How to choose the right door for storage rooms?

How to choose the right door for storage rooms?

Storage doors are similar in design and performance aspects to technical doors. The differences lie in the requirements for room conditions. Depending on whether they will be used to protect goods in a small warehouse or guard the entrance to a warehouse hall with a huge area, the different variants may differ. What does this look like in practice, and how to choose a steel warehouse door adapted to the specifics of the building? We invite you to get some valuable advice in an article introducing these issues.

Why is it important to choose the right door for your warehouse?

The primary role of any entrance door is to protect against external conditions and provide control over access to the building. Depending on the application and purpose, original design and color schemes are placed on one scales, while maximum practicality and longevity are placed on the other. Storage doors strive to balance these attributes. For any building administrator, property owner or warehouse manager, choosing the right door to protect access to the room where goods are stored is of utmost importance. This is both functionally important, as well as being related to security and resistance to attempts by potential thieves to break through. Warehouse doors that can be equipped with robust locks and security systems, for example, working with modern access control systems, guard the entrance to the building in the best way. Criteria that determine the level of security of what is inside are always decisive – there are different expectations for doors that close refrigerated warehouses, and others for goods stored in light-free conditions. It is the clarification of expectations before placing an order that is crucial to ensure that the finished doors are 100% suited to the nature of the warehouse. It is also worth making sure that the chosen models meet specific building standards and regulations, as well as the requirements of insurance companies.

Types of doors for storage rooms

Doors made of galvanized painted sheet metal, at least 0.5 mm thick and filled with foamed polystyrene will meet expectations in terms of standard performance. They guarantee high durability and resistance to frequent opening and closing, do not succumb to the harmful effects of weather conditions and, above all, do not corrode. Double-leaf warehouse doors are often chosen, especially in places where the width is expected to freely accommodate, for example, a Euro pallet with goods. This is an option worthy of consideration for its convenience, but not always required if the warehouse has an access gate or other entrance of larger dimensions. External warehouse doors must show increased resistance to mechanical damage, bruises, kicks and slamming, but the products currently offered by top manufacturers are always patiently tested in this regard. Thus, they ensure proper functioning even under slightly more brutal than usual treatment.

Key factors in choosing a door for a warehouse

When choosing a door for a warehouse hall, you should be guided by the criterion of the manufacturer’s brand and bet on well-known companies that pay great attention to the quality of all their products. Robust, well-thought-out design, precision workmanship and the use of high-quality steel in production will translate into full satisfaction of users. In addition, the use of appropriate hinges and locks increases the resistance of the warehouse door to intensive use. In addition to what is intended to be stored and the level of security, external warehouse doors can also be selected to provide fire and smoke protection. In some cases, increased thermal and acoustic insulation parameters are also expected. If warehouse doors are used to separate rooms with different purposes, are near passageways or entrances, then customers often want an increased RC3 burglary resistance class. Expensive goods, access to which is protected by solid walls and windows with bars, should be protected by installing a good-class warehouse door.

What materials work best for warehouse doors

Galvanized steel sheet is undoubtedly the best choice. Insensitive to moisture, precipitation or UV radiation, the door will look as good after a few years as it did at the time of installation. Troublesome to maintain, wooden doors are heavy and require care and periodic renovation, while doors made of PVC will not provide the expected level of protection. The latest catalog proposals from manufacturers of high-end sheet steel warehouse doors offer several color variants to choose from, and the simple, sleek form provides the expected aesthetics. In many places this is of considerable importance, because, despite its superior utility function, the leaf of the warehouse door should blend well with the body of the building.

How can fire doors make a warehouse safer?

An important aspect of modern warehouse doors is resistance to the destructive effects of fire and high temperatures. This is an issue related to saving valuable goods, but also to the safety of personnel. It is because of this extremely important role that fire doors are subject to a number of requirements and regulations not only of the Construction Law, but also of fire protection regulations or health and safety rules. The resistance class designation with symbols from EI 30 to EI 120 is the time given in minutes for which the door will not start burning, which is worth taking into account before purchasing, especially if flammable goods will be stored inside. According to legal regulations, the installation of such doors should take place, among other things, in public buildings, including stores and commercial facilities. Polish legislation also requires that fire doors should always be placed in the place where the route of evacuation of people is. So it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with both the content of the legal documents and the architecture of the building and storage facilities, and decide whether or not the installation of fire doors will be justified.