Bifolds Withstand Hurricane Ike
The traditional sectional roll-up doors are history for Houston area
manufacturer Powell Electrical Manufacturing. Their new choice: bifolds
manufactured by Schweiss Doors, Fairfax, MN.
Because this firm, in business since 1947 and now employing about 2,000
people, is a manufacturer of very large electrical enclosures (up to 40' x
60' for example) it requires large doors exiting the assembly floor area on
both ends of the huge 100' x 600' facility. But the roll-ups were high
maintenance.
Explains Franz Wagner, a manufacturing engineer with Powell Electrical, "The
roll-ups were very susceptible to damage if struck by fork lifts. And in a
crowded assembly area, mistakes do happen."
Two years ago they became aware of the Schweiss bifold door and decided to
give it a try. They installed a 31'6" wide bifold with 21' vertical
clearance. "And it has worked admirably," reports Wagner. Soon Powell
Electrical installed their second bifold, this one 31' x 24' and it too has
been "a maintenance free, totally dependable closure system."
Hurricane Ike visits
Big doors in the Houston area got tested severely September 12 when
Hurricane Ike came crashing into the Galveston Bay area
"At one point during the storm, directional winds completely tore out the
two sectional doors in the east end of our building. Then even stronger
winds on the other side of the Hurricane came blasting in from the west.
That's where the two bifolds were installed and they don't have a spec of
damage," relates Wagner.
Learning from Experience
Learning from experience, Powell Electrical is about to install two more
Schweiss bifolds replacing the destroyed sectional doors. Wagner says the
Houston area is a Zone II wind stress area so construction codes dictate
facilities must be able to withstand up to 130 mph winds. Hurricane Ike
delivered winds in excess of 100 mph.
"So not only from risk protection from storms but also from a maintenance
abatement issue, we're totally sold on the bifold product from Schweiss,"
says Wagner. Thanks to the bifolds, the interior of the Powell building
wasn't saturated with corrosive rainwater so the manufacturing process was
only slightly impacted by this huge, destructive storm.
The Powell Electrical structure is steel framed with R paneled roof and
siding because it is air conditioned, vital for factory workers in the hot,
humid Houston area. The installer also added insulation to the Schweiss
bifolds.
Sums up Wagner, "The headache that these bifolds have eliminated in our
day-to-day operation is simply a small credit to the quality engineering of
these unique doors. Granted the price is more than the sectional roll-ups
but the life-time cost of ownership is a fraction of the maintenance costs
of roll-ups."
At 9% interest rates, the life-time costs for the two new Schweiss bifolds
figures to be $64,000 over 10 years, whereas life-time costs for the roll-up
doors would be double that figure according to Wagner. He chuckled about an
employee-information brochure referring to a million dollar door which was a
particular roll-up door so battered over the years that they estimate it has
cost that amount in maintenance.
Bifold & Hydraulic Doors of Texas Hired for Door Replacement
Bifold and Hydraulic Doors of Texas Inc, Brookshire, TX, did the installation of the Schweiss
Bifolds at Powell Electric. Specializing in airport hangar construction,
this firm also is experiencing an expanding business opportunity doing
specialty doors in the commercial world. They are now a distributor and
installer of the Schweiss product line.
"One of our hangar customers 7-8 years ago said he wanted a Schweiss bifold.
That was our first introduction to the bifold door concept and since that
time we have installed nearly 40 in our area," notes Roy Weisinger, who with
his son Roy Jr, owns and operates Bifold and Hydraulic Doors of Texas
Their firm specializes in the construction of pre-fab metal buildings
designed by Whirlwind of Houston, TX. They do everything from concrete to
completion of the building, or any part of the building a customer desires.
And thus their entry into the bifold door world.
"We like the ease of installation of the Schweiss units. Plus the smooth,
trouble-free operation is a hit with everyone," notes Roy Jr. also
mentioning the ready assistance from Schweiss people whenever his crew has a
question.
With the recent introduction of one-piece hydraulic doors, Weisinger says over
80% of new hangar jobs are still bifolds but the hydraulics are gaining in
favor. "In hangars where zero loss of headspace is a factor."
His firm builds according to area wind codes so their Schweiss doors are
always 'wind loaded' for the particular buildings in which they are being
installed. That means meeting code for 90 mph to 120 mph for most of their
projects. The biggest Schweiss bifold for Bifold and Hydraulic Doors of Texas's to date was a 76'
wide x 18' vertical hydraulic hangar door.
Despite the slowdown in the overall U.S. economy, Bifold and Hydraulic Doors of Texas is
staying busy says Weisinger. The quality of their work is apparent when Roy
comments, "All of our work is from referrals. We don't do any advertising
and we've been at this now since 1969." And the introduction of the
Schweiss product line into their market area only adds to the quality of
their total portfolio summed up Weisinger.
