If you run an industrial facility, be it a factory, a warehouse or a processing plant; security will be at the top of your concern. Your facility will require constant access from streams of people as well as vehicles, and be able to be completely locked down at night. The doors used must be secure industrial doors which come in a variety of shapes and sizes as well as types.
Industrial doors in London come in three main types. These are roller shutters, overhead doors and compact doors. There are other types as well, but these three are the main ones. Each comes with their own advantages and disadvantages, but before you decide on which one is best for you, you need to know a little bit more about them. Here’s a guide.
Roller shutter
This is the most common type of industrial door and is used widely even in non-industrial facilities. They operate vertically, in a plane, and can be both electric and manual. They can be fitted easily to doors for the factory floor, large garage doors and on the windows. They are lightweight, relatively cheap, and easy to install. What’s more they provide plenty of security.
Overhead doors
These doors are similar to roller shutters in that they operate vertically. However, unlike roller shutters, these are constructed of large panels which can allow you to add window panes to the shutter. When you slide these up, unlike roller shutters which fold into a box; these fold horizontally then are secured across the ceiling. This is by far the most popular industrial door used in industrial settings (unlike roller shutter which are used in both industrial and residential settings). These doors provide far better insulation than roller shutters due to the much larger panels and can also have a hinged door in the middle which is folded up. This allows them to be used for pedestrian access when the shutter is down then be lifted to grant access to vehicles.
The disadvantage of these doors is that they are difficult to install. For instance, the rail system has to be adjusted to all different kinds of specifications requiring complex welding and screwing. These doors also need a heavy counterbalancing spring which ultimately adds to the cost.
Compact door
Also known as a folding door, these are similar to overhead doors in many ways. However, the main difference is that instead of sliding horizontally across the ceilings, these doors fold up in a concertina pattern. Because they are made of large panels, they have all the advantages of an overhead door in terms of insulation and the ability to add features such as windows. However, they are much easier to install and use and don’t require expensive counterbalances.
BIS Door Systems Ltd installs the high quality industrial and commercial security doors available in the UK including industrial doors in London. Get in touch with them!