Basic considerations when selecting a hangar door
Choosing the right hangar door is often left to the general contractor or building manufacturer. It’s a subject of deep debate and rightly so. The choice of hangar door will impact everything from building design to the overall cost of the project. It may even decide your reputation, so choosing the right style of door is paramount.
There are many types of hangar door available and sometimes people get confused when looking at all the different types. To simplify the matter for most potential hangar builders, all doors can be classified into two categories.
The categories are divided by the basic engineering principle of where the door weight is supported from: A) door weight supported from the floor or B) door weight supported by the building. If the door weight is supported by the building, expect the building cost to be higher. While I would always recommend talking to a hangar door manufacturer for advice, here are some key considerations to discuss with your client.
Door Style
You have a choice of the door opening vertically or horizontally. Vertical lifting doors do not need any pocket space which may allow you to reduce the width of your building. If you choose a vertical lifting door you’re going to need a source of power and that’s typically single-phase 230v. Horizontal opening doors will almost always need a pocket or a lean-to beyond the width of the end wall provided by the building manufacturer. A large door will also require power for operation. Rest assured both styles of door do have options for manual operation and should be discussed with the hangar door manufacturer.
Size and Budget
The objective of any hangar door is to open and close, and be large enough to accommodate the aircraft. The first question when designing your hangar is to ensure vertical and horizontal clearances are adequate for the aircraft. This chosen size is critical and something that should be agreed with the owner at the beginning of the project. Budgets need to be discussed at the beginning of the project. Weight of steel, door style, aesthetics, door accessories, shipping, installation and warranty are major factors that should be taken into account as they will undoubtedly affect the price of the hangar door.
The biggest variable to consider when designing the door (aside from opening size) is the material and protective coating selected for the framework. Steel has always been the preferred material. It’s relatively inexpensive and easily repaired. On the downside, steel is also heavy and in certain areas of the country it may corrode. Similar to buildings, aluminum has become a potential alternative for hangar door design. It’s much lighter, stronger and does not rust. The shortfall is the client will be faced with a much more expensive hangar door, which is why most revert to steel.
Location
Modern hangar door designs have improved in performance, safety, reliability and in some cases: efficiency. Ironically, the climate and location may be one of the determining factors in the door you select. In states where heavy snow falls, you can expect large piles of snow in front of the hangar door. As snow piles turn to ice, they provide a physical barrier which prevents the forward swing of vertical lifting doors opening. Ice and snow may also get in the tracks on bottom rolling doors and stop the door from opening. In addition, through no fault of the door manufacturer, snow loads on the roof may compress the door into the concrete slab and further restrict free movement.
Options and Restrictions
Hangar doors should be designed to a level of safety that prevents any danger to the operator or surroundings. There are chargeable extras available for virtually any hangar door. DC motors, photo eyes, audio- and visual-warning systems, remote door openers and sensing safety edges are just a few of the optional accessories you can purchase and should be discussed with the hangar door manufacturer.
A minority of airports have building stipulations that can directly affect your decision making and the choice of hangar door system you can use. The Federal Aviation Authority, local airport authority and the municipality may or may not have guidelines which dictate the style or size of hangar door you can use. Investigate them before you purchase your chosen door. Ask the owner for the wingspan and the tail height dimensions of the largest aircraft the hangar will accommodate. Call a reputable hangar door manufacturer who will be able to provide a greater level of advice and help you to meet expectations.
Paul Blake is marketing director at AeroDoor International, Eustis, Fla. To learn more, call (866) 226-3667 or visit www.aero-door.com.
