Glossary

1.5-second timer delay reverse
This device is important whenever a reverse system is specified and the door movement is standard. This 1.5-second delay allows the "spring-drums-cables" lifting mechanism to stop completely and realign properly before going up again.
3-button control station
Comes standard with all operators. Can be equipped with a key to circumvent usage.
3-button control station (outside)
Mounted outside the building, handy when no entrance door available. Built to withstand bad weather.
Adjustable timer to close (0 to 90 minutes)
Easy to program, this timer allows the door to close after a designated time period. It is important to include a photoelectric sensing device with this control.
“C”-shaped bumper
“C” shape spring blade installed on the end of the vertical tracks for dock doors with full vertical or high lift movement and manually operated (pull chain or rope).
Chain hoist
Hoist used to manually operate a garage door. Used mainly for 3-metre-high doors. Shorter doors can be opened with a nylon rope or a pull chain.
Coaxial Radio Receiver
Must insure that doors working with the same transmitters are clearly indicated in specifications.
Continuous angle on vertical tracks
12-ga. steel angle welded on the whole length of the vertical track providing for solid fastening to the wall. There is also the possibility of fastening the tracks to the wall with flag brackets (4 in. high). The larger the door and the higher the frequency of use, the more reasons there are to fasten the tracks with continuous angle.
Control panel
Electrical enclosure (3 buttons- 1 light indicator- 1 key access) controlling all garage doors from a single location. It must be installed by a qualified electrician.
Distance "floor to ceiling"
This is the distance between the floor and the first obstruction met (mezzanine, ceiling, etc.). Always clear the door as high as possible. This is a key measurement for the garage door specialist. Make sure it is correct.
Door movement
There are 4 basic types of movement: standard lift, high lift, full vertical lift and low headroom. The room available between the top of the door and the ceiling (or first obstruction) determines the type of door movement to use. Consult the table indicating the minimum space required for each type of movement (commercial or industrial).
Gauge
Unit of measure to evaluate the thickness of steel.The lower the number (ex.: 23 ga.), the thicker the steel. If in doubt, always ask for the thickness in millimetres or inches.
Horizontal reinforced tracks
To prevent the horizontal tracks supporting the door from twisting when it is in the open position, they must be reinforced with a 2” x 2”, 13 ga. steel angle for doors weighing less than 650 lbs (295 kg) and 3/16" steel for doors weighing more than 651 lbs (296 kg).
Jackshaft (operator)
Electric operator installed next to the door coming complete with a chain hoist for emergency manual operation. It can be used with all types of track configuration.
Loop detector
This system is installed about 6 feet from the door on the inside of the building (concrete slab) or on the outside (asphalt). Metallic objects traveling over the loop detector affect the magnetic field of the loop. The detector senses this change and gives a signal to open or close the door. Must be installed by a qualified electrician.
Operation cycle
An operation cycle means one opening and closing of the door. This number may vary from one application to the other. The industry standard is 10,000 cycles. However this number may vary anywhere from 10,000 to 100,000 cycles and more depending on the size of the door and the type of movement. It is strongly recommended to require the “maximum operation cycles” for a standard installation. The higher the cycles, the longer the useful life of the spring system. Contact the Garaga Engineering Department to find out the maximum cycles available based on the size and type of movement of the door.
Operator speed
The "normal" travelling speed is 1 foot per second. If you need a higher speed (ex.: 2 ft / sec) for a sectional door, it is critical that the counterbalance mechanism (springs-drums-lift cables and rollers) be of the highest quality. For speeds of more than 2ft / sec, you must use a door designed for that purpose (ex.: high-speed rubber door).
Photoelectric sensor
Placed next to the door tracks, this infrared system reverses the door on the way down when the light beam becomes obstructed.
There are 2 types of sensors:
  • A "transmitter-receiver" infrared beam, such as the CPS from Lift-Master.
  • A "transmitter-reflector" modulated beam, reflected by a mirror, such as the model 42 GRU-9000 from Allen Bradley or CPSRL-N4 from Lift-Master.
For both models, the best efficiency is achieved within 30 feet. These systems are sensitive and the beams must be well aligned. Unless protective posts have been installed on the interior side of the door, we suggest installing an “L”-shaped track guard to prevent any disturbance of the beams in high traffic areas.
Pneumatic edge-sensing kit
An air hose installed in the bottom weather stripping part of the door. It causes the door to reverse when it meets an obstruction while closing. Very sensitive, it is activated by light contact with the hose. Connected to a take-up reel (for doors 12' or higher) or to a coil cord installed next to the door.
Precision bearings
End bearing plates supporting the weight of the door and spring system. Strongly recommended for doors weighing 650 lbs (295 kg) and more or for high-cycle doors. Football-type centre bearing plates are also required.
"Properly balanced" door
It is important to remember that a commercial or industrial type door must always be properly balanced. Its dead weight should be between 10 and 20 lbs. (5 and 10 kg). If the door feels heavier than that, the source of the problem must be identified and corrected (ex.: springs that have lost their effectiveness). A properly balanced door can be stopped at any position. It is recommended to have evenly weighted sections. Avoid combining 1.5 lb/sq ft sections with 3.75 lb/sq ft sections.
"Properly balanced" door with operator
The horse power of a given electric operator is not an extremely important selection criteria. The balanced weight of a commercial or industrial garage door will vary between 10 to 20 lbs. (5 to 10 kg) regardless of its size. It is important that the owner of the building be aware that the counterbalance system (torsion springs) must be checked every 3 months in order to insure that nothing hampers the operation of the system.
Protection posts
Steel pipes filled with concrete, 54 in.(1.4 m) high (above ground), painted in bright colours, installed to protect the hardware system from impact (ex.: lift trucks). Other types of protective devices are also available : "Z"-style fender guards, 3/16” thick steel (4.7 mm) welded to the tracks and bolted to the wall or “L”-type track guards (3” x 3” x 60”), 1/4” thick steel (6.4 mm).
Pull chain
Spring-equipped chain for manually operated garage doors (less than 100 sq.ft. (11 sq m)), used to slow the opening/closing of the door.
Pusher springs
Springs installed on the end of the horizontal tracks to keep the lift cables under tension and prevent them from coming off the drums when closing the door. Recommended for doors larger than 13' x 13' (4 x 4 m). Use only with standard lift movement particularly when a jackshaft operator is installed.
Qualified electrician
All electrical work must be done by a qualified electrician. In Canada, it's the law. The garage door specialist will install the electric opener and accessories making sure everything works well, but he cannot connect them to the building's power supply.
Radio transmitter
Technology has made this accessory invaluable considering the number of codes available. It can be used for one or several doors. It is important to mention the number of doors that the transmitter must open. For condominiums, the number of transmitters that can be used is almost unlimited. The computerized control panel (which includes the receiver) offers many benefits such as blocking entry at given times to make the area quiet and peaceful.
Reinforcement struts
2.25" or 3" steel channel (depending on the width of the door), 22 ga., used to support the door when it remains in the open position for long periods. Standard on doors 12'4” (3.76 m) wide and up. We strongly recommend attaching the struts to the door by screwing them to the hinge plates for solid attachment.
Solid shaft
1"-diameter solid steel rod (or 1.25" for large doors) that supports the torsion springs. This shaft is attached to the wall with bearing plates. When a chain hoist is used, it is attached to the steel shaft.
Steel end caps
16-ga. steel caps installed on the end of the panels. Can be used with single or double hinges. Recommended for high cycle doors. Note that end caps create a thermal bridge between the exterior and interior surfaces.
Tension bridges
Used on large doors (20 ft. or 6m wide). By using them to complement the reinforcement struts, tension bridges (bridge or cable) will support the door in high wind areas or if the door remains in the open position for more than 8 hours at a time.
"Torsion"- type springs
Coiled springs installed above the top of the door used to counterbalance the door. These springs can be galvanized for special applications such as car washes. Depending on the number of cycles and their use, their useful life is about 5 years. It is recommended, whenever possible, to install 2 or 4 springs on the shaft for smoother door operation and added safety.
Trolley operator
Electric opener is installed above the door and attached to the top section. It can only be used with standard lift and low headroom movements.

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