Door Functions and Security
We are all aware that today’s vehicles are, in the main, wider and higher that those constructed at the time when Marley Garages first came onto the market (over sixty years ago). Of all the limitations that these older garages possess wing mirror clearance (WMC) between the door posts is the biggest problem for most of today’s users. At the time of their introduction and in order to provide maximum wing WMC, Marley designed and built their own doors, which went from post to post with no frame, however the operating mechanism decreased the WMC by 94mm (47mm on each side). Thus their WMC of 2273mm was reduced to 2179mm.
In recently the German door manufacturer, Hormann, have taken over the market, even to the point of buying out the last remaining UK manufacturer, Garador, so that low cost up and over doors no longer exist. Furthermore in order to sell a replacement product that is easier to ship, Hormann place a frame around their door and have labelled that format a “cassette door”. Whilst this is a practical solution that helps keep the door in good shape during transportation and fitting, it does mean that the WMC is substantially reduced. The apparent door width of 2108mm is further reduced by the operating mechanism to 2024 mm(42mm on each side).
With our roller shutter door there is no mechanism. The spring and other parts are contained within the roll of slats. And, as an added benefit, there are no levers and springs exposed which could be a safety hazard. Plus all of the interior space is available for storage and shelving.
Part of the problem here is the post width used by Marley (and others using the same concept) to accommodate their rainwater downpipe. This measures 235mm in width and frames the door. This concrete post not only reduces the WMC but splits or spalls with time. This is as a result of water freezing in the blocked downpipes (more later). With a roller shutter door the post/downpipe is the same thickness as the garage dividing wall only the roller shutter door guides protrude into the WMC thus increasing the WMC to 2294mm. Therefore the extra WMC obtained over the original Marley door is 2294-2179=115mm (nearly 5 inches) and over a Hormann door 2294-2024=270mm (over 10 inches).
Collision Damage
Look at any group of up-and-over doors and you will see evidence of collision damage. with a minor “bump” the door may remain usable but any distortion of the door panel will cause it to become unlockable and often to jam.
These doors are virtually unrepairable and have to be replaced. Today that cost with labour is in the region of £600 to £800 depending on the locationand the model.
With a roller shutter door (RSD) only the damaged slats need changing and these cost about £10 each at current prices. With labour changing 3-4 slats should cost no more than £100-£130, and can be carried out by the owners/property managers maintenance staff where available.
Security
As manufactured, up and over doors rely on rods actuated by a handle to enter sockets in the frame. This sounds secure enough but in reality it offers a low level of security. We have the video of a break-in that took less than 80 seconds to can open the skin of the door, move the operating rods and gain entry to the building. A bar at the base of the door would have stopped this, but such a bar can be cut off with an angle grinder.
With our roller shutter door we offer two locking systems. Either or both can be fitted. One is the simple hasp and clip padlocking the base rail to ground which can be employed singly, or in pairs, the other is a plunger that engages with one of the solid slats in the door at mid-height so that locking and unlocking is possible without bending down. Cutting these side locks with an angle grinder is not so easy and very noisy. Even cutting the slats doesn’t work as the linkage continues in the guides which would require a 7′ long vertical cut to remove (difficult).