Finding ways to effectively seal large doorways is particularly important during winter, as preventing the flow of cold air helps to maintain comfortable indoor temperatures and ensures productive working conditions.

General purpose strip curtains are useful for closing off doorways to prevent the flow of cold air into a working area but may not be the most appropriate solution for certain applications.

Apex Strip Curtains advises companies to look at alternative means of sealing doorways and suggests that the company’s range of products caters for a wide range of applications and budget requirements.

The company manufactures a variety of fast action roll-up and fold-up doors which are suitable for applications ranging from food preparation and the hospitality industry through to mining and manufacturing.

Apex Strip Curtains asserts that its doors are designed using quality materials and components to offer a product that is safe to operate, extremely rugged and provides an effective barrier against cold air, dust and other contaminants.

An example is the standard Traffic fold-up door, which is particularly suited for providing exterior access in production plants, shipment areas and warehouses. It is designed to resist wind loading of up to 50 km/hour and a custom model that can withstand speeds of up to 90 km/hour, is also available. The door is manufactured from strong self-extinguishing Class 2 fabric which is designed to offer excellent thermal insulation. Vision windows are incorporated into the panels and the supporting structure is constructed of high-quality galvanised steel. Installation is said to be quick and easy because the support structure contains all the electric drive gear mechanisms, as well as a specialised mechanical counterbalancing system.

Like other doors in the range, the Traffic door is controlled by an electric unit which complies with IEC regulations and can be activated by any type of remote-control equipment, such as  photocells, pressure sensitive mats, movement detectors or induction loops. To facilitate safety, the door is fitted with a release lever that opens it from either side, in the event of a power failure or malfunction.

In addition, a set of back-up batteries is housed close to the electrical control panel, to further enhance safety features and ensure continuity of operation. The door has a sensor bar on its lower edge which opens the door immediately, no matter what stage in its cycle, in the case of an accidental collision.

Another fast action roll-up door in the range is the Sector – a panel and window model which uses the same counterbalancing system and has an extension spring activated by a release lever to facilitate semi-automatic re-opening.

“All the doors are engineered for extensive opening and closing actions, and require virtually no maintenance,” says Apex Strip Curtains sales executive Wim Dessing. “However, it is vital that the correct door be selected and factors such as doorway size and the type and volume of traffic moving through this opening must be considered in the purchasing decision.”

Apex Strip Curtains provides a technical information service, which includes installation and commissioning, to assist companies in selecting the most appropriate door.