Have you ever heard of commercial light curtains? No, not those sparkly LED light curtains you see in college kids’ dorms. Commercial-grade light curtains are barriers made of infrared light that can be installed pretty much any place of entry – storefront doors, loading dock overhead doors, windows.
Light Curtains are an Easy and Effective Door Security Upgrade
Light curtains are a great investment in safety and security for any business. With two sensor beams placed at either end of the area you want to protect; light curtains create a laser-like network of invisible infrared light beams that detect “reach-through”. Reach-through is when something interrupts the light between the sensor beams. This interruption tells the overhead door not to lower, ensuring everyone stays safe and monitoring breaches of the doorway.
The great thing about light curtains is how simple of a device they are for how big an effect they can have. They’re made in tonnes of sizes, they’re easy to install, and they require little-to-no maintenance. All they need is a power source and a bit of tuning to the correct distance, and you’ve instantly super-charged the safety and security of your business. Their ability to see reach-through events and prevent overhead doors from closing adds safety to your business. Light curtains offer a great way to reinforce the safety and security measures of any business.
Light Curtains for Loading Docks Are Similar to Garage Door Safety Sensors
Light curtains and garage door safety sensors serve similar safety functions but operate in different environments and with distinct applications. When a person or object interrupts any of the many beams in the curtain, the system sends a signal to halt or reverse the closing mechanism, preventing potential accidents. This is perfect for busy commercial areas with common foot and vehicle traffic, providing comprehensive safety coverage across larger openings.
On the other hand, garage door safety sensors are usually smaller and positioned near the base of a commercial overhead door opening. These sensors use an infrared beam that, if broken, immediately stops or reverses the door’s movement. While highly effective in preventing injury and property damage, garage door sensors cover only a single point across the door’s path, typically a few inches off the ground.
In essence, light curtains offer broader, customizable protection for larger, high-traffic areas, making them more versatile for commercial hardware installations. Garage door sensors, meanwhile, are simpler but effective solutions for home and smaller commercial garage safety. Light curtains can be overkill in certain commercial situations while a garage door safety sensor can get the job done. Light curtains can be certainly more expensive but can be done by your local commercial door installation team.