Specifying the Correct High-Performance Rolling Door

by Marcy Marro | August 2, 2021 12:00 am

To avoid missteps in specifying rolling doors, it’s best to start the process early, and ideally, at the beginning of the design phase. The proper product should be selected early in the project, along with a properly completed cost analysis. For specification assistance and guidance, reaching out directly to manufacturers can be key. Many manufacturers employ dedicated design support teams to help with specification needs. Some rolling door manufacturers even maintain streamlined online portals designed specifically to support architects and specifiers with easy-to-use resources for valuable product data and specification information.

Important Tips

When specifying a high-performance door, understanding the requirements for each specific opening as well as the application is vital. One requirement is spacing. Specifiers should ensure there is enough room for a coiling door to be installed. This seemingly obvious consideration is often overlooked and can result in high unforeseen costs after the building plans have been issued and construction begins. Consider both the side room and head room of the opening. There shouldn’t be any conduits or HVAC ductwork in these areas, which may interfere with the ease of the rolling door’s installation.

Coiling doors need a flush mounting surface to support the door jambs. Architects frequently focus on the header when designing an opening for a rolling door. However, the door’s weight is distributed on each jamb—making the need for proper vertical support more important. The opening’s jambs also provide necessary support for the rolling door’s guides, which keep the curtain securely in place.

Keep these measurements in mind when specifying:

• the opening’s width and height

• the amount of room on each side from the opening to the nearest obstruction

• a measurement from the top of the opening to the nearest obstruction

• the amount of space from the opening back into the room

Specifiers also need to be aware of the number of cycles the door will go through in a specific time period and that the product can handle them. Are you specifying a rolling door for a parking garage entrance or a retail storefront? There is a significant difference in the number of cycles each door will go through daily.

It’s also beneficial to list a minimum cycle requirement and then confirm the selected door has components capable of those cycle requirements, especially the motor. Correctly defining the desired rolling door opening speed in inches per second will quickly eliminate doors that aren’t the right fit.

Select the Right Type of Door

Some openings may require an insulated door or a fire-rated door. These types of doors call for unique specification considerations.

Insulated doors are most commonly used in temperature-controlled spaces. They keep air-conditioned or refrigerated spaces of a building cool and are more durable because of their additional layers.

Sometimes, insulated rolling doors are specified when architects take acoustical comfort of a space into consideration. Most insulated rolling doors offer a sound transmission control (STC) rating of 26.

For openings that necessitate a fire rated door, including counter doors, specifiers may select from conventional rolling doors that lose spring tension under alarm activation or advanced fire door systems. While both doors can close automatically, advanced doors have a less complicated release system and reset automatically. They have a much higher degree of reliability and are easier for technicians to test and reset properly.

Warranties—Knowledge is Power

Most high-performance rolling door manufacturers offer two-year warranties, typically offered from the date of shipment. However, many will extend the warranty at the request of building owners for an additional fee. This may be changed by asking the manufacturer to begin the warranty period once the project has reached its date of substantial completion.

Every rolling door is custom designed and manufactured for individual openings and applications. By beginning the specification process early and working with a reliable manufacturer’s design team to select the right type of door for the application, specifiers can avoid using a generic product that will yield less-than-ideal results.

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Paul Smith is the director of architectural promotion at CornellCookson, Mountain Top, Pa. With more than 25 years of experience in the rolling door industry, Smith helps architects seamlessly integrate rolling closures into their designs, specializing in solving difficult-to-diagnose application issues. A member of the Construction Specification Institute (CSI), Smith is a certified construction product representative for the organization. To learn more, visit www.cornellcookson.com[1].

Source URL: https://www.metalarchitecture.com/articles/specifying-the-correct-high-performance-rolling-door/

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