Are you building a new garage for your commercial space? Maybe you are renovating the building and need a new garage door and opener. Regardless, you need to be sure you are getting the right one for the job.
There are certain things you need to think about when you are looking for commercial garage door operators.
We want to make things easier for you. Below, you'll find some of the essential things to keep in mind with these pieces of equipment. This can help you to make a more informed purchasing decision.
This is the LiftMaster MT model, a type of trolley garage door operator.
Commercial and Residential Garage Doors: How They Differ
Even though the basic purpose of the doors is the same, you will find that the commercial garage doors and residential doors are not used in the same way, not really. The residential garage doors are available in many styles and colors to improve to look of the garage. Commercial garage doors focus on being functional more than beautiful.
Size and Weight of the Garage Door
Residential garage doors tend to be smaller and lighter because they aren't used as much, and they don't need to be quite as robust. Commercial garage doors are used for loading and unloading, often all day long. The doors need to be bigger and more durable. They also need to have a more powerful door operator.
Cycles—Opening and Closing the Garage Door
It's not just the size that's different. There is also the operation cycle to consider. The number of times a commercial door opens and closes during a full day will be much higher than a residential door, which might only open twice per day.
Commercial garage doors might open and close up to 50 times a day or more in some cases. Therefore, the door and the system that operates it needs to be as robust as possible. You also need to think about efficiency, not just power.
How Much Horsepower Is Needed?
The answer to this question will vary based on the size of the door and the number of cycles it has to handle. The heavier the door and the more cycles needed, the more powerful the commercial garage door operator will need to be.
These are loading dock doors that are commonly used. This model is the G-1000, 8’ x 8’, in Heron Blue by Garaga.
Commercial Garage Door Operators: Trolley and Jackshaft
Two main types of garage door openers can be used— jackshaft and trolley. The location where you will need to place the operator will be a major factor in determining which one you will need. Let's look at each.
● Jackshaft
This type of system is installed beside the door. The torsion bar turns and uses rotational force to make the door move up and down. It can be used with all types of door movements. Another term for this is a wall-mounted garage door operator.
● Trolley
This opened is suspended from the ceiling and is usually central to the door and placed at the far end of a rail. It has a trolly system that connects to the door. It rides along the trolley to open the garage door.
Check out each of the garage door operators? On the left, you'll find the LiftMaster GH, and on the right is the jackshaft LiftMaster LJ8900W model.
Armed with this additional knowledge about these systems, you can start to look into some of the models of garage door operators from LiftMaster. Take the time to find the right solution for your commercial building.
Your Business Is Unique: What Do You Need?
You have a lot of things to think about when you are making a choice. How do you plan to use the door? What type of materials should be used? How much do you have in your budget? Do you need multiple doors or just one? When you are making your choice, be sure you can answer all of these questions.
Think about the requirements for your commercial property. In some cases, the type of industry will make a difference. The way the building is constructed can be a factor, as well. Even the amount of traffic that the site gets can matter.
Although cost is a factor, it's better to have a high-quality door than a cheaper system that doesn't work correctly. A good door operator can play a big role in your operations.
Apartments and Condos
Some condo and apartment buildings will have large garages and will need to have commercial garage doors, given how many times they will have to open and close each day. If you have hundreds of tenants, this means that the doors will be cycling hundreds of times each day.
Naturally, you need to be sure you have a garage door opener that can handle it. The amount of horsepower you need could be greater when there are a lot of cycles. Higher horsepower can also affect the cost of the garage door.
With doors in these locations, you will also need to have a timer-to-close feature and a pneumatic reversing sensing edge, which features a sensor that will cause the door to reverse and move upward if it comes into contact with anything. This is an important safety feature.
Municipal garages and Car Dealers
Although it's not always the case, you'll find that jackshaft garage door operators are a good option for these buildings. They will not obstruct the ceiling, which can allow for some added storage space. When the operator is used in these capacities, there are two types of accessories you might want to consider using, as well.
● The loop detector is what will detect vehicles when they pass the sensor, causing the garage door to open. This will generally be installed before paving the floor.
● A mid-stop is another useful feature. It will allow the door to not fully open if you don't need it to be all the way up. Some use this for some added ventilation.
At the Car Wash
Some car washes today feature garage doors. These can be used to provide some insulation and for added security. Garage door operators should always be water-resistant, so there is no damage to the electronics because of humidity.
Other factors could affect your choices, as well. The location of the building or the type of construction are good examples. You might choose to use more powerful operators to help better control traffic flow or to reduce noise. Consider the environment and the building materials. Doing so will help you choose the right garage door operator and accessories.
Fire Stations
The garage doors on a fire station tend to be unique. They are made from glass in many cases, so the firefighters can see what's outside of the door when they are leaving the station.
This full view door is often used for sire stations. It is a G-4400, 14’ x 16’, Anodized extrusion.
The design of these types of garage doors is important given the nature of the work the firefighters have to do. Naturally, they need to have a powerful and reliable system to get the garage door up, so they can get out and to the scene of the emergency as quickly as possible.
Here is a blog from FireRescue1. It does a good job of explaining why the smart garage door openers from LiftMaster work so well for fire stations. The biggest benefits of having a powerful operator are for the safety of equipment and personnel and protection against vandalism and theft.
One of the other ways to speed things up when they have to get out of the garage is with a wall control panel. This makes it possible for one person to open all of the doors from one location. This helps them get out on the road faster.
Commercial Properties and Warehouses
Different industries may have different needs. You have to consider what you will be stored in the garage, how you need to access it, and how large the garage door will need to be. This all goes into the type of garage door operator you will need.
The best option is to talk with the professionals about the options. They can help you choose the system and doors that will work best for you.
Ready for More Information?
Trying to understand what you need when it comes to garage doors and operators can be difficult simply because there is so much to learn. The information should have helped you start to get a better idea of what you will need.
If you are working on a new building or you simply need to update your current garage door operators, we can help. We even offer a range of commercial doors that can work for various types of businesses.
Take some time to peruse the image gallery to see some projects we've done. Talk with a specialist to get all of the information you need.
Contact us by dialing 519-631-1507. If you prefer, you could visit us in person. We are ready to help. We can even offer you a quotation by email.
Here is the LiftMaster GT model. It is a heavy industrial-duty trolley door operator.
Installing the Garage Door Operator
Trying to install the garage door operator on your own is not something you want to attempt. The electric garage door operators should only be installed by professionals. We have the knowledge and equipment to do it right and safely.
Contact the specialists at Cliff's Overhead Doors for all of your installation needs.
Remember that all LiftMaster commercial garage doors feature a security system, which helps to improve safety and reduce the risk of injuries. Always learn more about the operators you are considering and find the one that's right for you.
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