Save space, achieve grace:
Custom overhead door systems accommodate unique needs (CASE STUDY)
David Eberle,
Posted
04/01/2009
As pre-engineered
metal buildings continue to evolve, so does the need for
innovative door systems. Combining aesthetics and high
functionality, the door
system often must be the smartest link in the project chain.
The door system is the perfect companion for the pre-engineered
metal building when it's designed and manufactured to the same
high-quality standards building system manufacturers use. A door
system manufacturer with integrated capabilities uses best
practices through all phases, from computerized project design
through CNC machining and state-of-the-art welding. As a result,
the door system enhances the project's pre-engineered integrity in
many ways. Door panels complement the building's wall panels,
matching paint colors, finishes and ribbing of the main wall
panels. An integrated manufacturer of door systems also can
incorporate the building's window styles into the door panels to
increase natural light inside the building and enhance exterior
aesthetics.
Door systems that complement architecture also can bring a higher
level of quality to retrofit, replacement and renovation projects.
The architect and contractor can achieve top-flight results by
specifying a door system with panels and windows that complement
the existing building's design. In some cases, longstanding codes
and regulations may dictate style requirements for the exterior. A
door system manufacturer with proven expertise in customization can
meet the requirements with eyepleasing results.
Hanging
Around
In addition to bringing sizzle into a project, an integrated
manufacturer of door systems provides the structural and technical
expertise that results in systems that erect simply, operate
smoothly and provide rugged reliability. This is no small
achievement considering the unusual demands an application can
place on a door system. Aircraft hangars, for instance, often
require that door systems accommodate large aircraft in a tightly
confined space. The hangar's overall size may be limited because
the availability or prohibitive cost of land. Innovative
engineering is required to achieve large-scale capabilities in
limited space. In Hawaii, where land costs are very high, every
square foot is critical. To enable an aircraft hangar to fit onto a
small plot of land, Norco Manufacturing Corp. of Franksville, Wis.,
designed a Universal Door System that fully retracts inside the
building on a curved track. No exterior door pocket was needed to
house retracted panels, saving the critical square footage.
Other Factors
As the hangar in Hawaii demonstrates, when a door system
manufacturer offers in-house design and manufacturing of the upper
track and lower rolling hardware, higher levels of customization
and cost efficiency are possible. Another such recent project
involved a hangar that has a railway entering the building. Norco
designed a door system with lower rolling hardware that traverses
over the rails while also providing a tight fit and sound closure
around the railway. Well-engineered upper and lower hardware is
important for many reasons. Hardware design must account for
factors such as wind uplift forces and, in colder climates, snow
and ice buildup. Quality weather seals are important for door
systems in all climates.
A high degree of
structural customization often extends to the door panels. In
another recent hangar project, the door panels on each end of the
hangar required custom-shaped openings to accommodate the nose and
tail of an aircraft that extended beyond the perimeter of the
hangar. Expertise in all phases from design engineering through
panel manufacturing enabled Norco to satisfy the unusual
application.
Taking Control
Automated controls are opening up door panels to the future.
Variable speed drives provide smooth, controlled movement of doors
that is free from noisy banging when doors begin and complete their
path. A door system manufacturer with design and engineering
expertise can tailor automated controls for the many door panel
configurations.
For an aircraft hangar, industrial facility or an architectural
structure, such as an amphitheater, a well engineered door system
can be one of the highlights from both an aesthetic and functional
viewpoint.
David Eberle is the president and CEO of Norco Manufacturing Corp.,
Franksville, Wis. For more information, visit www.norcomfg.com.
www.norcomfg.com