A complete guide to roller shutters | SSS Industrial Doors

your site. By rolling down to the ground or across at large entry points, roller shutters can also act as barriers for any open points, like for bars and receptions, and are perfect for adding another layer of security to windows.  

What are the benefits of roller shutters?

Robust security

Their primary function is to protect premises from being burgled thanks to their supremely hard-wearing materials and locking-down operation. Roller shutters give your premises more privacy to keep prying eyes off your valuables and assets. This significantly reduces the risk of your building, home or business being a target if burglars can’t see what’s inside and that you’ve got robust security measures in place.

Damage and vandalism control

You can protect your windows and doors from any damage with roller shutters, especially if you have a shop on the main street in town where people often get drunk and unruly at night. Vandalism is also not a worry when your exterior is fully protected. 

Weather-resistant

For unexpected storms or harsh weather, roller shutters protect your glass windows and doors from any impact. Made from galvanised steel and fully insulated, roller shutters are weather-resistant, built for longevity, and provide top quality protection and security.

Fire safety

Fire shutters are roller shutters that are certified for the use of helping to contain and stop the spread of a fire. There are different levels of fire ratings that are measured by the number of minutes they can provide fire protection for in the event of a fire. To learn more, check out our complete guide to fire shutters.

Environmentally friendly

With insulated roller shutters, you can help regulate your building’s temperature and prevent hot air escaping and cold air penetrating, which all helps with your energy and heating bills. Not only that, they help with filtering out light if you need a window covered up full or partly.

Noise reduction

You can keep noise levels down from outside interference as well as keep your own building’s noise level retained indoors to not disturb neighbours. If you are based in the city or where there is a lot of noise pollution, roller shutters are extremely effective for this. 

Totally tailored

Whatever building type you need to protect, there’s a roller shutter to help, and they come in different styles and colours to suit your aesthetic. If you don’t want the fully opaque kind, there are punched and vision shutters. If you need a bit of vibrancy or a shutter to match the exterior’s colour palette, you can get them powder-coated in a range of colours. Hoods, fascias, aluminium guides, rubber seals, different locks and insulated options, roller shutters can be completely tailored.

 

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Reducing insurance premiums

Insurance companies love when you can show how you’re reducing risk when it comes to the security of your property, and roller shutters are indeed a risk-reducing asset. By reducing the risk level of your property – whether it’s a commercial or domestic one – you are less likely to make a claim in the future, which means you can pay less for your insurance premium. 

How does a roller shutter work?

First of all, there are two main types of roller shutters: manual and electrical. For manual shutters, these are operated by hand to pull down and shut. The shutter is then locked into place. With electrical shutters, these are operated by a remote control. 

 

For vertically closing shutters, at the top, there are fixing plates, angles and a roller assembly that keep the shutter curtain rolled up when open. Upon activation to close, the remote control activates the motor at the top of the door. The shutter is rolled around the roller assembly, and then down following guide channels (the posts on either side), before it locks into place with the bottom rail and integrated locking system. 

 

In the event of a motor malfunction or failure, an anti-fall safety brake prevents the shutter from dropping down so vehicles and pedestrians can still gain access or leave, and to prevent any harm. 

The law around roller shutters

When installing machinery onto premises or workplaces, you have an obligation to maintain the health and safety of all who occupies the building and for the public, as covered by The Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. It’s also a legal requirement by The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 that “The workplace and the equipment, devices and systems to which this regulation applies shall be maintained (including cleaned as appropriate) in an efficient state, in efficient working order and in good repair […] Where appropriate, the equipment, devices and systems to which this regulation applies shall be subject to a suitable system of maintenance.” 

 

PUWER (Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998) requires that equipment provided for use at work is “safe for use, maintained in a safe condition and inspected to ensure it is correctly installed and does not subsequently deteriorate.” 

 

Since Brexit, products placed on the UK and EU markets that were previously subject to CE marking now need UKCA marking, so make sure you understand the transition and rules around placing work equipment and machinery on the market after Brexit. 

 

Keeping on top of roller shutter maintenance can be no bother with a maintenance and service contract with SSS Industrial Doors; we ensure you comply with legislation and know exactly what to look out for to provide a safe and secure environment for you. Get in touch today for more information about our 24-hour call-out service too, or call us on 01204 853243.

The different types of roller shutters

Roller shutters come in a variety of types, and it all depends on your application, style and budget. For domestic use, manual roller shutters are popular. For commercial use, electrical shutters are very efficient, and there’s quite the range available. From insulated and punched to shop front and industrial, roller shutters work for all kinds of buildings and weather. Many come with optional extras (like insulation, punched or perforated laths) with different powder-coated finishes and can operate by tubular motor, chain, direct drive or hand. 

 

Roller shutter type	Specs	Applications
Agricultural shutters	Custom-made Can be ventilated for safety of livestock Weather-resistant Electrical or manual Galvanised steel Anti-fall safety brake	Heavy duty Grain doors Livestock barn doors Farm workshop
Bar shutters	Smaller box housing Aluminium Solid or punched Manual or electrical	Kiosks Bars Servery Reception desks
Car park shutters	Custom-made Steel Electrical Anti-fall safety brake	Private or commercial car parks
Office shutters	Aluminium Indoor or outdoor use Solid or punched Manual or electrical Anti-fall safety brake	Garages Backyards/gardens Office windows and doors Domestic windows and doors
Industrial roller shutters	Galvanised steel Anti-fall safety brake Punched or solid	Warehouses Factories Storage facilities Business and commercial
Manual roller shutters	Galvanised steel Manual push-up with spring use or hand chain operation	Domestic Garages Small businesses
Punched and vision shutters	Aluminium Punched or perforated Solid lath as an intersection if required Manual or electrical	Commercial and retail Canteens Bars Servery
School roller shutters	Aluminium Solid or punched Electrical or manual Anti-fall safety brake	Educational premises
Shop front roller shutters	Aluminium Solid or punched Anti-fall safety brake Manual or electrical	Retail and commercial

 

Maintenance of roller shutters

As mentioned in the law around roller shutters, if you have machinery on your premises, you have a legal duty to make sure it’s in a safe, working order. This means regular checks, cleaning and maintenance to spot any faults early on. All components should be free from dirt and debris, and should be oiled regularly to make sure they operate smoothly. To abide by the legislation and to ensure safety for workers and the public, you need to make sure you are always on top of maintenance of your roller shutters and keep our guide to roller shutter maintenance bookmarked.

FAQs

How long does it take to install a roller shutter?

Anywhere from 1 hour to a few days, depending on the size and specification requested and the site situation. For example, are we also removing an old door?

What head room do I need for the roller shutter?

Depending on the door height and lath, usual requirements are a minimum of 205mm up to 700mm.

What if the floor is not level?

We are able to fit a compensating bottom rail so this will not be an issue.

What happens if there is a fault or I need an urgent repair?

Most of our intelligent digital panels will display fault codes for instant diagnosis, otherwise give our office team a call, and they will arrange a call-out from one of our skilled and certified engineers.

How can I check if my roller shutter is compliant with legislation? 

To be fully compliant, all roller shutters should be fully CE/UKCA marked and certified.

Do roller shutters still need to be CE marked?

To enable export into the EU, roller shutters must be CE marked. To allow them for sale on the UK market, they must be UKCA marked.

Can they come in any colour?

Roller shutters can be powder-coated in a variety of colours.

How do I know which type of roller shutter to get?

Give our office a call for expert advice from our experienced team.

Can roller shutters protect against fire?

Roller shutters can help protect against fire, only if they are certified with a fire rating. Fire ratings are measured by how long a shutter can contain a fire for. Learn more about how they work on our fire shutters page.

Have a question not answered here? Fire it over to our friendly, knowledgeable team at SSS Industrial Doors. We have years of experience in providing top-of-the-range and compliant roller shutters for all kinds of complex buildings. Contact us today or call 01204 853243.