When deciding on commercial doors for your business premises, there are lots of choices to make.
Whether you’re looking for a glass storefront, a roller shutter for your warehouse or a secure steel door for your office, you need to answer questions like these:
- What material should our commercial building doors be made from?
- Do we want manual or automatic operation?
- What accessibility features do we need?
- What fire rating is appropriate?
Here, we take a look at everything you need to consider when choosing a commercial door system. But first, so you can be sure you’re in the right place, let’s look at a definition.
What is a commercial door?
A commercial door system is specifically designed and manufactured for commercial premises. These include office buildings, shops, schools, hospitals, warehouses and factories.
Unlike a standard domestic door, commercial doors are built to withstand high levels of usage. They also come with special features suited to their unique environment.
What to look for in a commercial door
We get customers coming to us looking for commercial doors in all shapes, sizes and materials. With a bespoke door manufacturer like SDS, the options are pretty much unlimited.
So how do you decide what type of commercial door you need? Start by considering the following factors:
- Durability
- Design
- Security
- Fire safety
- Functionality and accessibility
- Open and close speed
- Insulation
- Special features
- Budget
Durability
Durability is often a top priority when choosing doors for a commercial building. These doors tend to get a lot more usage than doors in a domestic setting. So it’s important to pick materials that are suited to the door’s location and function.
Consider what the door is made from. For example, steel doors are known for being strong. Reinforced aluminium, too. The fixtures and finishes of your door also impact its durability.
Design
The internal and external doors of your commercial building are a representation of your company and brand. So they need to give a good impression.
Think about how you want your commercial premises to look. And remember that, these days, design doesn’t have to mean compromising on durability.
You can get great fire-rated doors made from wood. And reinforced glass storefronts, made from tempered or laminated glass, that offer exceptional strength and security.
Security
The right commercial door offers the right level of security for your building. It prevents and deters thieves and vandals.
You can get commercial doors made with reinforced materials — like steel or reinforced aluminium. These tend to offer more protection than doors made from wood or glass.
Locking systems are also important. Multi-point locks are better than single locks. You can use biometric locks so only approved personnel can gain entry. You can also get ram-raid-resistant polycarbonate shutters to prevent theft.
Fire safety
Fire-rated doors are all tested and certified to withstand fire and heat. They have ratings like FD30 and FD60, with the number representing the number of minutes the door can successfully prevent the spread of fire and smoke.
You need to check fire safety regulations related to your business. And then, ensure that your commercial building doors meet them.
Functionality and accessibility
Next, you need to think about how your commercial doors will open and close.
Manual doors are usually cheaper than automatic doors. They’re operated by hand, don’t use any electricity and tend to have fewer technical issues.
Automatic commercial doors can work with the touch of a button, via remote control or with the help of motion sensors. They’re quick, effective and offer good insulation.
Whether you choose manual or automatic doors, you need to consider accessibility. Consider how easily people with a disability can gain access to your building.
Here’s some government guidance on access to non-domestic buildings.
Open and close speed
Depending on the type of commercial premises you’re operating, the speed of your commercial doors may be a top priority.
If time is of the essence and you have a high-traffic site, you don’t want people, goods or vehicles getting slowed down by a slow commercial door system. In these cases, high speed doors are a good solution.
Insulation
The degree of commercial door insulation you need depends upon your business.
For a temperature controlled space, top insulation is a must-have. However, even for a regular commercial building, insulation is still an important consideration.
Insulated commercial doors are better for the environment and they help to reduce energy costs. They keep your commercial premises cool in summer and warm in winter.
Special features
Consider whether your commercial doors need special features that are unlikely to come as standard.
For example, you can get lead-lined doors for the X-ray rooms of hospitals. You can get self-repairing doors designed to resist impact from vehicles, like fork-lift trucks. You can also get sound-proof doors that prevent noise pollution.
Budget
Of course, money always comes into play. The fastest, strongest and most technically advanced doors tend to be more expensive.
But you may find that they’re well worth the investment. They can save your business money in terms of maintenance costs, durability and energy bills. They can also boost your bottom line by making your store front more attractive or by supporting your team to be more productive.
When choosing a commercial door, consider upfront costs versus the long term value. Also, look for warranties, so you know that your doors are likely to last for a long time.
Doors for a commercial building: a summary
When deciding on doors for a commercial building, there’s a lot to consider. You need to decide on your budget and top priorities, bearing in mind the door’s location and level of usage.
The best commercial doors balance design, durability, functionality, fire safety and security. They make your business look good and support your operations. They also keep your goods, customers and employees as safe as can be.
Here at Secure Door Systems, we design, manufacture and install bespoke commercial doors. So you can be sure of finding the right fit and features for your business premises.
Get in touch today to tell us about your requirements and get your project started.
