The Importance of Having a Maintenance Plan for Roll-Up Doors

MAINTENANCE PLANS FOR ROLL-UP DOORS

Sometimes roll-up doors can fail unexpectedly, endangering our workers.

Under normal operation, rolling steel commercial doors operate smoothly, so smoothly that most workers may not realize the hazard that a failed door can present.

Are you and your workers aware that your commercial garage door or your industrial door can easily weight more than half of a ton? Take a moment to analyze the potential danger if one of your coiling overhead doors fail, allowing it to free-fall and hit one of your workers.

Consequence of not giving a proper maintenance to your commercial doors

Most commercial and industrial doors do not have an auto-reverse features, such as the commercial operator bottom sensors. These sensors stop and reverse the door upon contact with an obstruction, such as a person or an object.

Here are some simple examples of what could go wrong if your door doesn’t receive the maintenance that is required:

• The drive sprocket could disengage from the shaft, allowing the door to free-fall closed.
• As the door ascends from the top of the frame, the drive chain could jump the sprocket, allowing the door to free-fall closed.
• As the door is open, the chain can break, allowing the door to free-fall closed. At the same time the chain can also fall on the floor presenting a second hazard.
• Without the proper maintenance, sometimes the motor can keep working even after the door has been fully open or fully closed.

It is important to schedule regular inspections and maintenance, as well as adequate funding to support your maintenance plans, and workers' continual situational awareness.

Investigations made by the Office of Environment, Health, Safety and Security (E.H.S.S.). revealed that most issues with coiling garage doors were caused because proper maintenance had not been performed on the schedule recommended by the manufacturer due to lack of funding. Some other times it is simply as a result of the age and continuous use.

Because of their weight and design, commercial rolling doors require frequent evaluation and servicing to avoid malfunction and - by extension - possible injuries to you and the members of your staff.

RECOMMENDATIONS

These are some simple recommendations given by the Office of Environment, Health, Safety and Security (E.H.S.S.) for the safe operation of roll-up doors are provided as examples.

1. Regularly scheduled maintenance.

2. Have adequate funding to support the maintenance program.

3. Offer training to workers, so they are aware of oll-up overhead doors hazards.

• Teach them to not stand or walk under a moving door; wait until it has stopped moving.
• Whenever possible, use a "personnel door" instead of walking under a raised door.
• Raise the doors completely to their upper limit, enabling the spring to counterbalance the door and maintain it in position.
• Keep the door in full view and free of obstructions while operating.
• Maintain awareness when walking or using equipment under or near a door stopped in the "up" position.

Finally, it is very important to allow only trained door technicians to install, adjust or perform maintenance to your roll-up doors.

HOW OFTEN SHOULD A MAINTENANCE PLAN BE SCHEDULED?

The frequency will vary according to the climate and other conditions under which the door regularly operates. Some maintenance may be required monthly, while other types of maintenance should be undertaken every three to six months. To determine the best schedule for your overhead doors or loading dock equipment contact The Overhead Door Company of The Meadowlands & NYC for a consultation.

For more information, please give us a call at 973-471-4060 or email us at: info@loadingdock.com

24-HR Emergency Service for Existing Customers at 973-471-4060

We service Northern New Jersey (Bergen, Passaic, Hudson, Union, Essex, Morris, Hudson, Hunterdon, Middlesex, Mercer and Somerset county/counties), Manhattan, New York City, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, Bronx, Westchester and Rockland.