High Speed Door Types Explained
This type of door is used in an industrial environment for preserving the integrity of the air in a designated area – either air temperature [warmer or colder] or air quality, say in a clean room environment. These doors can also be referred to as “rapid roll doors”, “rapid rise doors” or “rapid folding doors”.
Typical Specification – High Speed Flexible Door
| Curtain Spec | Strong, durable, flexible curtain made from light-weight material, flammability spec, print. Typically 1 – 3mm thick polyester material. Max surface area (w x h) of 20m2. Options to include modular window sections. |
| Motor Spec | Up to 600 cycles per day, Up to 120 cycles per hour. Opening speed of 1 – 2 m/s. |
| Additional Features | Photocell sensors for automatic opening. Safe closing features. Bottom seal made from rubber or brush. |
Typical Specifications – Insulated Door
| Curtain Spec | Curtain with insulated pockets containing PE Foam for either acoustic insulation or up to 100mm for cold storage. Width – up to 4,000mm Height – Up to 4,500mm Total area – up to 20m2 |
| Motor Spec | Heated components to ensure reliability of door operators. |
| Additional Features | Canopy and surrounds made from stainless steel, plastic or synthetic material for hygienic food environment. |
Typical Specification – High Speed Folding Door
| Curtain Spec | High visibility traffic door for warehousing or external use. Fabric curtain sections raising and folding up into the lintel area. Includes reinforcement cross-beams for stability in windy locations. |
| Motor Spec | Opening / Closing speed: 1 – 2 m/s |
| Additional Features | Options to include modular window sections. |
Features Explained
1. Flexible Curtain
Strong, durable, flexible curtain made from light-weight material
2. Insulated Curtain
Curtain with triple insulated pockets containing 20mm thick PE Foam
3. Reinforced Curtain
Reinforced curtain engineered to withstand and seal even in windy conditions
Drive Motor features to consider
- Availability of 3-phase or single phase electricity at location where you want to install door.
- Number of opening/closing cycles needed to perform per day or per hour.
- Speed / power of motor, single speed versus variable speed inverter driven options.
- Temperature and climatic conditions at area where door is to be installed.
- Over-ride of motor in the event of a power outage e.g. ups battery back up (single-phase applications).
Frame, cladding and rails – features to consider
- Stainless, galvanise or synthetic material canopy.
- Frame / column shape and spec.
- Compact or built-in frame.
- Lintel height.
- Powder coated finish.
- Thickness of cladding material.
- Guide rail – flexible or semi-flexible.
- Depth of curtain recess.
- Wind conditions.
- Drive & shaft cladding.
Entry Controls – features to consider
- Speed and frequency of opening / closing cycles.
- Standard speed V controlled / variable speed settings.
- Opening: Automatic e.g. loop detection, or manual.
- Adjustable hold-open phase or manual close.
- Radar presence detector.
- Counter-balance system V quiet gravity close.
- Operation of door during power outage.
- Temperature control and energy saving.
- Remote control fob.
Safety features to consider
- High visibility of curtain material.
- Flammability of curtain material.
- Emergency opening.
- Photocell detection to ensure safe operation.
- Safety light grilles and safety edges.
- Shaft and operator covers.
- Flashing / warning light.
High Speed Door Applications
Clean Room Special Features
The highest of clinical standards within which clean rooms operate require the following:
- All parts and components must be waterproof and constructed from hygienic material.
- Increased curtain stabilisation to withstand higher air pressure on one side of door compared to the other side.
- Fully sealed door system with minimum leakage.
- Automatic opening and closing for minimum contact with controls.
Food Processing Special Features
High pressure water cleaning as well as chemical cleaning require the following:
- Full waterproof enclosure of motor and operating systems.
- Curtain stabilised by hygienic and durable cross-beams to withstand power-washing.
- Curtain made from durable, hygienic material.
- Door frame, columns, guides and lintel fabricated from stainless steel or powder-coated steel.
Warehousing Special Features
The physical demands of a warehouse require the following special features on a door:
- Specially fitted with robust horizontal stiffener, hinge profiles or steel or aluminium tubes to maintain tension and withstand wind pressure.
- On external openings, the high-speed door may be combined with a sectional door.
- Fold-up design with three or more lifting straps across expanse of curtain.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Why would we need a High Speed automatic door?
- To seal an area for maintaining it’s temperature and save on energy costs.
- To protect a clean area of higher air pressure preventing contamination from “blowing” into it.
- To screen off a warehousing area yet still allow necessary traffic to pass through as required.
- To contain noise, dust, wind or draught from passing from one area to another.
Q2. What type of door is best suited to my environment?
- There are many variables to consider e.g. size of opening, traffic through the door, door environment and so on.
Q3. What are the typical costs of maintaining a high speed door?
- Maintenance costs depend on the amount of usage e.g. no. of opening / closing cycles per day.
- Collisions with doors in a busy area can lead to costs of replacing parts.