In engineering and manufacturing, warehouses and workshops often become heat chambers in a hot summer as is currently being experienced in most parts of the country. Doors left open to allow access for people and equipment also let in hot air, which is trapped in the building and reheated by the greenhouse effect, causing excessive heat build-up.

"It's a proven fact that a comfortable worker is a productive worker, yet many industrial managers in both large and small operations do not realise they can improve working conditions immeasurably in hot buildings by simply controlling air movement," says Wim Dessing, managing director of Apex Strip Curtains.

Dessing's company offers a range of products that make it easy to control the working environment. Locally manufactured Apex SR 900 high impact traffic doors are insulated impact resistant swing doors, designed for efficient long life use in high traffic, impact-opening applications.

Built to withstand traffic from both pedestrians and forklifts, the Apex SR 900 door is a fully gasketed heavy duty impact swing door which opens easily and closes under its own weight. Insulated with polyurethane, this robust impact door is ideal for application where temperature control is vital, or where ingress of dust, insects or noise must be prevented.

The door retains its physical properties in both high and low temperature environments and is impervious to moisture, acid, animal fats, insects, salt solutions and petroleum products. Besides being durable and robust, this door provides excellent sound attenuation.

Another popular option, Dessing says, is the range of high speed roll-up or fold-up doors which includes the Traffic and Sector units. All offer rapid automated opening and closing, as well as efficient thermal insulation and a highly effective wind barrier.

The doors are aesthetically pleasing in a range of colours and are made from durable, flexible polyesters and PVCs. The electronic componentry is modern, compact and self-contained to allow quick and easy installation in doorways and passages.

A variety of activation options, from floor mats to beepers, is available and all doors have a back-up emergency opening capability. Unless otherwise required, doors have a transparent panel for through-vision.

The company is also well-known for its patented, balledged strip curtains, which have proved itself in innumerable applications in South Africa and abroad.

"Strip curtains are a very inexpensive way to cover a door opening to prevent the ingress of hot air yet still allow easy passage. Strips are made from specially formulated PVC that doesn't become brittle with use and stays transparent for through-viewing and added safety. The balledge on the strips don't snag or catch on people or goods passing through, strengthening the strips for a long service life as well," Dessing explains.

"All our products are modular in design, providing flexibility for either retrofitting or greenfields installation. Specifications and advice are readily available, and Apex's philosophy is to provide the best solution for long-term, cost-effective environment-control," Dessing concludes.