The Importance of High Speed Doors for Energy Efficiency 

Keeping energy consumption down is no longer a cost-saving measure – it is a key priority for every British business that hopes to keep its doors open. Gas and electricity prices have now reached their highest level in over 10 years, costing UK businesses £46.8 billion and £59.8 billion each year, and having a knock-on effect on operating costs across industries.  

The need for temperature-controlled industrial premises is not going away, but neither are these inflated prices – not whilst the UK relies overwhelmingly on non-renewable energy to keep the lights on and power their operations. So, if you’re looking to conserve energy across your workplace and keep costs to a minimum, then it’s time to find out what our energy-saving high speed doors offer you.  

Our High Speed Doors

Even the slightest change in temperature, whether this be a gust of wind or escaped air through an open door, will result in heat loss or gain across your premises. This will then cause the temperature control systems to consume even more energy in an attempt to stabilise the temperature before it has the chance to affect your products or production processes.  

For most businesses, these knock-on costs are an unaffordable expense, but they are also often unavoidable. Conventional doors take a lot of time to operate manually and this gives high pressure winds, external contaminants, and even rain or snow the opportunity to enter your premises whilst waiting for the door to close. This is why we specialise in manufacturing and installing high speed doors that offer a solution.  

From our Zip Speed Doors to our Turbo Fold Doors, our fast-acting systems are a simple yet highly effective way of maintaining controlled environments across commercial and industrial premises. With an average operating speed of up to 1 metre per second and a compact roll-up design, our doors reduce the amount of time spent opening and closing doors, so let’s take a look at the impact our systems will have on your premises.

Reduced Heat Loss 

Many businesses have started to turn the heating down during the winter to cut down on their energy bills, leaving their employees to work in cold and uncomfortable conditions. However, for many businesses, even this last resort is not an option.  

Most production processes, from food and drinks to medical supplies and perishable goods, require a consistent temperature to preserve the products and prevent any quality control issues. This means that businesses have to keep the temperature control systems running at all times, even when there are no employees on site, so reduce any changes in temperature and prevent any spikes in energy consumption with our energy saving doors.  

Not only do they reduce the time that doors spend open to ensure that only the minimum amount of heat is lost, but they also present a formidable barrier against the elements. Almost all of our doors have been wind load tested to Category 5, and the insulation value of our dual doors reduces heat loss even further without sacrificing speed.

Automatic Operation 

There is no point in having top-of-the-line energy efficient doors installed if you cannot trust your team to keep them closed. It is easy to accidentally leave a door or shutter open when loading and unloading goods, particularly if you have a tight time limit, but these doors cannot perform properly unless they are quickly closed once the loading process is finished.  

This is why we manufacture each door with an inverter drive and push-button control to make closing it as quick and easy as possible. Our doors are also compatible with a range of access features to ensure they never remain open for longer than necessary, including an alarm that alerts users if they do. You can also integrate your door with an automatic system that closes the door after a set period of time, so be sure to talk to our team about the access control options available when placing your order. 

No Accidents 

If a door unexpectedly breaks or becomes dislodged, then your business will be affected in more ways than one. Whilst this comes with an obvious loss of heat and energy and all the costs associated with this, a compromised temperature-control area will have catastrophic consequences on entire shipments of products.  

If you manufacture or store products that have to be kept at, or below, a certain temperature, then our energy saving doors are the best choice for your business. They come with a  self-repairing reinsertion system that allows the door to recover its position with one open and closing cycle if it is ever dislodged. Since our doors operate at (on average) 1.5 metres per second, your door will only be compromised for a very short time, and options like our Dual Doors are also manufactured with a safe drive motor unit and a built-in frequency inverter to prevent any derailment in the first place.  

Scaling Operations 

Rising energy prices are affecting UK businesses in unforeseen ways, as many companies now find themselves unable to scale their operations. Funds that would otherwise be invested in growth initiatives are instead being used to cover energy costs and businesses are increasingly prioritising cost-saving measures over their growth ambitions.  

This halts a business’s attempts to expand their operations or move to bigger premises, as there is no reason to scale up operations that require temperature-controlled zones and a further increase in energy use – unless you are going to secure these areas with reliable fast-action doors?  

Our range is manufactured to tackle these energy costs head on with great insulative properties, super fast roll up designs and self-repairing systems that reduce the risk of operational setbacks, so contact us today to invest in these energy solutions for your busy industrial openings.

Our High Speed Range 

To find out more about our high speed doors and shutters, and to request your own bespoke doorset, simply contact our team on 0121 565 6165 or use our online enquiry form.

5 Things to Think About When Choosing a Clean Room Door

Choosing the right clean room door is the key to maintaining the sterility and efficiency of clean and controlled rooms, so if you are looking to improve the operational standards of your space with a new door, there are 5 key factors to consider. By bearing these considerations in mind, you can ensure that your clean facility meets all the requirements of your business and safeguard any sensitive products or production processes, so let’s explore our clean room door checklist.

1. Energy-Efficiency

Clean, sterile, or temperature-controlled rooms all require constant temperature and humidity control, either to protect the contents of the room, safely store hazardous or perishable goods, or prevent cross-contamination. These strict requirements significantly drive up energy consumption, which can cost even more and drain resources if the door is inefficient or becomes compromised, making an energy-efficient door system an important requirement.

Our fast-action doors are designed to be a long-lasting investment in the energy-efficiency of these rooms, offering superior sealing and fast-close operation to maintain the required temperature. By reducing the loss of heat-controlled or sterilised air, our systems minimise the energy required for air treatment and temperature control whilst supporting the operational demands of these restricted spaces, curbing unnecessary energy consumption and keeping costs down. This efficiency and reliability makes them an excellent choice for facilities looking to optimise performance and reduce long-term spending, and for those looking to prioritise more sustainable operations.

2. Heat Loss

These specialised door systems, designed with advanced sealing technology and insulation materials, are the main way that businesses maintain the optimal temperature balance within a sealed room. Whether the room must be kept cool, warm, or below freezing at all times, our doors feature insulative properties that prevent heat transfer through the door, ensuring that the internal temperature of the room remains stable and controlled and that the temperature-sensitive contents of the room are protected.

These door systems are also manufactured and installed with a tight sealing system around the door edges, preventing warm or cold air from passing around the door itself. By minimising air leakage, these seals cover all the main ways that a temperature fluctuation could compromise the room, and allow employees to carry out their daily operations without concerns over the integrity of the door.

3. Traffic Flow

Whilst temperature control is the core factor to consider when searching for the best door system, it is also essential to consider the traffic flow requirements of the space. Many doors that are made specifically for clean or sterile rooms are designed to open and close quickly, minimising the amount of time the door is open and therefore reducing the opportunity for temperature fluctuations or cross-contamination.

Our fast-action doors are designed to reduce the time that is often lost waiting for conventional roller shutters or canvas doors to open, which helps to maintain the temperature and pressure difference between the clean space and the surrounding areas. Equipped with rapid opening and closing mechanisms, our systems address the need to maintain strict temperature, humidity, and cleanliness standards, without compromising operational efficiency. This feature is crucial in environments where time-sensitive processes occur, as it ensures minimal disruption to the workflow and facilitates the swift movement of personnel and materials whilst upholding strict safety and operational standards.

4. Reduced Repairs

Damaged or compromised doors are a costly and irritating crisis for any business to face, but if the damaged door is responsible for maintaining a cold, heated, or sterile environment, then the associated costs and loss of productivity are even worse. Repairing or replacing a damaged door requires significant costs, extensive downtime, and often threatens the controlled environment’s integrity, often resulting in the loss of products, compromised processes, and the need to re-establish cleanliness standards or temperature control in the affected area.

At UK Rapid Doors, we aim to eliminate all of these issues with our self-repairing system that is available in all of our high-speed doors for controlled environments. Its fast roll-up mechanism, housed within compact, free-standing stainless steel columns, ensures quick and efficient access, and in the event of an impact that dislodges the curtain, the system automatically realigns it with just one open and close cycle. This not only saves valuable time and expenses that would otherwise be spent on manual repairs or waiting for service technicians, but also significantly reduces the potential for more losses during downtime, setting our doors apart as an industry-leading efficient system.

5. Maintained Seal

Choosing a door that maintains a tight seal is crucial for several key reasons, the most important being that the seal minimises air leakage. A tightly sealed door ensures that the controlled environment remains stable, with consistent temperature and humidity levels that protect any sensitive products or development processes from temperature fluctuations.

Whilst minimising air leakage makes it much easier for heating or cooling systems to maintain the necessary internal temperature, a tight seal also prevents airborne contaminants from entering or exiting the controlled area. For premises that house or distribute hazardous materials, healthcare products, or sterilised equipment, minimising air leakage is vital for preventing the infiltration of contaminated air from surrounding areas. A tight seal acts as a critical barrier against particles, microbes, and contaminants that may breach the space, ensuring that the filtered, clean air inside the room remains uncontaminated. In sectors such as pharmaceuticals, food processing, and electronics manufacturing, where contamination can result in significant financial losses and health risks, the investment in well-sealed doors is not just a matter of regulatory compliance, but a strategic decision to safeguard operational integrity, product safety, and brand reputation for a minimal upfront investment.

Reliable Clean Room Door Manufacturers

With features such as stainless steel columns, optional vision windows, and break out systems, our clean room door range is designed to meet the strict requirements of businesses across the UK. The doors’ rapid operating speed of up to 2 metres per second, and wind load resistance up to category 5, ensure minimal disruption and maximum productivity, so enhance your operations and safety standards with a doorset that prioritises your success.

Zip Door Installation at RS Autotechnik in Gloucestershire

Over the festive period, our skilled team carried out a first-class installation of two high-speed Zip Doors at RS Autotechnik in Gloucestershire.

Located in Dursley, RS Autotechnik is an independent Volkswagen and Audi Group specialist, who offer MOTs, repairs and services. Like most garages, RS Autotechnik’s performance workshop has an extremely high traffic flow, as cars are constantly going in and out of the workshop throughout the day.

Therefore, the client wanted us to supply and install two high-speed doors to improve their energy efficiency and reduce heat loss in the workshop. However, as the client wanted a very complex livery attached to the outside of the fabric curtains, our highly-experienced team had their work cut out with this Zip Door installation.

In addition to this, the client also wanted a large graphic of a car placing on the door. Although our team only had an RS air freshener to work from, they delivered an exceptional installation for the client, who was delighted with the quality of our work and our customer service.

Thanks to the hard work of our team, the Zip Door installation was completed in just 4 weeks, which is a great turnaround time considering the difficulty of the project. As you can see from the below before and after photos, we have replaced an old and slow door system with a much faster and efficient Zip Door system.

Our zip-up doors, which feature a speedy roll-up design, can bring great benefits to businesses who have busy industrial openings, like RS Autotechnik, and here’s why.

Benefits of Zip Door Installations

Save Energy and Time

Besides using a fast-acting system, our Zip Doors also feature head columns and compact free-standing sides, which reduce heat loss and provide an innovative energy-saving solution to environments with high traffic flow. These features also help to minimise delays and increase workflow, which is very important for a client like RS Autotechnik.

More Comfort for Customers and Personnel

In addition to saving energy, a reduction of heat loss also provides a more comfortable environment for customers and staff. Our Zip Doors are a very effective way of preventing cold draughts and maintaining temperatures within warehouses, sales floors and many other industrial environments.

Our high-speed Zip Doors also act as a defensive barrier against noise contamination, airborne pollution and vermin.

Enquire About a Zip Door Installation

At UK Rapid Doors, we supply and install a wide variety of innovative industrial door solutions, including high-speed doors and Retail Security Shutters, to a range of environments.

If you’re interested in having Zip Doors installed at your facility, or you want to learn more about our products, browse our door systems or contact us.

Industrial Doors for Effective Winter Energy Saving

Winter Energy Saving is essential in the colder months with many industrial premises find their energy bills soar as they battle to maintain a comfortable working environment whilst the temperatures outside drop.

A recent study in the food and drink industry, for example, found that businesses could make energy savings of up to 20% if they addressed problems such as poorly insulated doors and windows and improved overall building energy management.

So, how can your choice of industrial doors help you save money on your winter energy bills?

Making the switch to insulated doors, particularly in areas of high traffic flow and where the outside meets the inside, can save your business money.

These rapid speed industrial doors, such as our insulated dual door, operate at a speed of up to 1000mm per second, thus keeping heat loss to a minimum as doors open and close quickly.

Watch our video below to see our insulated dual door in action:

Not only does the double skin lath on this product enable good heat retention properties, but it also gives you added security – another important factor when choosing your industrial doors.

If you would like to find out more information about our insulated dual doors or the other products we offer that can help your business to become more energy efficient, please speak to the UK Rapid Doors team on 0121 565 6165 or email enquiries@ukrapiddoorsystems.co.uk.

Which Energy Saving Doors should you choose for your Workplace?

If you are looking to conserve energy in the workplace as well as making financial savings on your heating bills, it may be advisable to install energy saving doors. Here we review the various types of doors you can install to save energy:

Types of Energy Saving Industrial Doors

Please contact us on 0121 565 6165 to chat about your options or find out more about our products.