Energy costs are eye-wateringly high right now. And sustainability is an increasingly big consideration. Energy-efficient industrial doors can help in your battle against both of these business issues.
The best door systems keep your site secure and support operational efficiency. They also reduce energy waste and help to maintain comfortable internal temperatures across your industrial site.
In this blog, we break down the features of energy-efficient industrial doors, explain why they matter and provide tips on how to choose the right insulated doors for your business.
What are energy-efficient industrial doors?
An energy-efficient industrial door is specially designed to reduce the transfer of heat and cold between the inside and outside of an industrial building — whether that’s a factory, warehouse or loading bay.
They help to keep warm air in during winter and hot air out during summer, which means your heating and air conditioning systems don’t have to work so hard.
Energy-efficient industrial doors can do this thanks to three key features:
- Airtight seals — that prevent draughts from altering the internal temperature of your building
- Fast opening and closing mechanisms — so doors are only left open for the minimum amount of time necessary
- Insulated internal materials — wedged between the metal panels of your doors, these materials act as a thermal break, reducing the transfer of heat or cold
Some industrial doors also feature reflective coatings that reflect heat back into the building in winter and reflect heat from the sun in summer.
Benefits of energy-efficient doors
Energy-efficient doors tend to be more expensive than regular doors. So why are they worth the investment? Here are the many benefits of energy-efficient doors.
Lower energy bills
Over the long term, insulated industrial doors can end up paying for themselves. By maintaining the right internal temperature in your business premises, you cut your business energy bills. For large industrial sites, the savings can be significant.
Improved climate control
If your business relies on temperature-controlled environments, energy-efficient doors can help here too. They allow you to maintain a consistent temperature, suited to any business that manufactures or stores temperature-sensitive products.
Contamination control
Because energy-efficient industrial doors have airtight seals, they also prevent dust and debris from outside — or from another part of your building — travelling into areas where hygiene and cleanliness are critical.
Reduced carbon footprint
If you’re one of the many companies looking for ways to make your operations more environmentally friendly, insulated doors provide an easy win. By reducing the amount of energy you use for heating and cooling your buildings, these doors reduce your carbon footprint and can help you achieve environmental certifications.
Increased productivity
Another benefit of energy-efficient doors is the fact that they open and close so quickly. This helps to reduce heat transfer but it can also speed up your operations. With high speed doors and automated door systems, staff don’t have to spend time opening doors manually or waste time waiting for doors to open and close. So you can streamline your operations, reducing and removing bottlenecks as people move around your site.
Improved staff comfort
Last, but by no means least, energy-efficient doors benefit your personnel. If you’ve ever worked in a boiling hot space in summer or a freezing cold space in winter, you know how it affects your comfort and motivation. Insulated doors help to create an environment that supports the wellbeing and work of your teams.
What types of industrial doors offer the best energy efficiency?
There are lots of different types of industrial doors out there. Here are some of the best energy-efficient options.
Insulated sectional overhead doors
Insulated sectional overhead doors are constructed from wide horizontal panels. These panels are hinged together to form a solid, insulated door. The doors open by moving along an overhead track, coming to rest above the door frame or along the ceiling of a space.
Insulated roller shutters
Insulated roller shutter doors are another great option when you’re looking for energy-efficient industrial doors. These doors are made from narrow horizontal slats, hinged together. Why choose insulated roller shutters? These doors are available with manual or electronic operation and, because doors slide up into a neat roll overhead, they’re suited to a wide range of business premises.
High speed doors
Rapid fold and rapid roll high speed doors help to prevent heat loss by opening and closing incredibly quickly. These doors are suited to both internal and external doorways and specialist spaces — like freezers and clean rooms.
Insulated steel doors
Steel personnel doors are strong and provide the best possible security for your business premises. Invest in insulated steel doors and you also increase the energy efficiency of your industrial building. Like other insulated doors, steel doors can be constructed with an insulated core and an airtight seal.
What to look for in an energy-efficient industrial door?
If you want to upgrade your industrial doors to make them more energy-efficient, here’s what you need to look for:
- Insulation rating. The energy efficiency of doors is measured using a U-value. The lower the U-value, the better the level of insulation. So, for the best energy efficiency, look for doors with a U-value of 1.0 W/m²K or less.
- Door sealing systems. It’s not just the construction of your insulated door that matters. You need to be sure that seals around the door are of the highest quality to ensure top-notch draught proofing.
- Fast, automatic mechanism. If your insulated doors are left open for minutes at a time, you fail to benefit from their energy-efficient properties. So look for doors that open and close using fast, automatic systems.
- Durability. The best insulated doors are durable and made from high-quality materials. With a regular schedule of maintenance, they continue to operate safely and efficiently, while keeping your spaces at just the right temperature for years to come.
Get advice on choosing insulated industrial doors from the SDS team
As an industrial door supplier and manufacturer, SDS has all the expertise and experience you need to find the perfect insulated doors for your industrial premises.
We can recommend products — or make insulated doors from scratch to fit your doorways. We then fit and maintain them to ensure they stay in top working order.
Want to chat about our insulated door products? Or get a quote? Contact our friendly team today.
