A high-performance door is like the Ferrari of the loading dock. It prevents energy loss, opens and shuts quickly, and keeps work flowing smoothly. It's important to look under the hood to make modifications and maximize the door's performance from time to time.

That's why we've created this quick guide to help you make the most out of your warehouse dock door and your loading dock operations. 

Key Tips to Boost Your Warehouse Dock Doors

When you add a shiny new tool to your toolbox, you want to put it to work. We have three helpful tips to help facilities leverage high-performance doors for maximum productivity, security, and efficiency. 

1. Design a Dock Layout for Your Traffic

Designing an appropriate traffic layout is a key way to maximize the efficiency of your loading dock door. If the layout is correct, the flow of traffic to the door will be smooth. You won't need to keep the door open for a long time for congested traffic. When the door remains closed, facility owners will save on temperature control and electricity expenses.

Traffic engineering and local council codes should be the foundation for your setup. However, there are general principles that can help you optimize your design. Any property gates should be 16 to 20 feet apart for a one-way traffic roadway and 30 to 32 feet apart for a two-traffic roadway. 

2. Perform Routine Inspections on Your Doors 

Just as a responsible car owner checks their vehicle's oil level and tire pressure, it's also necessary to check the status of high-performance doors. It's important to make sure that your doors maintain their top functionality for safety reasons. 

In fact, winter is one of the toughest seasons for dock doors because they must maintain a tight seal to control the indoor temperature. That's why it's vital to always check the health of your door before entering the cold season. 

There are several ways owners can inspect their doors, including:

• Inspect door seals: Carefully check the bottom and side edges of high-performance doors to ensure no cracks or missing seals leak air into the facility.
• Examine motors: It's also crucial to open and close the door to make sure it operates smoothly.
• Review the door's fit: Ensure the door closes and fits the insulation snugly so that no unregulated air seeps into the area.

3. Prevent Accidents With Loading Dock Bumpers

Since the high-performance door typically opens automatically with motion, forklifts or other equipment can hit it while it's opening or closing. This issue is where loading dock bumpers come in handy. The docking bumper protects employees backing up in a forklift from accidentally falling off the edge into the driveway. 

Find Your Cornell High-Performance Door Solution Today

Cornell believes in the power of a well-made door to transform your productivity and keep your work family safe. That's why we've been committed to building doors you can trust for over a century.

Ready to find your high-performance door solution? Reach out to us and ask any questions on our quick contact form or find a local dealer to get started today. 

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