Common Varieties of Industrial Doors and Their Uses

There are a wide range of different industrial sites across the UK, covering various industries and sectors. Manufacturing plants, retail sites, pharmaceutical businesses and distribution centres all have unique spatial and equipment requirements, each requiring significant investment. Similarly, each sector site requires its own industrial doors for both internal and external operations. 

This blog will describe some of the most common industrial door varieties, expanding on their usage, so you can better understand what you might need to equip your business setting with. 

The importance of custom industrial doors

Your business setting is unique, meaning you should look for suppliers that are able to offer you a custom installation. While there are a range of areas that industrial doors can exist within, any of the variations should be buildable and fittable to the specifics of your company. It’s also important to ensure that every door variety is created to the industry standards of the day and any current health and safety regulations

Standards that must be maintained across industries: 

  • High-level insulation (U-values)
  • Fire safety standards
  • Proper security settings
  • Easy use operation tools
  • Water penetration and wind pressure classifications

Keeping an eye out for high-level manufacturers and fitters should make it easy enough to guarantee these standards. 

Loading bay doors

Retail sites and manufacturing facilities alike all have active loading bays for receiving everything from stock to essential equipment. Having easy-use, low-maintenance and highly energy-efficient loading bay doors is essential for the smooth receipt and delivery of items. They should include plenty of safety and security measures, while being adaptable to other items of loading bay equipment. 

Sectional overhead doors

These doors can be used for loading bays and many other sections of an industrial site, making them a versatile installation. They are doors made from multiple panel sections, designed to be used intensely over long stretches of time. Panel construction allows for the doors to either fold into a flat or angled roof, while also being able to ascend vertically without a fold for higher ceilings. 

Roller shutter doors

These doors are made from thin metal panels, ideal for everywhere from a security operation to a larger industrial setting. The rolling nature of these shutter doors allows them to be installed in areas with lower ceilings, not requiring as much ceiling clearance. Operational options for these doors, which can also be additionally insulated, include manual, self-coiling, hand chain hoists and electronic motors, meaning they can be suited to your requirements. 

Fire shutter doors

Some roller shutter doors can be further enhanced with fire protection features like steel powder coatings, offering increased radiant heat fortification. These are essential for sites like pharmaceutical production facilities, manufacturing plants and anywhere else with lots of flammable materials, helping to contain fires and aid in escape efforts. 

Hydraulic doors

Hydraulic cylinder-operated doors are useful for any setting for using electro-hydraulic motors, allowing for silent, efficient lifting. Hydraulic industrial doors are a great cost-saving tool, using less energy than typical electronically operated entryways. Hydraulic door systems can take many forms, being applicable to a wide variety of different door shapes and sizes. 

Where to find the right industrial doors

If you’re interested in industrial doors, make sure to seek out a company with a long history of great service and quality goods. The supplier should also be able to offer you anything from routine maintenance to emergency repairs, ensuring that you get OEM-quality support after your door is initially installed. 24/7 support ensures that you can trust you won’t have to deal with too much downtime, whatever industry you operate in. 

Pick a brand with high-profile clients and a strong history of service across all relevant industries and you should be able to keep entrances and exits running smoothly.