Bi-Parting Doors in Busy Areas

Bi-Parting Doors in Busy Areas

A queue outside a cold room does not always mean the door opens too slowly. The delay may start when a forklift turns inside, waits for a receiving position or meets traffic coming the other way. Before specifying an automatic bi-parting cold room door, establish where each journey loses time.

Two Leaves, One Opening

A bi-parting arrangement divides the opening between two leaves that move apart. With equal leaves moving together, each covers roughly half the clear opening width, plus the travel required by the sealing arrangement. This can reduce the travel needed by each leaf compared with a single sliding panel.

That geometry does not guarantee twice the throughput. Actual opening time depends on the drive, acceleration and control settings. Ask the supplier for performance at the proposed door size and operating conditions, including suitability for the expected frequency of use.

For an automatic sliding cold room door, the useful comparison is the time needed to provide the required clear passage. Motor speed alone does not describe the complete opening cycle.

Look Beyond the Doorway

If the receiving aisle is occupied, faster opening simply moves the waiting point. Watch a busy delivery period and identify whether vehicles are waiting for door movement, a turn or space to unload.

A centre-opening doorway also remains one shared opening. It does not create separate incoming and outgoing lanes. Pedestrian and vehicle routes should be separated wherever practical; opposing vehicle movements need a defined traffic arrangement. Extra width alone does not resolve those conflicts.

Choose a bi-parting arrangement when its specified opening performance and layout help the movement causing the delay. If the queue forms during unloading or while opposing vehicles negotiate the entrance, changing the door alone will leave that bottleneck in place.