The good news is that there are more doors to choose from today then ever before. The bad news is, that can sometimes be confusing! But it need not be if some careful research and consideration is done before a project is launched. Each door system has its own place for optimal operation. You can use the following as a guide when selecting an industrial door and operating system; that way you'll be sure to pick the best one, based on the individual application at hand.

• Determine the number of cycles per day and year. This estimate is important when selecting the type and grade of door and hardware best suited for the application.
• What type of traffic is applicable? Will there be forklift cable? Will there be forklift trucks, vehicles, oversized equipment and/or pedestrians?
• What about heat loss and refrigeration? An insulated door would offer the solution for both these scenarios. Also, check the "R" value of the product and how it was determined. Top, jambs and bottom weather stripping will combine to retain energy while preventing wind, rain, snow, dirt, sand, dust and small pests from entering around a door opening. All these factors should be dealt with at the point of specifying a door.
• Do you need natural light, vision panels, or just enough light to see out or in? Some doors have more light options than others and you should identify all factors which may affect this choice.
• Atmospheric conditions make all the difference in the world when it comes to life expectancy of the door and hardware. Abnormal dust, water and corrosive areas need to be addressed at the specification stage. Will the electric components need to be explosion proof?
• Is fire separation an issue? Fire door openings must comply with MFPA 80. Are openings prepared to comply with applicable codes? What about other legislated codes concerning wind and fire rating? Does the door specified meet all of them?
• What degree of security is required? Is user abuse or vandalism a probability?
• Are wind loads or negative pressures a factor?
• Next, consider the opening size. You need to allow for proper space. Clearances around the opening, headroom and each side should be priorities. (Headroom is the area between the bottom of the header and the ceiling.) What is the total measurement, floor to ceiling, and front of the opening to the back area? Are overhead cranes or other equipment going to interfere?
• Electric operation provides for smooth use of the door. It also saves precious energy that occurs from heat loss and man hours opening and closing the door. Radio controls allow for remote operation of the vehicle or forklift, again saving costly labor hours. If radio controls are selected, safety equipment will surely be in order including reversing edges, loop detectors, photo cells, motion sensors and pull cord switches.
• What else about opening and closing could be a future issue? Most doors travel at speeds of 7" to 12" per second, while some specialty doors are designed to open at 60" per second. If the door specified must be electric, what type of controls will be required?
• Now, consider the type of door required – Is it rolling, sectional, vertical-stacking, sliding, or high-speed fabric?

By using the above checklist, you will have the basic information required to select the best door for a particular application. It's a lot to evaluate. But consider the end result of not dealing with all these factors – unnecessary problems for everyone concerned with a project. I encourage you to use this checklist when specifying the right industrial door for your next application. Always use a professional door dealer to assist you in choosing the right door.