Close the door to rising energy costs
May 1st 2006 Klimate explain how the addition of high-speed doors to your warehouse or factory could lead to large energy savings
For many businesses already operating in an increasingly tough and competitive environment, over recent years another obstacle has emerged - a considerable rise in the cost of energy.
In the last two years UK industry has experienced rapidly rising energy prices with virtually no company left unaffected by the rising costs. Furthermore, the Climate Change Levy, an energy tax introduced by the government in 2001 as part of a strategy to promote energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, adds approximately 15% to typical energy bills of UK businesses.
As a result, businesses are now being forced to take measures to reduce the impact of these high fuel bills, which are eroding profit margins and competitiveness. Given that energy costs may continue to rise for years to come, businesses must consider whether investing in more efficient plant and machinery could justify the outlay by reduced energy bills and, it is important to consider the total lifetime cost of the investment. Tackling the problem of spiralling energy costs the range of highspeed doors from UK specialists Klimate offer very quick payback periods.
In large distribution buildings maintaining appropriate air temperatures that suit the needs of employees and keep stock in good condition can be an expensive business. Standard slow operation doors are frequently left open when in use which can significantly increase energy costs.
Klimate high-speed doors are designed to offer reliability under intensive use where there is a requirement to minimise heat loss or gain. Whether your requirement is for internal or external use, freezer room, hygienic environment or high wind conditions high-speed doors can save you energy and money.
The Ardent range of high-speed doors from Klimate uses a single variable speed motor for customising door opening and closing times, as well as reducing door wear. The door has opening and closing speeds adjustable up to 2 m/s depending on the size of the door and is made of a heavy duty PVC curtain, which increases the door's thermal insulation properties, resulting in minimal loss of warm air. On average Ardent door can reduce spaceheating bills by up to 14%.
Not only is a high-speed door a valuable investment because of its ability to reduce draughts and temperature loss and improving working conditions but, it also reduces contamination due to airborne pollution and ingress of vermin, optimises the flow of traffic and reduces noise levels.
The Ardent's modular construction can cut maintenance costs by as much as 15%.
Due to the simplistic nature of the door and the fact that Klimate engineers are able to train the customer's own maintenance people on the workings of the door, any minimal maintenance work can be quickly and easily undertaken in-house, drastically reducing on-going costs. Unlike other high-speed doors that rely on complex tensioning machinery and components, the Ardent range uses gravity to tension the door reducing the risk of serious damage to the door's operation arising from strikes to the bottom rail and safety edge. Klimate claims the Ardent to be the first high-speed door to feature polycarbonate end cassettes, fitted to each end of the bottom rail, and designed to snap on impact. The cassettes can be quickly unclipped and reinstalled without the need to replace the entire bottom rail, a costly and time consuming undertaking especially for tensioned rapid roll doors where other components may have been damaged.
The Ardent also overcomes the common problem of traditional high-speed door's safety edge spiral cable being blown by the wind and getting caught in the door. It uses an energy chain specially designed to carry cable at high speed, preventing the cable from being trapped in the door and extending its life span to 10 million door opening / closing cycles.
The latest addition to the energy efficient range of doors is the Klimate K2, a frost free high-speed door designed to be installed on the ambient side of the freezer door way resulting in low energy costs, high handling efficiency and a safer environment for cold storage workers.
Traditionally, freezer door openings have been fitted with slow moving, solid, sliding doors which are subject to energy loss.
The Klimate K2 composes of a low temperature PVC curtain, which closes the entire width of the doorway sealing the opening to class 2, in accordance with BSEN 12427: 2000, air permeability test. A de-mist system prevents condensation on the ambient side of the freezer to prevent any ice build up and also acts as an air barrier when the door is open preventing cold air from leaving the freezer and warm air getting into the freezer.
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