Parking security solutions without compromise
Advancements in high-performance security grilles have reduced the coil size to take up a small amount of headroom. This allows A&Ds to maximize clear opening—the total space a vehicle has to enter and exit a parking garage. A typical standard overhead rolling grille requires 610 mm (24 in.) of headroom, while new products from leading manufacturers require as little as 330 mm (13 in.). This nearly 50 per cent reduction saves headroom space and maximizes clear opening.
This game-changing design works in tandem with efforts to develop the proposed federal accessibility legislation that seeks to create new standards and regulations to identify, remove, and prevent barriers to accessibility. While this legislation has not been officially unveiled (expected to be introduced sometime this year), architects can get ahead of the change in code by incorporating high-performance security grilles with a reduced coil size. This allows wheelchair accessible vehicles to more easily enter or exit facilities with ultra-low ceiling heights.
While the benefits of these new high-performance compact rolling grilles are clear, why are not more A&Ds integrating them throughout the country? More often than not, the wrong rolling grille is installed because the right one was value engineered out of a project. It happens a lot with high-performance rolling products, as they are more expensive than standard rolling grilles. However, there are very real, tangible costs to installing the wrong product that can more than double the cost of the less expensive option in downtime and repairs.
Installing a standard rolling grille instead of a high-performance compact rolling grille will increase the time it takes to complete a full cycle (open to close), and reduce the number of cars that can enter or exit a parking facility. A standard overhead rolling door or grille can open at about 203 mm (8 in.) per second, compared to 610 mm (24 in.) per second for high-speed rolling grilles. This can feel like an eternity when a person is leaving for work, or coming home at the end of a long day.
Slower operating speeds can also cause delays for mixed-use buildings that have a combination of shoppers, tenants, and residents utilizing the garage 24-7. The result is traffic backing up onto the street or sidewalk, a potential safety hazard for drivers and pedestrians. It can also impact customer/user satisfaction. In the world of social media, it only takes one angry driver to cause a commotion and ruin a building’s reputation.
From a facility management standpoint, it is important to consider potential maintenance delays as well, especially in high-traffic and mixed-use settings. Facility managers may come in to find a standard coiling door or grille that is ‘out of service’ or ‘closed for repairs.’ Standard rolling grilles are not rated for continuous use and, therefore, they are more likely to fail in high traffic applications. For urban areas with only one or two ingress and egress points, this can be disastrous. In the event a door or grille fails, it will typically need to be held in an open position. This means any semblance of safety and security for the parking structure is compromised.
Further, when a standard overhead grille is utilized beyond capacity (completing too many full cycles), the motor overheats, components wear out prematurely, and springs fail. This renders the grille or door completely useless. A broken spring will cause the overhead door to slam shut, putting everyone at risk of injury and lead to expensive service calls.
