by tanya_martins | June 6, 2024 10:32 am
By Ian Hudock
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Metal rolling and sectional doors are becoming popular in commercial construction thanks to their functional versatility and sleek designs. Much like other architectural elements, commercial structures have to look attractive while contributing to sustainable design and energy efficiency goals. For architects, designers, and specifiers, this means careful attention must be paid to the thermal performance of metal rolling and sectional doors.
R-value is often used for judging the insulating ability of static building materials, but metal rolling and sectional doors require additional considerations when it comes to assessing thermal performance. Since commercial doors are dynamic elements and comprise more than one material, builders must also take U-factor into consideration.
Here is a deep dive into everything architects, designers, and specifiers need to know about U-factor, including how it is measured, how it differs from R-value, and why it matters for specifying rolling and sectional doors.
Unlike assessing the thermal performance of simple structures such as walls and ceilings, rolling and sectional doors are complex architectural elements and require more comprehensive evaluation. Where R-value is useful for static materials such as drywall, U-factor is a more accurate measure of the thermal performance of these multi-component assemblies.
By seeking a low U-factor for heat transfer in rolling and sectional doors, building professionals can help ensure their designs are energy-efficient.
Choosing a metal rolling or sectional door with desirable thermal performance involves navigating the complexities of how these doors function, their material makeup, and how they interact with a building’s thermal envelope.
Specifically, metal rolling and sectional doors operate by coiling up around a shaft or by folding up in sections as they open, and then unrolling or unfolding as they close. This dynamic movement has several implications for thermal performance requiring U-factor for accurate measure. These include:
In addition to operational mechanics and differences in manufacturers and engineering, another argument supporting U-factor is material composition. Rolling and sectional doors can feature metal, typically aluminum or steel, and transparent or translucent materials, such as glass, acrylic, or polycarbonate. These materials impact thermal performance in several ways:
Specifying a metal rolling or sectional door with a low U-factor can dramatically enhance a building’s energy efficiency by reducing heating and cooling demand. For architects and designers, this means being able to deliver both visually appealing and environmentally responsible designs. For construction specifiers, it highlights the opportunity to select doors that align with energy performance goals without compromising style and functionality.
Metal rolling and sectional doors deliver a highly desirable combination of thermal performance and aesthetic appeal, which is made possible by continuing advances in material science and engineering. These advances have significantly elevated the appeal of these doors, and they are now available with more features that also attend to efficiency, such as:
Together, modern design and engineering seamlessly blend thermal performance with aesthetic versatility to meet today’s architectural demands.
Specifying a manufacturer who recognizes U-factor and integrates this measure into their commercial door designs is the ultimate goal for the building stakeholders who work with these architectural elements. A reputable manufacturer will contribute positively to the construction process, ensuring their rolling and stacking doors integrate seamlessly into the project while protecting the energy efficiency, design integrity, and smooth progression of the construction timeline. By prioritizing manufacturers who meet these criteria, construction professionals can enhance the quality and success of their projects, resulting in both energy-efficient and aesthetically pleasing spaces.
This full perimeter door sealing system is combined with thermally broken guide construction and insulated curtains to minimize air infiltration and thermal transference.
A commercial insulated door sealing system not only significantly reduces air infiltration but also reduces sound transmission.
Key distinctions between R-value and U-factor. R-value is ideal for evaluating static, single materials such as walls, whereas U-factor is used for dynamic multi-component assemblies like doors.
Author
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Ian Hudock is the associate product manager for the Clopay Corporation Strategic Marketing team. He specializes in both high-performance and new product lines. Hudock uses competitive research and market analysis to provide customers with informed, innovative commercial closure solutions.
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