The Challenge

White Cap’s distribution centre in Concord had a high-traffic access point that was creating two distinct problems: thermal separation was breaking down every time the door cycled during frequent personnel and equipment transit, and the facility needed an insulated sectional door that could be operated manually without power — a critical requirement for a distribution operation that can’t afford access failure during a power interruption.

No single product solved both problems simultaneously. An insulated sectional door handles the thermal envelope when closed and provides manual operation capability, but it still exchanges air significantly during every open cycle at a high-traffic opening. What the application really needed was a layered approach — a door that sealed the opening properly when closed, combined with a system that maintained thermal separation during the cycling period.

The Solution

Wilcox Door Service designed and delivered a dual-system solution. An insulated sectional door was installed to provide the primary closure, thermal performance, and manual operation capability that White Cap required. Above the opening, a commercial air curtain was installed to create a high-velocity airflow barrier that maintains environmental separation during door cycles — preventing cold air infiltration and contaminant ingress during the frequent transit events that characterize a busy distribution access point.

The two systems were integrated to work in concert: the sectional door provides secure, insulated closure when the opening isn’t in active use, while the air curtain handles the thermal and contamination control challenge during the cycling period. Together, they address both the thermal performance and the manual operation requirements within a single, cohesive installation.

Outcomes

White Cap’s access point now maintains thermal separation during both closed and open-cycling states. Cold air infiltration during transit cycles was eliminated by the air curtain, and the insulated sectional door provides proper closure and thermal performance when the opening is not in active use. The manual operation capability ensures the access point remains functional regardless of power availability. White Cap’s distribution centre operates the opening at full volume without the energy loss or contamination ingress that had been impacting the facility previously.