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Case StudyMoscone West Loading Dock

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The Problem Damaged Rolling Grille & Ineffective Replacement

The loading dock’s existing rolling grille was part of the original construction. It was hit shortly after construction ended, rendering it useless from then on. A chain link swing gate system was installed to secure the opening; however, this gate system was not reliable and did not function properly. The company needed a permanent, secure, and functional solution for this high-traffic opening.

Challenges:Custom Architecture & Opening

The architect designed the rolling grille to disappear entirely when open. They framed it into the walls and the soffit above with no means to service or repair, making it impossible to remove without a significant amount of demolition and reconstruction. That was the main challenge with this project, but it also threw several more curveballs:
  • There was little to no head room, so a new coiling door was not an option because it would not allow for large semi trucks that use the opening for deliveries.
  • There was existing conduit on the walls that could not be moved.
  • The oversized opening exceeded the maximum size of many potential gate/door solutions.
  • Aesthetic design was an important factor, as indicated by the original hidden system.
  • A complex network of power and control wiring had to be deciphered and then re-incorporated into the new system in a clean and manageable fashion to allow for future service and repairs.

Solution: Custom Designed Torxun Bi-Folding Gate System

  • Union Door developed a concept drawing with the design intent and worked with the manufacturer's engineering team to develop a system that would achieve all desired goals.
  • Our team determined that installing a Torxun bi-folding gate system solved many of the challenges: It only requires several inches of head room for the top track, so they ended up with over 14' of clear opening height, which is ample for the trucks that come and go.
  • These systems are shop-tested at over 1 million cycles, making them perfect for high-traffic areas.
  • Instead of removing the existing rolling grille, we elected to roll it up into the soffit and safe it off.
  • We designed the side panels with cut outs to fit around the existing conduits where required. This required precise measurements in the design phase.
  • The opening size was greater than the maximum size gate they can build, so we made matching fixed panels on the sides to make up the difference. This still allowed for an acceptable 30 feet of clear opening width while also looking better.
  • All wires were identified, labeled, and then properly relocated to the appropriate locations within the new controller, with new conduit runs and junction boxes where needed, in a clean and orderly fashion.
  • The result was a secure, fully functional security gate solution (below).

The Result: A Custom, Fully Functional Security Gate

The Bay Area's Commercial Door Experts

Whether you have loading dock issues at your company or need any other kind of commercial door service in San Francisco, the team at Union Door has the experience and resources to complete any project. Contact us today to get a free estimate.

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Phone: 415-789-3899
167 Toland St
San Francisco CA 94124