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Steel Building: When to Have A Sliding Metal Door

Steel Building: When to Have A Sliding Metal Door

Sliding doors allow for more clearance, which is ideal for oversized machinery, equipment, and aircraft

The entrance into your business is as essential as the roof overhead. That’s why it’s necessary to think about the type of door you’ll need for your steel building in advance. Most industrial and commercial steel buildings feature either a rolling sheet or sliding metal door. A sliding door works with the installation of a track at the base and rollers either above and below or along the side of the door. Sliding doors are opened and closed by sliding in one direction or can be bi-parted, where each side of the door slides in the opposite direction. They can also either be installed to push overhead or to the side. Here we look at the advantages and some of the disadvantages of having a sliding metal door.

 

ADVANTAGES:

They are Better for Traffic Flow

A steel or metal sliding door is a popular choice for busy operations, as they allow traffic to flow in and out of a building with ease. Easy to open and operate, a bi-parting or one-directional sliding door system can easily be automated so that it opens and closes with the touch of a button or a motion detector.

 

They Offer a Larger Opening

Unlike roll-up doors, which take up more height, sliding doors allow for more top clearance, which is ideal for operations such as aviation (hangars), agriculture (barns), mills, and manufacturing (steel workshops), as they allow better access for oversized machinery, equipment such as cranes, and even aircraft.

 

They Can Be Customized

A sliding metal door can easily be integrated to fit into the design of your pre-engineered building, with custom paint coatings, custom vents, overhangs, and even insulated glazed windows to allow in natural light.

 

They are Energy Efficient

Sliding steel doors are designed to minimize heat from escaping your prefab metal building. Metal doors used for commercial steel buildings can offer high R-rated thermal insulation.

 

They are Better for Air Flow

A one-directional or bi-parting sliding metal door allows you to adjust the airflow in and out of your building, which is especially helpful during extreme temperature changes. That's because they can be fully or partially opened to allow the air to transfer.

 

DISADVANTAGES 

They Require Some Maintenance and Cleaning

A sliding door can become hard to open and close if dirt or residue builds up on the track. To prevent the door from jamming, it's important to keep the track clean and well lubricated. Some steel sliding doors may also need the weatherstripping or seals replaced or repaired after a time.

 

Still deciding on what door is right for your business? Learn more about rolling sheet metal doors in our blog, Steel Garages: When Should You Have a Rolling Sheet Door.

 

Metal Structure Concepts can help you find the right door for your custom steel building. Visit us at mscsteel.com to learn more.