelines installs your door;
- Regular Servicing: A routine servicing once a year helps to find and fix minor issues, preventing further problems
- Maintenance: Annual sensor calibration, occasional cleaning, and lubrication of your door’s moving parts every six months can go a long way
Conclusion
High-speed doors can elevate efficiency, escalate safety, and enhance environmental stability – whether for a workplace, warehouse, or home.
As the international market for high-speed doors continues to increase across innumerable industries, their systems will evolve into ever more sophisticated and streamlined solutions for the commercial and personal needs of an ever-expanding and efficient contemporary society.