If you're in the market for a new commercial rollup door, you may wonder which type you should choose — a high-speed or high-performance door? Both have their advantages, but high-performance doors offer many superior benefits that can improve virtually any facility. If you aren't familiar with either model, you're in luck! This article will explain the difference between the doors to help you make an informed decision.

The Difference Between High-Speed Doors vs. High-Performance Doors

High-speed doors are non-swinging doors that operate at a minimum rate of 32 inches per second (ips) when opening, according to the Doors & Access Systems Manufacturers Association (DASMA). When closing, a high-speed door operates at a minimum of 24 ips. This type of door also includes a mechanism for automatically reclosing itself. High-speed commercial doors are usually employed in factories and storage facilities. You're less likely to see them in high-hazard situations.

Because high-speed rollup doors are often not fire-rated, they are often excluded from high-hazard situations. If your building is in a region with a high fire risk, it's recommended to avoid installing these types of doors because they won't provide fire protection. High-speed industrial doors also don't offer the same kind of longevity and strength you'd get from a high-performance model, which makes them less common in more risky applications.

On the other hand, DASMA defines high-performance doors as sliding, folding or power-operated non-residential doors, distinguished by their ability to accommodate at least 100 cycles per day or operate at a 20-ips opening speed. Because of their high usage rates, they often come with features that allow for increased durability and user safety. If you need a commercial door that can withstand frequent operation and provide employee protection, buying a high-performance rollup door is a fitting choice.

Benefits of High-Performance Doors

High-performance commercial doors bring many advantages to a business. Here are a few benefits you'll gain from implementing them in your facility:

1. Offers a Long Life Span

High-performance doors consist of strong materials like aluminum and steel, which ensures their functionality and longevity. Additionally, some models are springless, come without sprockets or chains, or have a smoother motor to facilitate less wear on the assembly's components.

In comparison, high-speed door curtains and panels can be made of materials such as fabric or rubber, which won't last as long as other alternatives. Many high-performance doors are also built to withstand vehicle or machinery impact, but can still easily break away to decrease injury risk and reduce damages.

2. Can Accommodate Various Applications

Whether you need a commercial door for a manufacturing plant or business parking garage, you can find a high-performance model that will meet your needs. This versatility makes it easier to purchase a door that will fit your business instead of wasting time or money on doors that don't. High-traffic areas like airports and malls need heavy-duty doors that can adapt to various locations and situations.

3. Needs Minimal Maintenance

High-quality materials and a longer life span mean fewer maintenance tasks and repairs. Many high-performance doors don't require any maintenance besides routine checks until a specific number of cycles has passed, such as 200,000. You can save lots of money you'd otherwise spend on fixing breakdowns and repairs, which can allow you to upgrade other aspects of your business.

4. Increases Efficiency

If your facility is a building like a warehouse, where people have to complete high volumes of work in a set time, a high-performance door can increase productivity by preventing door breakdowns and delays. Timeliness is vital in serving clients and completing work duties effectively. It becomes much harder to be on time and productive when operations are held up because of a faulty door. A resilient industrial door with fast opening and closing speeds, however, can eliminate those worries.

5. Protects Employees

High-performance doors come with safety measures such as photoelectric eyes and reversing mechanisms. Cookson's high-performance doors come with SafetyGard™ Light Curtain Technology. When anything breaks the plane of the light curtain, the door automatically returns to its open position to avoid damaging equipment or causing injury.

Choosing the Right High Performance Roll Up Door for Your Needs

Cookson offers various custom-made, high-performance doors to fit your business needs, including high-performance gates and rolling doors. Our high-performance doors open at 24 ips, which is up to three times faster than standard doors. They can handle at least 300,000 cycles before they need maintenance, making them a wise choice for money-conscious business owners. Check out our offerings below to familiarize yourself with our products and discover which model is right for you.

Extreme® 300 Series Rollup Door

This high-performance rollup door offers 300,000 maintenance-free cycles and a springless design for ease of use and a long life span. Springs are a common failure point for many high-speed commercial doors, but this springless model helps you avoid this issue and keep operations running smoothly. This door operates at a maximum of a 24-ips opening speed. You can boost its efficiency by opting for an insulated model. Insulated doors include our patented sealing technology to stop air leaks and lower your energy bills.

Extreme® 1024 Rollup Door

If you need a commercial door that's extra tough, this is the ideal choice for you. Our Extreme 1024 roll up door offers a cycle life of 1 million maintenance-free opening and closing cycles. Built for heavy-duty applications, it operates at 24 ips —three times faster than standard overhead coiling doors on the market. And like the Extreme 300® Series, it also comes in an insulated model for better climate control and energy efficiency gains.

Extreme® High-Performance MicroCoil® Grille

Cookson's MicroCoil® Grille is an excellent choice if you work in a facility with minimal space but still need a heavy-duty commercial door solution. This gate can coil into fewer than 14 inches of headroom, making it one of a kind in the industry. Its 500,000 cycles and 24-ips operating speed make it the ideal choice for any parking garage that sees a lot of activity throughout the day.

It also includes our Apex™ SmartController for straightforward, high-tech operation, as well as a light curtain and set of photo eyes for user safety.

Extreme® 300 Series High-Performance Gate

Just like our Extreme® 1024 rollup door, this high-performance model operates at speeds three times faster than standard market solutions. Offered safety features include components such as photo eyes that comply with the UL 325 standard and our SafetyGard™ Light Curtain Technology. Additionally, this security gate comes with a variable-frequency direct drive that facilitates smoother starts and stops for less wear and tear.

Contact Cookson for High-Performance Doors Today

High-performance doors can increase your facility's productivity and ultimately make it a more efficient place to work or carry out daily tasks, increasing your bottom line. Employees and clients alike will appreciate your attention to detail and concern for their well-being by installing safe commercial doors. You can quickly recoup any upfront costs of installing your door due to the savings you'll get from streamlined operations, less maintenance, and tighter security.

Connect with one of our authorized local dealers today if you'd like to learn more about how our custom high-performance models can serve you. You can also get in touch with us using our contact form if you're ready to request a free quote.

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