A Guide On Choosing High Speed Doors For High Traffic Food Production Areas
Food production facilities are demanding environments. Buildings typically have strict hygiene regulations, tight temperature limits and regular foot and forklift traffic. This results in every part of your site needing to work hard, including your doors. Choosing the right high speed door for high traffic food production areas is not just about speed. Requirements also span into hygiene, reliability, energy efficiency and safety.
At EFAFLEX we have decades of experience designing, supplying, installing and maintaining high speed industrial doors across the UK food and beverage sector. This practical guide will help you to make the right door choice.
Why High Speed Doors Are Crucial In Food Production
In a busy food production building, doors can open and close hundreds or potentially, thousands of times every day. Standard industrial doors cannot keep up with this level of consistent use. High speed doors reduce opening time and allow:
- Temperature & climate control - reducing energy loss between cold, production & dispatch areas
- Hygiene & cross contamination prevention of particles & pests
- Work efficiency - reducing traffic at doors
- Safety with less collision risk for pedestrians & vehicles
Key Factors To Consider
1. Hygiene Standards & Materials
Food production facilities need doors that are easy to clean and are resistant to bacteria build up. Look for specialist doors manufactured from food safe, non porous materials with smooth surfaces, such as our EFA-SRT Easy Clean model. Stainless steel components and certified food grade curtain materials are recommended for areas with direct food contact or cleaning requirements.
2. Operating Speed & Cycle Rates
In high traffic areas, door speed can impact the site’s productivity and hygiene. EFAFLEX high speed doors can open at up to 5 metres per second, reducing the time a door stays open and minimising temperature fluctuation alongside contamination risk. Always specify door speed according to your traffic volume and workflow requirements.
3. Door Type To Fit Your Site
Not all high speed doors work for every food production zone:
- Spiral doors are ideal for cold stores & deep freeze areas with strong insulation & durability
- Fabric doors suit internal zones needing fast, frequent cycling with low maintenance
- Next Generation doors have advanced performance for speed & thermal efficiency
4. Maintenance & Reliability
Door downtime in a food factory can be costly. Therefore its sensible to prioritise doors with mechanisms that allow the door to reset automatically after a minor impact to avoid unnecessary stoppages. Also consider a service and maintenance schedule to keep doors operating to safe standards and compliance.
Compliance & Regulations
Food production facilities must meet tight standards, such as the Food Safety Act and BRCGS standards. Your door specification should meet your internal hygiene and safety management strategy. EFAFLEX works with clients to make sure that installations meet regulatory requirements.
Get Expert Advice From EFAFLEX
Choosing the right high speed door is a long term investment into your facility's productivity, safety and compliance. At EFAFLEX our expert team can perform free site surveys and provide custom recommendations to fit your operational needs. Get in touch with us to find out more.
