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High-Speed Doors and Night Security

A fabric strut one, no. A rigid spiral one, perhaps.

The problem is that fast doors are normally purchased for energy and throughput, and security is assumed. Replacing an old, slow shutter with a fast door improves the site, and no one asks what happens at 2:00 AM.

Fabric doors

A PVC curtain will help prevent draughts, dust and forklifts from entering an area. It won’t help prevent an intentional entry by someone with a blade. A fabric door has a locking bottom bar, but the curtain above the lock is still fabric.

If you have a high-speed fabric door opening outwards, there needs to be something behind it at night. Roller shutters are normally used behind the fabric door, or in front of it. The fabric door is used during the day, and the shutter comes down at closing time.

Make sure the two cannot damage each other. Interlock the controls so that the shutter cannot be driven down over an open high-speed door, and the high-speed door cannot be in the running position with the shutter closed.

Spiral doors

Rigid spiral doors are stronger, and some sites use them as their only external door with proper locking. “Stronger than fabric” doesn’t mean tested. If your insurer asks for a security rating for external doors, check the spiral door you’re offered has one. It might not.

Ask the insurer first

This is a five minute call before placing the order. Tell them what the door is and ask if it meets their requirements for an exterior door for the night. It’s much cheaper to verify this now than after a claim.

Back to the full guide: High-Speed Doors

Related: High-Speed Door Types | Commercial Security Shutters