Did you know that the maintenance of industrial and commercial doors is mandatory? At Kavidoors, we have compiled the most frequently asked questions about the mandatory maintenance of industrial, commercial, and garage doors that are often consulted.
Is it mandatory to carry out maintenance on industrial doors?
As manufacturers, we recommend checking if there is legislation regulating the mandatory maintenance of industrial doors. If there is no national legislation requiring owners to have a maintenance contract, it is highly advisable to have one. This contract serves as a commitment document during inspections, ensuring that maintenance is being carried out.
How can a customer demonstrate that maintenance is being performed if they do not have a contract?
It is not mandatory to have a maintenance contract, but maintenance of the doors must be carried out. How can a customer demonstrate that maintenance is being performed if they do not have a contract?
Without a maintenance contract, it could be shown that regular inspections are being carried out through two methods:
- An updated maintenance log reflecting the maintenance performed and any incidents or component replacements that have been carried out.
- A maintenance report that the company responsible for carrying it out has recorded in their database and subsequently sent to the owner via email.
Which documentation should the door owner have?
- CE Marking: Since 1995, a motorized door must bear the CE Marking in accordance with the Machinery Directive, and since 2008, manual doors must also have it.
- Declarations: performance, CE conformity…
- Installation, operation, and maintenance manuals: The manufacturer specifies in the latter what maintenance operations need to be carried out on their doors and how often. The manufacturer determines the maintenance operations and the time between inspections.
- Maintenance logbook: It details the maintenance performed and any incidents or component replacements that have been carried out. It should include the door’s brand and model, serial number, installation date, and number of doors. Also included are the type of maintenance, the company that performed it, technician identification, inspection date, and technician’s signature.
Documentation for manual and automatic doors
The documentation to be provided (installation and operation manuals, maintenance logbook) is the same regardless of the type of door. However, they will be tailored depending on whether it is an automatic or manual door, as each has unique instructions. Declarations and the CE plate required for the door will vary. For a manual door, performance declarations should be provided, while for a motorized door, performance declarations along with CE conformity declarations should be given.
Minimum maintenance operations frequency
The maintenance operations for industrial and commercial doors and their frequency must be defined by the manufacturer in compliance with the UNE-EN 12635 standard to ensure proper functioning throughout their intended lifespan.
The manufacturer must specify the number of cycles the door can withstand, with a minimum of 10,000 cycles. It is the manufacturer’s responsibility to define maintenance tasks and intervals, while customers are responsible for proper use and maintenance following the door manuals. If maintenance is required annually by the manufacturer and a serious malfunction occurs in the second year, the manufacturer may request to see maintenance records. If maintenance has been performed as instructed and a malfunction occurs due to lack of maintenance, the manufacturer will not be held liable.
In cases where there are no manufacturer’s maintenance instructions for existing doors, these instructions should be provided by the maintenance company. The recommended minimum frequencies are outlined in UNE 85635 standard.
| Application | Criteria | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Garage and residential | Number of vehicles ≤ 5 | Every 12 months |
| 5 < Vehicles > 50 | Every 6 months | |
| Number of vehicles > 50 | Every 4 months | |
| Seasonal use | Every 12 months | |
| Industrial | All types, except rapid doors | Every 6 months |
| Rapid doors | Every 4 months | |
| Commercial | ≤ 10 cycles/day | Every 6 months |
| > 10 cycles/day | Every 4 months | |
| Roller shutters or doors | Every 12 months |
Adjusting maintenance frequency
If a technician considers that due to the door’s characteristics and environment, maintenance should be performed at a different frequency than specified by the manufacturer, it is essential to communicate this with the owner. While owners are obligated to follow the manufacturer’s minimum maintenance recommendations, adjustments can be made if necessary. The technician should discuss with the owner the optimal maintenance schedule based on factors like door condition, location, and usage. It is permissible to increase maintenance frequency but not to disregard the manufacturer’s guidelines by reducing intervals.
Responsibility for door safety
Maintenance companies are responsible for informing door owners of any safety risks and necessary measures to address them. If recommended adjustments are declined by the owner, they assume responsibility for the door’s safety as per building codes and property laws. The owner must acknowledge and understand maintenance reports by signing them. Failure to sign may result in electronic delivery for documentation purposes, with ultimate responsibility falling on the owner in case of incidents.
Responsibility for modified maintenance frequency
Modifying maintenance frequency does not transfer full manufacturer responsibility unless substantial alterations are made to the door. Increasing maintenance intervals alone does not shift liability to the maintenance company.
Accreditation for maintenance
While national legislation does not mandate accreditation for maintenance activities on industrial doors, it is advisable to engage qualified professionals as per UNE-EN 12635 standards. Manufacturers should specify required competency levels for maintenance tasks in provided instructions, distinguishing between basic and advanced levels of expertise necessary for different maintenance operations.
If you have any further questions or require commercial, industrial, or garage door maintenance services, feel free to reach out for assistance and clarification. We are here to address all your inquiries and provide expert solutions.
