A guide to roller shutters

person walking past roller shutters

What are roller shutters?

Roller shutters are a great security addition – made of sturdy metal, these doors can roll up and down on command making them a popular choice for retail, office blocks and industrial use, as well as for home garages. Coming in a range of colours and types, your roller shutter will be sure to fit in with your aesthetic as well as increasing the safety of your property. 

How do roller shutters work?

orange roller shutter

Roller shutters are powered by motors that allow the main curtain to slide up or down through the tracks or guide channels at the sides. When rolled all the way up, the slats fit into a box above the roller shutter. This box is discrete – so it doesn’t take away from the aesthetic of your shutters. When the shutters are rolled down, they are fixed against the floor for maximum property protection. Roller shutters are quick and easy-to-use, whilst still offering the highest form of protection for your property.

Roller shutter parts

There are multiple parts to a roller shutter, and these parts ensure that they run smoothly for all your access needs. A few of the main parts to familiarise yourself with are:

  • Motor – Sitting above the door, this component powers the roller shutters 
  • Guide channels – These are hollow, ‘U’ shaped channels at the side of the shutters. Guide channels allow the slats – that form the curtain – to easily roll up and down
  • Curtain – Made up of slats and sections that overlap each other, the curtain is the main bulk of the roller shutters  
  • Bottom rail – This is the final slat, which can be reinforced with a rubber seal for extra protection from water or flood damage. It also secures the shutters to the ground
  • Safety break – A main safety feature of a roller shutter is the safety break. This break prevents the curtain dropping at a dangerous speed in the event of a motor failure

Types of automatic roller shutters

blue roller shutter

There are many types of roller shutters – the type you decide on will depend on what features you require, and where the shutter is needed. 

Commercial roller shutters

Roller shutters are ideal for retail areas, and are specifically designed to perform fewer cycles of opening and closing per day to suit commercial needs. What better way to protect your storefront than covering it in a sheet of metal? We know that protecting your stock or equipment is vital, and sometimes locking the door just doesn’t cut it. That’s why shutters are amazing for office use as well. Prevent theft from your business with commercial roller shutters. 

Insulated roller shutters

As bills skyrocket, the need to save energy is more important than ever. Luckily, our insulated roller shutters can help. Lower your costs and retain expensive heat by installing insulated shutters to your business or garage. Insulated roller shutters are also great for noise control; whether that’s keeping noise out or in, they will do the job. 

Fire roller shutters

Fire roller shutters are a popular choice for any business or building that contains a kitchen area. These shutters are perfect for hospitals, retail stores, stadiums and any business that wants added fire protection. We offer shutters with varying levels of fire safety, with some offering up to four hours of protection. Incredibly, our fire roller shutters can integrate with your fire alarm for a higher level of security. If you’re wanting to take full advantage of these amazing shutters, we suggest adding audio and visual warning units – this will help in highly pedestrianised areas. Take ultimate care of your property with these shutters.

Manual roller shutters

Manual roller shutters function in the same way as automatic shutters, but they’re not electric. They open and close manually through the use of a crank and cannot be operated by a remote or switch. As these shutters don’t use electricity, they are cheaper to run and are great for areas with no power available. However, automatic shutters are a lot more convenient than their manual counterparts.

Benefits of roller shutters

green roller shutter

Gone are the days of bulky industrial doors that are hard to operate and take up way too much space. Roller shutters offer an amazing alternative. They’re extremely strong and durable, not to mention they take up next to no space. Easy-to-use, roller shutters are a great addition to any business or home wanting more security. We also offer a 24/7 maintenance service for industrial shutters, so if anything goes wrong, we’ll be there – any time of day or night. 

Who can use roller shutters?

Roller shutters can be used by anyone. From home use in garages to industrial use in factories – they are a perfect security option. Once you install roller shutters, we promise you’ll never go back. So, if you’re fancying a break from your current door situation – why not give us a call or get in touch with our team today?

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