Purchasing a commercial door operator isn’t like acquiring a residential model at all. The workload of the commercial version is substantially higher and requires a much stronger lifting mechanism and operating system.
Overall, the entire system has to be rated for a much larger workload because of the weight of the garage door and the number of times it will be engaged throughout the day.
One of the most important specifications is horsepower. Additionally, these doors will need a very high life expectancy for business owners to get their money’s worth. It doesn’t matter whether you’re looking to build an addition or just overhaul the exterior of your commercial space; there are hundreds, even thousands of options to choose from.
This post will give you some insight into all the elements you must consider before pulling the trigger on a commercial garage door operating system.
Like these kinds of trolley door operators? This is the LiftMaster MT model.
Biggest Differences Between a Commercial Garage Door and a Garage Residential Door
Commercial garage doors are designed much differently than the residential version. Multiple different design aspects separate these two. Number one, as we mentioned previously, the commercial version must be able to handle a much larger workload.
The workload of a residential garage door and the commercial version don’t even come close. The average residential door will open an average of twice per day. An average commercial garage door will sometimes open as many as 30 times in a single day.
This is exactly why these two have very dissimilar operating systems. The commercial garage door is made to function on a much higher level. Residential doors are quality as well, but these are designed more with visual elements in mind. Theses doors are all about being pleasing to the eye, while commercial garage doors are all about being dependable and durable.
Size and Poundage
Commercial buildings include warehouses, parking garages, and any other heavily-worked building that have a huge space to store freight and inventory. Because of this, there has to be a large commercial door that delivery trucks can access.
These commercial garage doors need a very durable operator that can stand up to the daily demands that are put on them. The proper operator can make all the difference in the world as far as dependability and longevity.
Commercial Garage Door Operation Cycles
Commercial garage doors are designed to be opened and closed as much as 30 times on any given day. This amount of usage can add over 100,000 cycles during the lifespan of a commercial door. That is an insanely large amount of revolutions. No residential door would be able to come close to this type of operation cycle. It’s impossible to compare the function of a residential door because they are designed for two entirely different scopes of work.
Horsepower
Different models have different amounts of horsepower. However, most commercial garage door operators are powerful enough to handle the daily workload thrown their way. You should also keep in mind that they lift a large amount of weight. Substantial amounts of power and dependability are needed to accomplish these tasks.
Here are some loading dock doors. These garage doors are the G-1000, 8’ x 8’, Heron Blue by Garaga.
Common Commercial Door Operators
When it comes to commercial garage door operators, there are two primary types. There is the trolley and jackshaft. Ultimately, the best location for your operator will determine which model works the best for your garage.
- Trolley Models
These electric garage door operators hang from the ceiling. Normally, they are placed to the center of the door and at the very tip of the rail. The name comes from the fact that the rail carries a trolley. This trolley hooks onto the garage door and slides it along the rail when it opens and closes. A trolley is commonly used for a regular lifting door because it pulls up and down. Think of the trolley almost as a tow truck for the garage door.
- Jackshaft Models
These are also known as wall-mounted garage door operators because they are installed next to the garage door as opposed to above it. Instead of using horizontal pulling from a trolley system, these models use rotation to power the door. A torsion bar spins and makes the door go up and down. These types of models can be used for various types of door movements.
You want to know more about these garage door operators? This is the LiftMaster GH (on the left) and the jackshaft LJ8900W model (on the right).
Now that you’re more familiar with how both of these garage door operators work, you can check out different models of garage door operators from LiftMaster. This will allow you to get more specific regarding the exact model that works best for your building.
What Does Your Business Need Specifically?
Do you understand what the door will be used for the most? Does the design of the garage door matter? How much money can you spend and how many garage doors will you need in the end? These are all very important questions to consider when you’re deciding on the type of garage door operator for your company.
Before you buy the garage door operator, you need to determine a few things first. What are the requirements for the property where your business is located? The industry you are in, the construction of the building itself, and the amount of traffic you receive will all play a role in your final decision.
Cost may ultimately play the biggest role, but it shouldn’t be the only factor. The quality and efficiency of the garage door operator should rank closely with the final cost.
Apartments or Condos
If you are purchasing the garage door operator for apartments or condos (for the parking garage), the number of units is very important. The number of cycles the door goes through weighs heavily on the number of apartments are located within the unit. Let’s use the following example:
- Let’s say there are two garage doors and 200 occupants with one vehicle each. If the amount of traffic is split evenly per door, this means that each door will open and close 200 times in one day. One hundred in the morning when residents leave, and 100 in the evening when residents arrive.
The operation cycle will influence the amount of horsepower you require. The higher the operation cycle, the more horsepower you require.
A pneumatic reversing sensing edge and a timer-to-close mechanism will be required for each door as well. The former is a hose that attaches to the bottom of the weatherstripping. When the garage door touches something while it’s closing, this mechanism will force it to open to avoid death or injury.
City Parking Garage or Car Dealership
These types of buildings normally work best with a jackshaft model. The reason for this is that there is no blockage for the ceiling, and there will be higher amounts of storage space. There are two accessories we recommend purchasing for these types of setups. These will need to be acquired separately from the operator itself.
- A loop detector is installed before the floor is paved. These detect vehicles as they are approaching the garage door. If a vehicle comes too close, the door will automatically open.
- A mid-stop can save you a ton on your utility bills. If a door is opening but senses there is no need to complete this task fully, it will engage in closing. This allows precious heat to remain inside the building.
Car Washes
Car washes contain doors that have high levels of security and insulation. Regardless of the specific design of the carwash, every door installed will need to be waterproof. This isn’t because of the direct splashing of water but rather the humidity that is manifested from the environment. This can be very damaging to the electronic components of the garage door.
Some garage door operators can reduce noise and easily control the flow of traffic. This can be very important, especially if your car wash gets busy.
Take a few minutes to walk around the property and inspect the thoroughfares and parking lot. Note the layout of the environment. This can help you pick out the right operator based on the space you are working with. You will also know if you need to purchase accessories that will be more beneficial.
Fire Station/Rescue Squad Buildings
Surely, you’ve noticed the front of these buildings is generally made of a huge plate of glass. Do you know why?
It’s to make sure that drivers have maximum visibility because they have to leave the building at such high speeds.
This full view door is a G-4400, 14’ x 16’, Anodized extrusion.
Specific design requirements outline the construction of a fire department or rescue squad building. This ensures higher levels of safety to protect the emergency workers. Things move quickly in these areas, so safety precautions must be exercised.
This blog from FireRescue1 explains why LiftMaster’s smart garage door systems can be the difference between life and death.
There are two primary advantages to having these powerful operators:
- Safety of the workers and protecting the equipment
- Protecting against burglars and other undesirables
Most people don’t realize there is a control panel installed on the wall that can substantially increase the speed when these workers have a call. With the push of a button, every door in the building can open at once to get all the vehicles out much faster.
Warehouses/Cold Storages/Commercial Space
Depending on the exact industry, needs will be different and based on the daily operations at your building. How big are the loads or pallets you receive on your freight deliveries? Do you store frozen goods, or is everything dry? How many trucks arrive throughout the day?
Many questions need answers. This is why we recommend you contact a specialist to help you with your specific needs.
Want to Know More?
There are several technical challenges, and things can get frustrating when you’re not well-versed regarding garage doors and garage door openers. Hopefully, this guide helped you out a little bit on your journey.
However, we understand that sometimes you need a little extra help! If you need additional assistance, we are here for you. We have several commercial doors for any industry. We are confident we can meet your needs.
You might want to check out our image gallery. These contain real photos of installations for some of our clients. We have several specialists standing by to help you any time you need it.
Contact us today at 518-562-8310 or come in to see us in person. We can take a look at your plans and let you know what we suggest. If you’re pressed for time, you can leave your plans with us, and we can get back to you with a quotation by email!
This is the LiftMaster GT model, a heavy industrial-duty trolley door operator.
What About Installation?
Do you already know which electric garage door operators you will need? In that case, the last thing left to do is move forward with the installation. We have certified technicians that can guarantee a top-notch job for your operator.
Safety is our main concern. Let one of the experts at North Country Door Systems install your operators! We have electrical contractors who can come in and handle all of the outlet and wiring work.
NOTICE. Every LiftMaster commercial door operator comes standard with a security system that increases your safety and can help prevent serious injuries. However, there are additional features that can be purchased that update these systems. You may want to look into these to boost the security of your business and better protect your workers.
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