Protecting Your Business from the UK’s Adverse Weather: Stanair’s Top Tips

The UK’s unpredictable weather can be both an inconvenience and a major challenge for businesses, particularly when it comes to safeguarding facilities, equipment, and production. From heavy rains and snow to high winds and fluctuating temperatures, the impact on industrial doors, access points, and operations can be significant if proper precautions aren’t taken. 

 

 

It’s no surprise that the UK sees its fair share of rain—on average, 133 days per year! In fact, flooding has increased across the UK, impacting around 5 million properties. Ensuring your industrial doors are fitted with high-quality weather seals is essential. A tight seal around door edges can help prevent water ingress, protecting valuable equipment and inventory. Additionally, installing flood barriers or utiising raised thresholds can prevent minor floods from turning into costly disasters inside your premises. 

 

Stanair top tip: Consider retrofitting existing doors with high-quality weather seals or opt for doors specifically designed to handle high moisture levels. Roller shutters, for instance, can be highly effective when equipped with reinforced seals, ensuring water stays out while doors maintain ease of use. 

 

2. Wind-Resistant Doors to Tackle Strong Gales 

Coastal areas and elevated sites in the UK experience frequent high winds that can reach up to 80 mph in some regions. High winds can damage standard industrial doors, leaving facilities vulnerable to the elements and even risking injury. Wind-resistant doors are built to withstand these forces and are often tested to resist pressure cycles, reducing the likelihood of doors being torn off or damaged by sudden gusts. 

 

Stanair Top Tip: Install wind-resistant roller shutters or sectional doors. These doors are specifically engineered with reinforced frames and locking mechanisms to remain intact during strong winds, protecting your facility and reducing the need for constant repairs or replacement. You can more detailed advice in our wind specific blog (here) 

 

3. Insulated Doors for Temperature Control and Energy Efficiency 

The UK is known for its chilly winters, with temperatures often dropping below freezing, particularly in northern regions. Insulated doors can make a substantial difference by helping to maintain internal temperatures, crucial in industries where temperature control is key for production quality. For example, a well-insulated door can reduce heat loss, lowering energy bills and reducing the strain on your heating system. 

 

Stanair Top Tip: Opt for sectional overhead doors with built-in insulation, such as polyurethane or polystyrene cores. Insulated doors not only provide a thermal barrier but also contribute to noise reduction, making them ideal for noise-sensitive environments or urban sites. 

 

4. Preventative Maintenance and Regular Inspections 

Weather-related wear and tear can quickly degrade door functionality, particularly in environments with fluctuating temperatures and high humidity. Preventative maintenance is a proactive approach to keep doors in optimal condition and identify potential issues before they escalate into costly repairs or disruptions. 

 

Stanair Top Tip: Our experts all agree on this point. It is essential to schedule routine inspections for your equipment, especially before seasonal changes have an impact. This includes checking for corrosion, lubricating moving parts, and inspecting seals for signs of wear. Investing in a 3-month service contract with Stanair can be a cost-effective way to ensure doors receive regular care from industry experts, preventing unexpected (and costly) breakdowns. 

 

5. Emergency Repairs 

Even with all these preventative measures, unexpected weather events can still impact your site. Damage from extreme weather can strike at any time of the day (or night) so it is essential to ensure that your staff know how to address an emergency. 

 

Stanair’s expert engineers are on call 24/7 and, if you are within our service area (check here), we can be on site to repair or secure your door within hours. This means that you can return to normal operation faster as well having the peace of mind knowing that your equipment is in the best possible hands. 

 

Stanair’s Top Tip: Keep a plan in place for emergencies including the numbers to call to secure and repair your equipment. Remember, it is essential to secure your site as soon as possible. This helps not only protect your site, staff and products but also can help minimise damage. Our engineers can either secure or repair your door on our first emergency visit or you get your money back – guaranteed. So don’t delay. Make sure that your staff know Stanair are the company to call in the case of an emergency. 

 

From high-quality weather seals to wind-resistant doors, the right investment in weather protection measures can save your business from unexpected downtime, repairs, and lost production. As UK weather becomes increasingly variable, these steps provide peace of mind that your doors—and your business—will stay secure and functional. 

 

Need Advice? We’re here to help. Get in touch with us to discuss the best solutions for weather-proofing your facility. Our team of expert engineers, surveyors and fitters are dedicated to designing, installing, and maintaining doors that protect your operations, no matter what the British weather throws your way!