Considerations When Specifying Doors for Veterinary Facilities

Veterinary and animal care facilities face the same hygiene concerns and demands as human health care facilities, plus they have the added challenges of managing different animal species, zoonotic pathogen threats and odour control. Infection control ranks high on the list of priorities, as does overall patient comfort, both of which can significantly influence treatment outcomes.

With such stringent requirements, facilities need hygienic interior finishes with proven long-term durability that can also withstand rigorous and frequent cleaning requirements. Doors are one of the most critical elements, because they are subject to constant use.

Every veterinary clinic, hospital, office, and shelter is different, and the broad spectrum of animal size and combination practices, result to having different requirements in terms of interior finishes. And while some locations offer surgical or specialty services, others focus on general veterinary practice and initial patient exams. Below are some key performance requirements to consider, when specifying access solutions and other interior finishes.

3 sets of doors in a lit room.

Animal practice doors.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hygiene and infection control

Hygiene and controlling the spread of infectious diseases are major concerns for veterinary practices. Door solutions with the best hygienic properties which are impervious and easy to clean should always be specified. Doors with joints and seams (common in timber and encapsulated doors) should always be avoided as these can harbour harmful bacteria and germs. The in-organic construction and water repellency of doors constructed from hygienic GRP are the ultimate solution because they provide no sustenance for harmful micro-organisms.

Cleanability and chemical resistance

Veterinary examination and treatment rooms, as well as surgical suites and animal housing, are frequently cleaned with harsh disinfectants. Doors should have non porous, smooth hygienic surfaces which are easy to clean. They also need to be resistant to most disinfectants, urine, animal waste and strong chemicals including H2O2.

Impact resistance and durability

Doors in veterinary surgeries are subject to high amounts of traffic and exposure to hazardous chemicals on a daily basis. Selecting the right doors solutions can help save time and money over the longer term. Hygienic GRP doors are exceptionally lightweight, impact resistant with long lasting built in colour. This gives them low life cycle costs and means they are often proven to outlive their usage.

Water resistance

Doors in veterinary facilities are exposed to frequent wash down routines (even jet washing). To prevent damage only doors which are completely water resistant should be specified. Hygienic GRP doors have an inorganic surface and core which is completely water resistant and does not warp, rust or rot when exposed to moisture.

Lead lining and fire protection

Fire doors are one of the most critical elements of fire protection in a building. They are an important part of compartmentation which helps to slow down the spread of fire and smoke and allow patients and staff to either escape the building by keeping escape routes clear of smoke and fire, or wait for rescue. Doors with fire ratings should be considered for all treatment and animal holding rooms. The selection and installation of fire doors which are fire tested and proven compliant by a third party approved organisation is essential. Doors with lead lining should also be specified for imaging and x-ray areas.

 

Product Showcase – Butzbach Spacelite Stacking Doors

3 case study images of sectional doors.

Innovative Space Saving Opening Technology

Spacelite stacking doors are space-saving and extremely wear-resistant. When opening, each door element lines up vertically and compactly one behind the other. This makes the door suitable for almost all installation situations in both new buildings and renovations.

With its innovative opening technology and door infill made of translucent fibreglass, Butzbach offers a unique optical and functional concept that meets your requirements.

Translucent Fibreglass

Fibreglass has a translucence of up to 78%, enabling bright, pleasant working environments and a subsequent reduction in lighting expenses. Fibreglass is also the chosen material for shipbuilding and aerospace engineering due to its versatility, durability and sturdiness.

Extraordinary Opening Principle

Upon opening the door panels stack safely and compactly behind the lintel where they are protected. Lightning devices, lifting platforms and other fittings on the ceiling are not impaired.

Low Wear Design

The reliable Spacelite drive operates without any wear parts such as tension or torsion springs – which minimises maintenance efforts and costs. Thanks to the effective door sealing and extensive light transmission, this also saves energy costs on heating and lighting.

Increased Safety and Efficiency                                                                                                

The Spacelite tracks, which are closed on three sides, ensure the highest level of safety because they avoid crushing risks and the danger of injuries. Thanks to their non-corrosive properties, the doors can also be used in environments with extreme conditions. The construction of the stacking doors with fibreglass door panels are highly impact-resistant and shockproof.

Faster Opening Speeds                                                                                                                                    A half open Spacelite stacking door.

The Sprint-option with its frequency converter provides a 100% opening speed enhancement. More efficient traffic flow and cost savings.

Improved Thermal Insulation & Wind Load

The door achieves outstanding values regarding air permeability, resistance to wind load and resistance to water penetration.

Optional Real Glass Door Panels

The new Spacelite Vision helps achieve the optical effect of an elegant glass façade. The twin-walled ESG safety glass also achieves excellent thermal insulation. Unlike conventional acrylic glass fillings the real glass fields are permanently protected against cleaning traces and scratches and also against condensation or fogging between the panes.

Customisable for every application

Beside numerous design options such as a solid, high quality pass door with a threshold of only 25 mm, the ISO- and the Sprint-Options offer additional advantages: The ISO-Option, for example, provides excellent thermal insulation as well as sun protection, and the Sprint Option increases the speed of the door up to 1 m/s.

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