Posted on 27th January 2025
What Are Industrial Doors?
Industrial doors are specialised doors designed for use in commercial and industrial settings. They are built to withstand heavy usage, protect premises from unauthorised access, and improve operational efficiency.
Let’s go through the different types of industrial doors and how to select the right one for your needs.
Automatic Doors
Automatic doors open and close quickly using sensors, making them a simple and efficient solution for busy spaces where speed and easy access are important. They can also be controlled with remote controls or computer systems from another location.
In warehouses, these doors make it easier to move goods and equipment, keeping operations running smoothly. In retail, they create a welcoming, easy-to-use entrance for customers, especially during busy times, helping to manage foot traffic without delays.
Benefits of Automatic Doors
- Low Maintenance: Since they’re hands-free, there’s less wear and tear, meaning fewer repairs and long-lasting reliability.
- Safety First: With built-in motion sensors and safety features, they reduce the risk of accidents, even in the busiest environments.
Roller Shutter Doors
Roller shutter doors are a popular choice for businesses that need a reliable, space-saving, and secure solution for managing access to their premises. These doors roll up neatly when opened, making them ideal for areas where space is limited.
Roller shutters are indispensable at loading docks. Their quick and easy operation ensures vehicles can move in and out efficiently, saving time during busy schedules. These doors also provide a secure way to protect inventory from theft or damage caused by harsh weather.
Benefits of Roller Shutter Doors
- Customisability: Roller doors can be tailored to your specific needs, with options for manual or automatic operation.
- Energy Efficiency: Insulated models can help reduce energy costs by maintaining internal temperatures, especially in warehouses or facilities with temperature-sensitive stock.
High-Speed Doors
High-speed doors, or rapid roll doors, are designed to open and close quickly, helping businesses keep things moving while maintaining control over their environment.
Consider a warehouse with constant activity—forklifts moving around, deliveries coming and going. A rapid roll door opens and closes fast enough to keep everything on schedule while stopping dirt, rain or wind from getting in.
In cold storage, the priority is keeping the temperature steady, and these doors are perfect for sealing off the chill and reducing energy loss.
For cleanrooms, where even a little dust can cause big problems, rapid roll doors create a barrier that opens only as long as needed, keeping the environment controlled and clean.
Benefits of High-Speed Doors
- Energy Efficiency: High speed doors help to reduce energy costs down by reducing the time doors are open.
- Temperature Control: Due to their fast opening times, these doors also help to maintain stable conditions in sensitive environments.
PVC Curtains
PVC curtains are a practical, flexible, and cost-effective solution for managing internal environments. Made from durable PVC strips, they create an easy-access barrier that helps with temperature control, hygiene, and reducing contamination. They can also be used alongside roller shutters and other external doors for an added layer of insulation.
In manufacturing, they’re perfect for separating internal work areas without disrupting movement. In food processing, a PVC door curtain can maintain hygiene standards by keeping contaminants out while allowing quick and easy access for staff and equipment.
Benefits of PVC Curtains
- Energy Efficiency: High speed doors help to reduce energy costs down by reducing the time doors are open.
- Temperature Control: Due to their fast opening times, these doors also help to maintain stable conditions in sensitive environments.
Sectional Overhead Doors
Sectional overhead doors are made up of horizontal door panels that slide along tracks, resting flat against the ceiling when fully opened. This design is incredibly space-efficient, making them a popular choice in areas with minimal space.
Similarly to roller shutters, these doors are ideal for loading docks and storage facilities. For loading docks, sectional doors provide easy access while maintaining excellent insulation, keeping goods protected from temperature fluctuations. In storage facilities, they offer a secure and weather-resistant barrier that ensures stored items remain safe from the elements and unauthorised access.
Benefits of Sectional Overhead Doors
- Customisation Options: Windows or door access can be added for improved visibility and convenience, unlike other external doors like roller shutters or rapid roll doors.
- Temperature Control: Due to their fast opening times, these doors also help to maintain stable conditions in sensitive environments.
Folding Doors
There are three types of folding doors:
- Regular folding doors feature two panels that fold together up above the entrance of the doorway, similar to a sectional overhead door.
- Folding shutter doors have several interlinked panels that fold neatly to the side when opened, providing wide and unobstructed access. They have a zig-zag-like appearance when closed.
- Sliding folding doors feature several panels that fold into place and slide into the wall on each side when opened. These are most often used in aircraft hangars, like in the image shown.
Benefits of Folding Doors
- Ideal for Wide Openings: Folding doors provide quick and efficient access to large, aircraft-sized openings, where other door types might take longer to operate.
- Hard-Wearing: For areas with strong winds, like airports, folding doors provide better resistance when compared to other types of doors like roller shutters.
Sliding Doors
Sliding industrial doors are designed to move horizontally along a track. Their straightforward design makes them ideal for environments that require access to expansive spaces or need to accommodate oversized equipment and vehicles.
In aircraft hangars, they provide controlled entry for large planes while protecting interiors from the elements. For industrial facilities, sliding doors make it easy to divide spaces or allow oversized equipment to move through efficiently.
Benefits of Sliding Industrial Doors
- Suitable for Heavy Use: Sliding doors with reinforced tracks can withstand heavy use and need minimal maintenance.
- Ideal for Wide Openings: Like folding doors, these doors open quickly, even over wide entrances.
Steel Hinged Doors
Steel hinged doors are traditional swing-style doors designed for easy access in industrial and commercial settings. Commonly used at personnel access points in factories and warehouses, they help manage foot traffic efficiently. For example, they provide secure entry between office areas and work zones, ensuring safety and separation without disrupting workflow.
They’re usually made from stainless steel or galvanised steel, but there are also options for aluminum hinged doors.
Benefits of Steel Hinged Doors
- Enhanced Security: These doors can be fitted with advanced locking systems, providing secure access control for sensitive areas.
- Fire Resistance: Many steel hinged doors are designed in accordance with fire safety guidelines.
Round-the-Corner Doors
Round-the-corner doors feature an innovative design that allows them to slide horizontally along a curved track, making them a perfect fit for spaces where traditional sliding or folding doors might not work. Unlike standard doors, these can navigate curved walls or unique architectural layouts, offering a versatile solution for challenging spaces.
They’re particularly useful in industrial facilities and warehouses where maximising access to wide or irregularly shaped openings is important.
Benefits of Round-the-Corner Doors
- Enhanced Accessibility: Their ability to cover wide and curved openings makes them a standout choice for businesses requiring both practical and visually appealing access points.
- Space Efficiency: Like regular sliding doors, these doors operate on a track which frees up floor and ceiling space.
Choosing the Right Industrial Door
Selecting the perfect industrial door system for your business is an important decision.
At Rapid Industrial Doors, we’re here to make that process easier. With over 20 years of experience, we manufacture, install, and repair an extensive range of industrial doors. Our team can provide expert advice tailored to your requirements, ensuring your doors not only suit your operations but also comply with safety standards, including automatic door regulations BS EN 16005 and the Health and Safety at Work Act.
Our customer-focused approach means you’ll get more than just a door—you’ll gain a solution that’s tailored to your operations, built to last, and backed by expert support.
Get in Touch
We’ve had a fantastic experience with Rapid Industrial Doors. From the first consultation to the maintenance checks, their team has been top-notch. The service was quick, professional, and always came with a smile. Their detailed explanations made it easy to understand the best options for our needs. Highly recommend them for reliable and efficient door solutions. Thanks, team!
Frequently Asked Questions
We’ve answered some of the most common questions on industrial doors below.