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Light curtains and photo eyes are classified as rolling door non-contact safety devices – this means that no contact is needed for it to perform its safety function of halting downward travel and returning to the open position. Instead, these non-contact door devices use beams of light that, when interrupted by an obstruction, signals the roll up door to stop and reverse. When thinking about high traffic facilities, light curtain safety devices for commercial roll up doors offer more functionality since they cover a greater area than photo eyes reaching up to a 6 foot height. If an object is present within this door’s 6 foot window, a descending closure equipped with a light curtain device will sense the entity, stop, and reverse the overhead door.
Having this large sensing plane makes this commercial door safety device option perfect for buildings that endure high door traffic, or where the coiling door opens and closes more quickly. Parking garages, for example, are often outfitted with a door light curtain device when high performance doors or grilles are used that travel up to 24 ips on open and 12 ips on close.
Photo eye door safety devices also don’t require contact with an object to activate their safety features. To detect an obstruction in a rolling door or closures path, the photo eye sensor uses a reflective or through beam to detect interferences with a 6 inch height from the floor. Once the photo eye door device senses an object, again, the commercial roll up doors stop closing and returns back to the open position. These features make it a suitable device for complexes with medium to low vehicle and/or pedestrian overhead door traffic.
There are also contact safety industrial door devices available. A popular type of contact safety device is a door sensing edge, which is activated when the bottom bar of a rolling door makes contact with an object obstructing its path. After the object makes contact with the edge, the roll up door stops closing and returns to its open position. Sensing edges can be installed on overhead closures in lieu of or in combination with photo eyes, making them a great option for low traffic locations, where a rolling closure is travelling a standard rate of 8 ips on open/close or slower.
Having the right rolling door and safety device combination ensures efficiency and safety while saving time and money.
Cookson continues to lead in innovations in roll up door, security gate and closure products. To inquire how Cookson’s experts and customer service can help you with your next roll up door project, call 1-800-294-4358.