The Role of High-Speed Roll-Up Doors in Reducing Energy Costs

For warehouses and storage facilities around the world that are required to maintain temperatures at a constant level in order to preserve the quality of the goods stored in them, the quest to control their energy bills is an uphill battle. There are quite a few reasons for this:

Maintaining temperature-controlled storage facilities is an expensive affair, and the perennially rising costs of electricity and air conditioning do not help.

These storage facilities are not isolated from the outside world; constant loading and unloading of goods into and out of the facility requires frequent opening and closing of doors, which allows outside air to mingle with the controlled, internal environment.

It is worth mentioning that industrial facility doors are often quite large, up to 4 m in width and as much or more in height to allow delivery trucks and forklifts to enter for loading, unloading, and transportation operations.

This resulted in way too much fluctuation in the required temperature. More often than not, the doors take a long time to open or close, and sometimes, were improperly closed, leading to possible contamination and degradation of the goods stored inside. In traditional settings, it was less cumbersome to leave the doors open while a prolonged logistics operation was underway.

As a result, every time the doors closed, the air conditioning system had to work extra hard to bring the temperature back to required levels, which translated to higher energy requirement, and therefore, higher energy bills. Once you factor in the fact that storage facility doors open and close hundreds of times a day, you can truly appreciate the enormity of the task of controlling energy costs.

Fortunately, there is a simple, yet elegant solution to this problem: installation of high-speed roll-up doors. In this blog, we will cover what these specialized doors are, how they function, and most importantly, how they help in reducing energy costs.

High-speed Roll-up Doors

High-speed roll-up doors, or industrial high-speed doors, are innovative warehouse insulation solutions that are designed to keep temperature-controlled storage facilities from experiencing too many variations in temperature. These energy-efficient roll-up doors are made of strong, lightweight, and flexible fabric that can be opened or closed rapidly, giving outside weather elements little chance to enter the facility.

Features and Functions

High-speed roll-up doors are made up of several sections of high strength PVC canvas that can be rolled or unrolled vertically using a geared motor operated through a control panel.

They are easy to install and can be installed throughout the warehouse. They can also be easily customized to fit different door sizes.

They are also easy to operate. At the press of a button, the door opens or closes at high speeds of 1 m/s. Compared to traditional door systems, which open at average speeds of 0.3 m/s, this is a significant improvement. The opening and closing of the doors can also be automated using a radar or induction loop, saving personnel time and effort.

To prevent accidents, safety features such as photo cell and electric safety band are built into the framework. The edges are also soft and flexible, keeping the door from snagging on clothing or cutting the people moving through.

The industrial high-speed doors are extremely durable, capable of operating in wide ranges of temperatures. They can also function in extreme weather conditions with a high wind load resistance (Wind Class up to 5).

Another remarkable feature of roll-up doors for energy efficiency is their ability to repair themselves. This means that if they are knocked out of position by mistake, they are capable of self-correcting and moving back into position. All-in-all, these energy-saving doors for warehouses are reliable, efficient, long-lasting, and require minimal maintenance.

Energy Cost Reduction with Roll-up Doors

As mentioned earlier, reducing energy costs is the most important advantage of installing high-speed roll-up doors. This is particularly important for temperature controlled storage facilities that see a large volume of daily traffic. The cost of energy is also a significant component of an organization’s environment and sustainability goals and objectives. Let us understand how they help in this regard.

1. Minimize air exchange: Through their rapid opening or closing action, high-speed roll-up doors for temperature control keep outside air from mixing with the internal air, which minimizes the impact of outside elements to destabilize the controlled internal temperature settings.

2. Improve insulation: The thermal insulation roll-up doors have strong insulative properties, preventing seepage of heat into or out of the facility when they are closed, keeping internal temperatures stable.

As a result of these energy-efficiency features, the pressure on the facility’s HVAC systems to maintain a stable temperature is minimal, and therefore, the cost of additional energy required is much lower than it would otherwise have to be. Over time, the amount of energy saved is sufficient to pay for the initial investment in the high-speed doors themselves!

Conclusion

High-speed roll-up doors are new age solutions for enhancing operational efficiency, improving worker comfort and safety, and reducing an organization’s carbon footprint. They are recognized for their superior energy efficiency and the significant impact they have on reducing energy bills, compared to conventional overhead doors. By reducing air exchange and providing excellent thermal insulation, these energy-efficient industrial doors are non-negotiable infrastructural additions for industrial warehouses, cold storages, food and beverage storage and distribution facilities, and pharmaceutical facilities.   

About SAB TECH

SAB TECH is a leading manufacturer and distributor of high-quality industrial door solutions, including high-speed roll-up doors and industrial sectional doors. SAB TECH’s energy-efficient roll-up doors are made of completely customized high strength PVC-coated polyester fabric. They can also be customized with the brand colors of the company. The doors are designed to be used extensively, making them ideal for high traffic facilities such as logistics centers, supermarkets, cold storages, warehouses, hospitals, carwashes, and more. SAB TECH also provides a one-year warranty with spare parts, dedicated aftersales service and an annual maintenance contract. If you wish to upgrade your facility with high-speed doors for energy savings, get in touch with them today.