There’s no escaping the winter cold but there are certainly steps you can take to keep the cold winds and freezing temperature out of your industrial facility. By adding or replacing weather seals on industrial doors, you can cut down on energy costs that usually involve heaters working overtime to maintain comfortable temperatures, plus keep employees and customers content.
With weather seals in place, you can keep unwanted elements out of the workspace, control the climate, and reduce costs.
There are many types of weather seals available for industrial doors, so getting the best protection from the cold can boil down to the specific materials that comprise the seals installed on your facility’s doors. Here are some of the most common types of weather seals:
Tension Seal
Also known as V strip, tension seals are rigid strips folded into a V shape used to bridge a gap. These are typically installed along the top and sides of industrial doors. This type of weather seal can be very effective when installed properly.
Tubular Rubber, Vinyl or Silicone
Weather seals made of these materials come in the form of a narrow sponge of rubber, or vinyl tubing that comes attached to a metal mounting strip or retainer. Silicone seals are typically inserted into milled grooves. These weather seals are usually installed at the base of industrial doors or the bottom, and between the door and its jamb.
Airflow Management Brush Seal
Brush seals are another way to keep your facility weatherproof. With flexibility in design – such as straight, helical, with rings and internal- or external-facing filament, and uniquely formed to meet custom applications, these weather seals provide ample opportunity for climate control. Overall, various retainer styles, profile shapes, and fastening types provide mounting adaptability.
Filaments
Nylon filaments, which come in a wide range of densities and trim shapes present a long life cycle, and thus are durable, even under extreme cold. Polypropylene filaments, on the other hand, provide a cost-effective alternative.
Straight Strip Brushes
These brush weather seals are optimal for sealing dock levelers, and provide dirt-sealing capabilities and are most effective at deterring rodents. These can also be used in sealing gaps around trucks while in the loading dock, which contribute to improved thermal efficiency in your industrial facility in Toronto.
Formed Strip Brushes
These weather seals can be used on doors and windows and provide protection against dust and weather-related elements. Additionally, these can also provide protection from sharp edges and parts in trucks and trailers during loading and unloading.
Other Types of Weather Seals
Apart from the five most common types of weather seals used on industrial doors, there are some other seals that can be used as well, each with their own capabilities:
- Magnetic – these are effective aire sealers that work similarly to refrigerator gaskets;
- Door shoe – made of aluminum attachments with a vinyl, C-shaped insert, these can be installed under doors; and
- Interlocking metal channels – while regarded as the best weather seals, these can be difficult to install, as proper alignment is critical.
