What is meant by Anthracite grey?

A dark grey, usually RAL 7016, widely used for UK garage doors, windows and front doors.

What is meant by Auto-reverse?

A safety function that makes a powered door stop and reverse when it meets an obstruction.

What is meant by Belt drive?

An operator that moves the door with a reinforced belt rather than a chain; usually quieter.

What is meant by Bottom bracket?

The bracket at each bottom corner of the door where the lift cable is attached.

What is meant by Bottom seal?

The flexible rubber strip along the bottom edge that seals against the floor.

What is meant by BS EN 12453?

The standard for safety in use of power-operated doors, including force limits.

What is meant by BS EN 12604?

The standard covering mechanical aspects of industrial, commercial and garage doors.

What is meant by BS EN 13241?

The product standard for industrial, commercial, garage doors and gates.

Glossary

Sectional garage door glossary

Plain-English definitions of the terms used when choosing, fitting and repairing sectional garage doors.

A B C D E F H L M O P R S T U W

Anthracite grey: A dark grey, usually RAL 7016, widely used for UK garage doors, windows and front doors.
Auto-reverse: A safety function that makes a powered door stop and reverse when it meets an obstruction.
Belt drive: An operator that moves the door with a reinforced belt rather than a chain; usually quieter.
Bottom bracket: The bracket at each bottom corner of the door where the lift cable is attached.
Bottom seal: The flexible rubber strip along the bottom edge that seals against the floor.
BS EN 12453: The standard for safety in use of power-operated doors, including force limits.
BS EN 12604: The standard covering mechanical aspects of industrial, commercial and garage doors.
BS EN 13241: The product standard for industrial, commercial, garage doors and gates.
Cable drum: The grooved drum on a torsion shaft that winds the lift cable as the door opens.
Canopy door: A type of up-and-over door whose panel projects partly outside when open.
Cassette panel: A pressed rectangular panel pattern giving a traditional, Georgian look.
CE marking: The EU conformity marking, accepted in Great Britain and required in Northern Ireland for many products.
Clear opening: The usable width and height of the opening once the door is fitted.
Cycle: One full opening and closing of the door; springs are rated in cycles.
Declaration of Conformity: The document the person who puts a powered door into service issues to confirm it meets the Machinery Regulations.
Double-skin panel: A door panel with two steel skins and an insulating core between them.
Emergency release: The cord or lever that disconnects the operator so the door can be moved by hand.
Finger protection: Panel joint profiles shaped so fingers cannot be trapped between sections.
Flush panel: A smooth panel with no ribs.
Force limitation: The operator setting that limits how hard a powered door can push before it stops and reverses.
Full-vision door: A sectional door built from an aluminium frame filled with glazing.
Headroom: The space between the top of the opening and the ceiling or lowest obstruction.
High-lift track: A track that raises the door higher up a tall roof space before turning.
Large rib (L-rib): A rib pattern with one wide rib per panel.
Lintel: The beam spanning the top of the opening, carrying the wall above.
Low-headroom track: A track and spring layout that lets a sectional door fit with little space above the opening.
Medium rib (M-rib): A rib pattern with several fine ribs per panel.
Operator: The motor unit that opens and closes a powered door.
Pass door (wicket door): A small pedestrian door built into the panels of a larger door.
Photocells: Infra-red safety beams across the opening that stop a closing door when interrupted.
RAL: A European colour reference system used to specify paint and coating colours.
Roller: The wheel at each hinge point that runs in the track.
Section: One of the horizontal panels that make up a sectional door.
Side room: The space each side of the opening needed for the vertical tracks and frame.
Side-sliding sectional: A sectional door with vertical panels that runs sideways and parks along a wall.
Stucco finish: A fine textured finish embossed into the steel panel.
Tension spring: A spring that stretches as the door closes, usually running beside the tracks or in the side frames.
Thermally broken: Panels or frames with a break between inner and outer skins to stop heat being conducted straight through.
Torsion spring: A spring mounted on a shaft above the opening that twists to balance the door.
U-value: A measure of heat loss through a material or door, in W/m²K; lower is better.
UKCA marking: The Great Britain conformity marking; optional where CE marking is accepted, not valid on its own in Northern Ireland.
Up-and-over door: A one-piece garage door that tilts out and slides up into the garage.
Woodgrain foil: A printed or laminated timber-effect finish applied to a steel door.