What are high speed doors? A complete guide - SSS Industrial Doors

High speed doors, also known as high speed roller shutter doors, are a type of industrial door that’s designed to operate at much faster opening and closing speeds than traditional roller shutters. In addition to providing higher operating speeds, these doors are designed to sustain a higher number of opening and closing cycles, improve sealing and better regulate the internal environment.

High speed doors are usually made from lightweight yet durable PVC, which allows them to operate quickly and smoothly without compromising on security. Many high speed doors roll upwards into an overhead canopy like traditional roller shutters, but you can also find high speed doors that fold or slide upwards at rapid speeds. 

High speed door features

Although there are many different types of high speed roller shutter doors, there are some common features to look out for, including:

• Operating speeds of between 1 and 2 metres per second.
• Rolling, folding or sliding mechanism, with the door moving along metal guides into an overhead canopy.
• Strengthened drivetrain.
• Lightweight PVC curtain for speed and energy efficiency, or a thin steel curtain for added insulation and security. 
• Industrial 3-phase power motor.
• Safety features such as safety edging, photoelectric sensors and self-repair (for the door to reset itself into the guides).
• Optional: windows for added visibility.

What are high speed roller shutter doors used for?

High speed doors are used in any industrial or commercial environment where fast operating speeds are essential. This could be in high-traffic areas or in areas where temperature and pollution control is vital, such as in food processing and pharmaceutical environments. 

All businesses need doors to improve security and aid the flow of personnel, but you may need a high speed door if efficiency is one of your key requirements. These doors are able to secure the premises (such as a warehouse or loading bay) without restricting the movement of staff and vehicles in and out of the building.

In addition to efficiency and temperature control, many high speed doors are excellent at boosting security – especially if they are made of light steel instead of PVC (or reinforced with steel rods). High speed roller doors can swiftly open and close to allow the movement of staff while shutting out intruders, making them ideal for use in banks, car parks, hospitals and fire stations.

Types of high speed doors

As mentioned previously, there are multiple varieties of high speed doors. Many high speed doors have a roller shutter mechanism, but you can also find sliding and folding high speed doors. Plus, although most high speed doors are constructed from lightweight PVC to ensure speed and energy efficiency, you can also get steel high speed doors if security is one of your main priorities – these doors are fantastic as external doors.

Here at SSS Industrial Doors, you can find the perfect high speed roller shutter door for your business. Whether you’re looking for a lightweight, high speed door for internal use or a reinforced high speed door for external use and insulation, we’ve got you covered. Take a look at some of our most popular high speed door products below:

Rapidor

If you’re looking for the fastest door speeds possible, look no further than our Rapidor doors. Rapidor can open at speeds of up to 2 metres per second and then auto close, allowing you to maintain the fast flow of traffic, reduce operational delays, regulate internal environments and keep opportunistic intruders out. These incredible speeds are made possible by Rapidor’s lightweight and specially designed 3mm PVC curtain, which includes a window to improve vision and transparency between different sections of the building.

Rapidor is also low maintenance and durable, helping it withstand the pressure of many opening and closing cycles per day. For all of the reasons listed above, Rapidor is the ideal internal door for commercial and industrial applications, as it will allow easy movement within the building, maintain the temperature of climate-controlled rooms and keep pests and dust out of carefully regulated environments. This makes Rapidor perfect for internal use in food processing units and labs, which need to be kept clean, at a controlled temperature and restricted to authorised personnel. However, thanks to its integrated wind bars, Rapidor can also be suitable for external use.

Rapidor high speed doors are installed by our experienced team. As they’re fully manufactured in the UK, these doors have short lead times and are guaranteed to offer the highest industry standards. Contact us today for more information on our Rapidor products and for help finding the perfect industrial door for you.

High speed insulated roller shutters

For excellent speeds combined with robust security, you need high speed insulated roller shutters. Although lightweight PVC roller shutters are great for internal use, you need the strength of insulated shutters’ foam-injected lath to add extra security to your external doors while still maintaining rapid speeds. 

In addition to strengthening your high speed door, these foam-injected laths will insulate your building to offer superior temperature control. Plus, the double guide brush seal will improve sealing and block out draughts. With energy prices still at record levels, improving insulation and sealing in your industrial or commercial building is a great way to reduce your energy consumption and lower your bills. 

Here at SSS, our high speed insulated roller shutters are powered by a GFA inverter drive system and smart TS971 control panel for faster operation. Get in touch to learn more about how these doors can improve traffic flow and temperature regulation without reducing security.

Benefits of high speed roller doors

We’ve already discussed why high speed doors are useful in industrial and commercial applications, but let’s touch on the many advantages of high speed doors in more detail below:

1. Security

Although these rapid roll doors are often lightweight, this doesn’t mean that they’re not suited for high-security applications. High speed doors are very strong and durable because they need to withstand a large number of rapid opening and closing cycles throughout the day, helping them resist forced entry. In addition, their rapid speeds mean that it’s much less likely for opportunistic criminals to slip into the building after a member of staff.

2. Efficiency

An obvious benefit of high speed doors is that they aid the flow of traffic by allowing staff to enter and leave rooms much more quickly. This will reduce delays and wait times, leading to lowered costs for your business. Therefore, high speed doors are an essential investment for buildings that experience a lot of traffic and movement between different rooms, such as busy warehouses and loading bays. 

3. Temperature control

Since these doors open and close so quickly, they’re fantastic at keeping temperatures consistent in different areas. The doors will only be open for a few seconds at a time, which means that hot or cold air is less likely to escape. Not only can this help maintain a comfortable environment for employees (especially in winter when heating is needed), but it can also provide vital temperature control in temperature-sensitive environments, such as pharmaceutical labs and food processing units.

4. Reduced pollution

In some industrial environments, it’s vital that noise and odour pollution isn’t spread between rooms or let out into the outside world. High speed doors can prevent the spread of pollution by opening and closing rapidly, keeping noises and odours inside.

5. Reduced contamination

As well as preventing pollution from escaping the building, high speed doors will prevent the ingress of dust, debris and vermin by minimising the amount of time that rooms are open. While it’s always beneficial to keep these elements out, this becomes even more important in the food and healthcare industries. 

6. Energy savings

Thanks to their lightweight construction, high speed roller shutter doors are much more energy-efficient than heavy, slow-moving doors. This, in combination with better insulation and temperature control, means that high speed doors can help you save a lot of energy over time. This will both lower your energy bills and help you meet your sustainability goals.

Things to consider

High speed doors are fantastic for a wide range of industrial and commercial applications. However, there are still some key things you need to consider before purchasing one (or many) for your business:

1. Maintenance

Regular maintenance and risk assessments are always needed to ensure roller shutter safety and efficiency, but since high speed doors will typically undergo many opening and closing cycles each day, maintenance is even more important. According to the Health & Safety Act, mechanical doors must be checked at least every 12 months, but you may want to inspect your doors more regularly to avoid any issues.

Without proper maintenance, high speed doors could encounter problems such as track issues (where the PVC curtain falls off the guides) and impact damage, leading to operational delays and repair and replacement costs. Always invest in proper roller shutter maintenance to avoid larger costs down the line.

2. Cost

In addition to the costs of repairing and maintaining your doors, you also need to consider the initial cost and installation fees. Plus, you may need to spend money on training your staff to operate these high speed doors, and you’ll need to ensure you have the right power (3-phase power) where the doors will be installed. Calculate all of these costs before making a purchasing decision.

3. Size

The size and strength of your new high speed roller doors will affect the overall cost. Larger openings will naturally need larger and stronger doors, and if the opening forms a natural wind tunnel, you may need a rapid roll door that’s reinforced by steel bars.

If you’re looking for rapid door solutions for your business, SSS Industrial Doors is here to help. Our high speed doors include Rapidor shutters and high speed insulated roller shutters, both of which offer unparalleled security, speed and insulation, and all high speed door products will be expertly installed by our team to ensure they work effectively from day one. Contact us today to discuss your high speed door requirements, or visit our blog to learn more about our products.