High speed doors form an essential part of many factories and warehouses, across a wide range of industries, each one with varying requirements. Not only do high speed doors help maintain a safe and efficient flow of traffic, they also help with factors such as temperature and condition control, and cut the risk of pest infestations. Because of this, it’s essential that you keep your doors in top
1. Damage
Particularly in busy factories when heavy machinery is in use and vehicles such as forklift trucks are coming and going, collisions with high speed doors are all too common. Not only can these collisions cause a health and safety nightmare, but they can also bring operations in factories and warehouses to a halt if the doorway in question is essential to the running of the business.
If collisions are happening frequently, it raises a bigger issue of whether timings for the high speed door are correct, or at their most efficient. High speed doors are usually opened and closed on timers, as they can remain open for the duration of a task or for specific periods of time. Or, if there are hygiene or temperature controls within a room, the open period may be shorter in order to reduce any risk to the product integrity.
If the timer is relatively short, and the door opens frequently, then the chance of a collision may be higher. The type of vehicle in operation around the door may also impact the chances of damage occurring, i.e., forklifts can cause high levels of damage even with small impacts due to their speed and weight.
2. Long waits for parts
Given the complexity of the inner workings of high speed doors, waiting for replacement parts to be delivered can be lengthy, and then there’s often the need for a specialist engineer to do the replacing. If the component you need has a long lead time, then you may be waiting weeks or months for your door to be working again, which could have a devastating impact on business operations. One way to reduce this risk is to conduct frequent servicing and health checks, which we’ll touch on more later.
3. Poor quality components
High speed doors are complex machines, and depending on their location, they can be used very frequently. As you can imagine, there are a lot of working parts involved with getting a high speed door to run at maximum efficiency, and cutting corners when it comes to the quality of the parts involved can lead to issues down the line. As an example, a cheap motor is likely to burn out quicker than a higher quality one that costs a little more. Using high-quality parts is especially important if the door is frequently used, or will be exposed to extreme temperatures or intense weather conditions.
4. Infrequent servicing
Just like any machine, high speed doors require regular and thorough servicing, especially given the complexity of their inner workings. Expert planned maintenance – as opposed to just reactive maintenance – is needed to keep all mechanisms and (possibly most importantly) safety features in top working condition.
5. Incorrect automation
As high speed doors will be programmed to open and close at certain points, or as a vehicle approaches it, the automation systems in place need to be working at all times, so as not to disrupt the flow of traffic. If these automation systems aren’t kept in optimum condition, then this poses a risk to not only the operations of the business, but the health and safety of those working in the area.
6. Poor wind resistance
Depending on where your high speed door is installed, it can be subjected to a lot of strong wind draughts and air pressure, both internally and externally. If this need for wind resistance is not specified before installation, then issues can arise such as misaligned or damaged mechanisms, which may cause the doors not to open and close.
In order to ensure that operations aren’t impacted, and to mitigate health and safety issues, it’s important to discuss wind resistance requirements before installation. High speed door products such as Rapidor feature integrated wind bars, helping them resist strong winds and keep your business secure.
7. Cleaning routines
Some factories and environments that require high speed doors may be subject to strict hygiene measures or cleaning routines, which can interfere with the electrical components if not properly protected. Due to the intricacy of the design, some parts may not be able to be cleaned, which could lead to a build-up of dirt and dust.
It’s also essential that your high speed door of choice suits the hygiene or containment levels that you need. For example, if you work in food storage, your door will not only need to ensure the correct temperature, but also be sealed properly to keep out pests.
Ready to get started? Get in touch with SSS Industrial Doors today to order the perfect industrial doors for your business.
