Steps to make the right choice
At first, it may seem difficult to choose the optimum industrial or commercial garage door. We're here to make your life easier. A good choice is one that really corresponds to the way the door will be used. Paying too much for a door may not be beneficial; paying too little may result in annoying and expensive repairs.
Step 1: Select a door that will be suitable for your actual application
Consult the pdf version.
Choose the type of windows you require
Sealed thermal glasses ("thermo")
| Sealed lites |
| Clear, tempered, laminated or tinted |
| Sealed lites |
| Clear, tempered, laminated or tinted |
Full vision window section ("service station" style)
| Single pane |
| Clear, tempered, laminated or tinted |
| Sealed lites |
| Clear, tempered, laminated or tinted |
| Single pane |
| Clear, tempered, laminated or tinted |
| Sealed lites |
| Clear, tempered, laminated or tinted |
Step 2: Choose the door system according to the degree of sturdiness you need
This depends mainly on the dimensions of the door, the material it's made of and the number of daily open/close cycles it will undergo. Consult our sturdiness scale.
The spring acts as a counterweight to facilitate the opening of the door. Choosing a spring depends mainly on the daily number of open/close cycles your door will undergo.
Here are some recommended typical systems:
| | Light duty | Heavy duty | Super heavy duty |
| Garaga hardware: | - 14-gauge steel tracks and mounting brackets*
- Pull rope
- Single hinges
| - 13-gauge steel tracks and mounting brackets*
- Pull chain
- Single or double hinges
| - 12-gauge steel tracks and mounting brackets*
- Pull chain or chain hoist
- Single or double hinges
- Reinforcement bars
|
| Spring: | 10,000-cycle springs | 25,000 to 100,000-cycle springs | Springs for more than 100,000 cycles |
| Garaga hardware: |
| Light duty |
- 14-gauge steel tracks and mounting brackets*
- Pull rope
- Single hinges
|
| Heavy duty |
- 13-gauge steel tracks and mounting brackets*
- Pull chain
- Single or double hinges
|
| Super heavy duty |
- 12-gauge steel tracks and mounting brackets*
- Pull chain or chain hoist
- Single or double hinges
- Reinforcement bars
|
| Spring: |
| Light duty |
| 10,000-cycle springs |
| Heavy duty |
| 25,000 to 100,000-cycle springs |
| Super heavy duty |
| Springs for more than 100,000 cycles |
* The lower the gauge number, the thicker the steel
Recommended hardware by type of usage
Based on the assumption that a Garaga Model G-5000 sectional door is being used, here are Garaga's recommendations for hardware, depending on the application.
| Hardware | Shipping Department
Size: 8' x 8' | Municipal Garage
Size: 14' x 14' |
| Type | 3" "Industrial", 12 ga. tracks | 3" "Industrial", 12 ga. tracks |
| Vertical tracks | Attached to the walls with mounting brackets | Attached to the walls with continuous angle |
| Horizontal tracks | Reinforced with 2" x 2", 13 ga. horizontal steel angle. | Reinforced with 2" x 2", 13 ga. horizontal steel angle. |
| Type of elevation | Full vertical lift
(space required: twice the height of the door) | Maximum clearance possible depending on the height available |
| Hinges | Single | Double |
| Number of cycles for springs | 50,000 | 25,000 |
| Operation | Pull chain | Chain hoist |
| Options | "C"-shaped bumper springs | None |
| Situation | This type of door has a very high use frequency. Plan for quarterly checks of the door system. | This type of door has a moderate use frequency since it will accommodate 1 or 2 vehicles at a time |
| Special note | See: dock seals, dock levelers, dock bumpers.
Also: protection posts (54 high) or Z- style fender guards | Pusher springs if Standard Lift |
| Hardware | Shipping Department
Size: 8' x 8' |
| Type | 3" "Industrial", 12 ga. tracks |
| Vertical tracks | Attached to the walls with mounting brackets |
| Horizontal tracks | Reinforced with 2" x 2", 13 ga. horizontal steel angle. |
| Type of elevation | Full vertical lift
(space required: twice the height of the door) |
| Hinges | Single |
| Number of cycles for springs | 50,000 |
| Operation | Pull chain |
| Options | "C"-shaped bumper springs |
| Situation | This type of door has a very high use frequency. Plan for quarterly checks of the door system. |
| Special note | See: dock seals, dock levelers, dock bumpers.
Also: protection posts (54 high) or Z- style fender guards |
| Hardware | Municipal Garage
Size: 14' x 14' |
| Type | 3" "Industrial", 12 ga. tracks |
| Vertical tracks | Attached to the walls with continuous angle |
| Horizontal tracks | Reinforced with 2" x 2", 13 ga. horizontal steel angle. |
| Type of elevation | Maximum clearance possible depending on the height available |
| Hinges | Double |
| Number of cycles for springs | 25,000 |
| Operation | Chain hoist |
| Options | None |
| Situation | This type of door has a moderate use frequency since it will accommodate 1 or 2 vehicles at a time |
| Special note | Pusher springs if Standard Lift |
| Hardware | Condominium building
Size: 16' x 6' 6" | Car Wash
Size: 10' x 12', (All thermal glass) |
| Type | 3" "Industrial", 12 ga. tracks | 3" "Industrial", 12 ga. tracks |
| Vertical tracks | Attached to the walls with continuous angle | Attached to the walls with continuous angle |
| Horizontal tracks | Reinforced with 2" x 2", 13 ga. horizontal steel angle. | Reinforced with 2" x 2", 13 ga. horizontal steel angle. |
| Type of elevation | Often limited (Low headroom) | Maximum clearance possible depending on the height available |
| Hinges | Double | Double |
| Number of cycles for springs | Maximum possible (ex.: 200,000 cycles) | Maximum possible |
| Operation | Electric trolley operator (in all cases) | Chain hoist |
| Options | Track guard (60" high) and precision rubber rollers | Precision rollers (NB SS type) and galvanized springs and shaft |
| Situation | This type of door has a very high use frequency. Monthly maintenance is required (annual service contract) | This type of door operates under severe conditions and requires monthly maintenance (and even more frequently during the cold season) |
| Special note | Electric operator accessories are important. Consult with Garaga Engineering Department | |
| Hardware | Condominium building
Size: 16' x 6' 6" |
| Type | 3" "Industrial", 12 ga. tracks |
| Vertical tracks | Attached to the walls with continuous angle |
| Horizontal tracks | Reinforced with 2" x 2", 13 ga. horizontal steel angle. |
| Type of elevation | Often limited (Low headroom) |
| Hinges | Double |
| Number of cycles for springs | Maximum possible (ex.: 200,000 cycles) |
| Operation | Electric trolley operator (in all cases) |
| Options | Track guard (60" high) and precision rubber rollers |
| Situation | This type of door has a very high use frequency. Monthly maintenance is required (annual service contract) |
| Special note | Electric operator accessories are important. Consult with Garaga Engineering Department |
| Hardware | Car Wash
Size: 10' x 12', (All thermal glass) |
| Type | 3" "Industrial", 12 ga. tracks |
| Vertical tracks | Attached to the walls with continuous angle |
| Horizontal tracks | Reinforced with 2" x 2", 13 ga. horizontal steel angle |
| Type of elevation | Maximum clearance possible depending on the height available |
| Hinges | Double |
| Number of cycles for springs | Maximum possible |
| Operation | Chain hoist |
| Options | Precision rollers (NB SS type) and galvanized springs and shaft |
| Situation | This type of door operates under severe conditions and requires monthly maintenance (and even more frequently during the cold season) |
| Special note | |
Conversion: 1 inch = 25.4 mm
Step 3: Select your door opener and the other accessories you will need
The choice of the door opener depends on the weight of the door and the number of open/close cycles that it will undergo. There are two types of door openers: trolley type and jackshaft.
| | Light duty | Medium duty | Industrial duty | Heavy industrial duty |
| Trolley-type door opener | - Less than 8 cycles/hour
- ATS Model
| - Less than 12 cycles/hour
- MT Model
| - More than 12 cycles/hour
- T Model
- GT Model
| |
| Jackshaft Door opener | - Less than 8 cycles/hour
- 3900 Model
| - Less than 8 cycles/hour
- MJ Model
- MH Model
- RBH Model
| - More than 12 cycles/hour
- H Model
| - High cycles
- GH Model
- J Model
|
| Trolley-type door opener |
| Light duty |
- Less than 8 cycles/hour
- ATS Model
|
| Medium duty |
- Less than 12 cycles/hour
- MT Model
|
| Industrial duty |
- More than 12 cycles/hour
- T Model
- GT Model
|
| Heavy industrial duty |
|
| Jackshaft Door opener |
| Light duty |
- Less than 8 cycles/hour
- 3900 Model
|
| Medium duty |
- Less than 8 cycles/hour
- MJ Model
- MH Model
- RBH Model
|
| Industrial duty |
- More than 12 cycles/hour
- H Model
|
| Heavy industrial duty |
- High cycles
- GH Model
- J Model
|
Application examples for various type of building.
| Fire station | H | MH | RBH |
| Operator: |  |  |  |
| Important accessories to install: | - Adjustable timer to close (standard on L 4.0)
- Pneumatic reversing system
- Photocell safety system (standard on L 4.0)
|
| Optional accessories: | - Radio transmitter
- EMA 4 enclosure (opener)
- NEMA 4 photo-eye upgrade
- Exterior 3-button station with key lockout (NEMA)
- Light curtains
|
Fire station| H |
|
| MH |
|
| RBH |
|
| Important accessories to install: |
- Adjustable timer to close (standard on L 4.0)
- Pneumatic reversing system
- Photocell safety system (standard on L 4.0)
|
| Optional accessories: |
- Radio transmitter
- EMA 4 enclosure (opener)
- NEMA 4 photo-eye upgrade
- Exterior 3-button station with key lockout (NEMA)
- Light curtains
|
| Municipal garage | H | RBH |
| Operator: |  |  |
| Important accessories to install: | - Adjustable timer to close (standard on L 4.0)
- Pneumatic reversing system
- Photocell safety system (standard on L 4.0)
|
| Optional accessories: | - Radio transmitter
- Loop detector (on the outside as well as the inside)
- Exterior 3-button station with key lockout (NEMA)
- NEMA 4 enclosure (opener)
- NEMA 4 photo-eye upgrade
- Light curtains
|
Municipal garage| H |
|
| RBH |
|
| Important accessories to install: |
- Adjustable timer to close (standard on L 4.0)
- Pneumatic reversing system
- Photocell safety system (standard on L 4.0)
|
| Optional accessories: |
- Radio transmitter
- Loop detector (on the outside as well as the inside)
- Exterior 3-button station with key lockout (NEMA)
- Exterior 3-button station with key lockout (NEMA)
- NEMA 4 enclosure (opener)
- NEMA 4 photo-eye upgrade
- Light curtains
|
| Apartment complex or condominiums | APT | HCTDCUL |
| Operator: |  |  |
| Important accessories to install: | - Adjustable timer to close (standard on L 4.0)
- Pneumatic reversing system
- Safety device (standard on L 4.0, not standard on HCTDCUL model)
- Traffic lights
- Radio transmitter
- Star 450 radio receiver (to manage tenants)
|
| Optional accessories: | - NEMA 4 enclosure (opener)
- NEMA 4 photo-eye upgrade
- Exterior 3-button station with key lockout (NEMA)
- Loop detector
- Light curtains
|
Apartment complex or condominiums| APT |
|
| HCTDCUL |
|
| Important accessories to install: |
- Adjustable timer to close (standard on L 4.0)
- Pneumatic reversing system
- Safety device (standard on L 4.0, not standard on HCTDCUL model)
- Traffic lights
- Radio transmitter
- Star 450 radio receiver (to manage tenants)
|
| Optional accessories: |
- NEMA 4 enclosure (opener)
- NEMA 4 photo-eye upgrade
- Exterior 3-button station with key lockout (NEMA)
- Loop detector
- Light curtains
|
| Car wash, wash bay | H | RBH |
| Operator: |  |  |
| Important accessories to install: | - Adjustable timer to close (standard on L 4.0)
- Pneumatic reversing system
- Photocell safety system (standard on L 4.0)
- NEMA 4 enclosure (opener)
- NEMA 4 photo-eye upgrade
|
| Optional accessories: | - Radio transmitter
- Exterior 3-button station with key lockout (NEMA)
- Note: The radio receiver must be enclosed in a seperate box or located away from the wash bay. Opening and closing cycles can be activated by a timer or from an outside location.
- Light curtains
|
Car wash, wash bay| H |
|
| RBH |
|
| Important accessories to install: |
- Adjustable timer to close (standard on L 4.0)
- Pneumatic reversing system
- Photocell safety system (standard on L 4.0)
- NEMA 4 enclosure (opener)
- NEMA 4 photo-eye upgrade
|
| Optional accessories: |
- Radio transmitter
- Exterior 3-button station with key lockout (NEMA)
- Note: The radio receiver must be enclosed in a seperate box or located away from the wash bay. Opening and closing cycles can be activated by a timer or from an outside location.
- Light curtains
|
| Distribution center | H | MH | RBH |
| Operator: |  |  |  |
| Important accessories to install: | Pneumatic reversing system Note: Delivery doors (ex.: 9' x 8') are typically subject to high cycles, therefore important accessories become critical. You should also allow for posts on the inside to be anchored in concrete (about 54 inches) to protect the accessories in place. |
| Optional accessories: | |
Distribution center| H |
|
| MH |
|
| RBH |
|
| Important accessories to install: |
- Pneumatic reversing system
- Note: Delivery doors (ex.: 9' x 8') are typically subject to high cycles, therefore important accessories become critical. You should also allow for posts on the inside to be anchored in concrete (about 54 inches) to protect the accessories in place.
|
| Optional accessories: |
|
These construction specifications and drawings are applicable to Garaga inc. products only.
Step 4: How to choose a garage door installer
Regarding the installation and maintenance of an industrial, commercial or agricultural garage door, we highly recommend you to ask for an expert. To find the closest dealer from your localization, please enter your zip code in the search box of the Find a dealer section above. Otherwise, if you want to install the garage door by yourself, please visit: how to install a garage door.
Step 5: Ask your garage door installer for industrial maintenance program
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