An unusual quiet settles over the darkened theatre. The audience waits in their seats with bated breath, and some movement can be heard as the less-patient among the crowd shift in the cushioned auditorium chairs.

Will the actors be performing the little-known fifth act, or go through with the curtain call? Either choice is bound to end in thunderous applause.

The lights come up. Confetti cannons are released! The first performers make their way to center stage as the audience cheers.

While rolling doors may not often encounter rambunctious crowds or reverberating applause, the chance for a curtain call moment of their own is here.

Security rolling doors are unsung heroes – securing building openings with their durable, customizable, and compact selves. Much like the stage crew dressed in black seamlessly sets up the next scene, rolling doors quietly go about their duties, smoothly running in the background. And that’s the main goal of a rolling door: to work so well and only need a daily once-over that it blends into the background.

But you may not know what happens behind the scenes. While security rolling doors are low maintenance, there are some industry-specific features you should know about. Drumroll, please, as we roll up the curtain on security rolling doors.

Behind-the-scenes

Tip #1 - Understand Obstruction Detection Devices

The first insider tip is related to obstruction detection devices and when to use them. They’re an important part of security rolling doors and their functionality. These devices sense motion around, and will react to, an item in the way of the door’s path, stopping the door from closing on it.

There are many types of safety devices available that can be customized for your specific needs, including sensing edges, photo eyes and light curtains. All three aid in protecting people unaware of a cycling door from getting hurt and equipment from being damaged thanks to their automatic sensors.

You can read more on safety/entrapment protection devices here: [link to https://www.cooksondoor.com/blogs/Cookson/2018/03/15/non-contact-vs.-contact ?, or https://www.cooksondoor.com/accessory/entrapment-protection-devices  

Tip #2 - Read the Installation Instructions

It seems like a no-brainer, but reading the installation instructions for your rolling door of choice is key. We’re not promising it will be the most riveting reading material you’ve ever laid eyes on, but it’s necessary. Reading these can save a lot of head- and heart-aches after the door is installed. Just like an actress reads through and memorizes her lines, a door technician, specifier, and even owner can benefit from a perusal of rolling door installation instructions.

 At Cookson, we have ours conveniently translated into installation videos here: https://www.cooksondoor.com/retrofit-remarket/installation-videos.

To view the online, written version of our installation instructions, go to https://www.cooksondoor.com/retrofit-remarket/OandM-manuals.

Get clear on where exactly the rolling door you install is going. This includes not only the location of the door, but also if it’s in a main or secondary path of egress. Our doors at Cookson are not meant for pedestrian thoroughfare during a fire event and should not be placed within one. Instead, our fire doors can cordon off certain areas and are fire-rated for helping to contain smoke and fire outside of the main egress exit route, making the main path of egress easier for people inside the building to find and safely exit. A Cookson fire door protects occupants while guiding them in the right direction, much like a harness on an actor in a flying scene is a safety measure, and an “X” taped on the stage provides a clearly marked area to land.

Tip #4 - Measure Twice, Cut Once

Like with any production’s costumes, exact measurements matter. In a play, sure, a costume that doesn’t quite fit an actress works, but probably not well. She’ll be distracted by the ill-fitting apparel and could possibly flub her lines because she’s uncomfortable. In rolling doors, especially wind loaded options, accurately measuring the distance from the tip of a door guide to the other is also critical. This measurement can’t be off. Because the weight of the door and the wind gets transferred to the guides during a wind event, having guides that are correctly spaced will even out that pressure. This will also prevent damage to the door, the guides, and the building itself.

After the ending scene and curtain call of a play, the ideal response is boisterous applause and a standing ovation. With our “stage crew,” the rolling doors, we want the opposite: a quiet and smooth operation that doesn’t take much effort or thought on your end. Keep these tips in mind to create rolling door installation and operation worthy of any star on the red carpet.

If you’d like more insider knowledge about Cornell’s security rolling doors, call us at: 833.958.1273.

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