When in proper working order, an industrial door brings an added degree of security and protection for your building. However, without regular maintenance and performing consistent checks to confirm safe operation, you could end up endangering both yourself and your workforce. With this in mind, the following are signs that your industrial door needs to be repaired, to ensure that no health and safety risks occur.
Issues with the opening mechanism
An industrial door should open and close smoothly, without any judders, locking, or sudden movements. If this is the case, you may require a callout to get the problem fixed, as this is not only a risk to your building’s security, but someone could end up getting hurt as a result of a damaged mechanism.
If the door isn’t secure
If there’s an issue with the locking mechanism, this is another sign that your industrial door needs to be repaired. You rely on a locked door to prevent any unauthorised entrances into the building, and without it closing securely behind you, you could end up risking theft, alongside damage to your valuables and appliances. Each industrial door will have a different type of locking mechanism, but regardless of the design, always double check that it’s been secured efficiently, rather than swinging back open again.
Appearances are everything
For those that have an older industrial door, it’s likely that it will have been affected by wear and tear over the years. Make sure that this doesn’t compromise on the sturdiness of its design, as not only will this impact your business’s aesthetics, it could pose a security risk.
If the door isn’t insulating the building
As discussed in our guide to business energy saving, an industrial door – when operating in proper working condition – is a great insulator, protecting people and vehicles alike from harsh weather conditions, without burning a hole in your pocket. A way to keep track of this is to analyse your energy bill, and if it’s shooting up all of a sudden, it could mean that your industrial door isn’t insulating the building as it should.
Opening speed
This could be at either end of the spectrum. Where high speed doors are concerned, their sole purpose is to open up quick enough to optimise traffic flow, but not so much so that it becomes a danger to others. On the other hand, if your industrial door is activated by a button and the response time is slow, this could also be a danger when people are trying to evacuate the building. Make sure to keep an eye on this, and if you’re experiencing anything similar, this could be a sign that your industrial door needs to be repaired.
Making noises
Don’t panic. We’re aware that industrial doors can make the odd noise during operation, and this isn’t necessarily something to worry about. However, persistent squeaking and screeching could indicate that there’s a fault with the door’s opening mechanism, which is a sign that a part might need replacing. Also, if you’re recognising noises that are unusual for your industrial door, don’t leave it be. You should report anything that appears out of the ordinary, keeping track of any changes and alerting the right people accordingly.
Ensuring industrial door maintenance
As enforced by the Defence Infrastructure Organisation, the importance of regular door maintenance performed by a professional, and recognising the risks that can occur due to an industrial door that isn’t performing correctly, is highlighted.
It states that “(issues should be) promptly reported to the appropriate persons, including HoE, and that suitable and sufficient risk assessments are undertaken and appropriate risk mitigation put in place”.
If you’re looking to enhance the security and efficiency of your building, we’re an expert provider of manual and automatic door systems that are designed for longevity. In the event that you notice a fault with your industrial door, or otherwise, we have a 24/7 maintenance service that aims to swiftly fix the issue, with minimal disruption to your business. Get in contact with us today to find the door that best suits your needs.