Roller Shutter, Industrial Door & Fire Shutter Servicing and Maintenance
Roller shutters and industrial doors are mechanical systems with moving parts. Over time these components experience wear and require adjustment or replacement.
Regular servicing helps to:
- Maintain safe operation
- Prevent unexpected breakdowns
- Extend the life of the equipment
- Identify faults before they become major repairs
- Ensure compliance with safety regulations
Poorly maintained shutters can lead to operational failures, safety risks or costly emergency repairs.
Legal Requirements for Servicing
In the UK, powered doors and shutters fall under several safety regulations.
Machinery Directive / UKCA requirements
Powered doors and shutters are classified as machinery and must comply with the Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations.
This means the system must be maintained in a safe working condition throughout its life.
Workplace Health and Safety Regulations
Under the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER), employers must ensure equipment used in the workplace is:
- Maintained in safe working order
- Regularly inspected
- Safe for employees and visitors
Powered doors and shutters used in commercial premises must therefore be maintained and inspected regularly.
Fire Safety Regulations
Fire shutters form part of a building's passive fire protection system.
Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order, fire safety equipment must be:
- Maintained in working condition
- Regularly inspected
- Tested to ensure it operates correctly during an emergency
Failure to maintain fire safety equipment can result in serious safety risks and potential legal consequences.
Recommended Servicing Frequency
The recommended service interval depends on the type of equipment and how frequently it is used.
Typical servicing intervals include:
Roller Shutters
- Once per year for standard commercial use
- Every 6 months for high usage locations
Industrial Doors
Industrial doors operate more frequently and typically require servicing:
- Every 6 months
- More frequently in high traffic environments
Fire Shutters
Fire shutters should normally be inspected and tested:
- Fire Alarm tested - Weekly
- Annual Service
This ensures the system will activate correctly in the event of a fire alarm.
Steel Doors and Security Grilles
These products are generally manual systems with fewer moving parts, so servicing requirements are less frequent.
However periodic checks are still recommended to ensure:
- locks operate correctly
- hinges and fixings remain secure
- the door or grille operates smoothly
What Is Included in a Service Visit?
A typical service visit involves a full inspection and testing of the door or shutter system.
This may include:
- Mechanical inspection
Engineers will inspect key mechanical components such as:
- guide rails
- shutter curtain
- barrel and shaft
- bearings
- springs and balancing systems
- Motor and electrical inspection
For electrically operated shutters and doors we check:
- motor operation
- control panels
- wiring connections
- limit settings
- emergency override systems
- Safety device testing
Powered doors and shutters often include safety devices such as:
- safety edges
- photocells
- safety brakes
These are tested to ensure the system stops safely if an obstruction is detected.
Fire shutter testing
Fire shutters are tested to confirm they close correctly when triggered by the fire alarm system.
This may include testing:
- fire control panels
- battery backup systems
- alarm activation
- Lubrication and adjustment
Moving components may be:
- lubricated
- adjusted
- tightened
This helps ensure smooth operation and reduces wear on key components.
Service report and recommendations
After servicing, we provide a service report outlining:
- inspection results
- any faults identified
- recommended repairs or adjustments
This helps maintain a clear maintenance record for the equipment.
Signs Your Shutter or Door Needs Servicing
If you notice any of the following issues, it may be time for a service:
- unusual noise during operation
- slow opening or closing
- uneven movement
- the shutter not fully closing
- damaged slats or curtain sections
- control systems not responding correctly
Addressing these issues early can prevent more serious failures.
Benefits of Planned Maintenance
Many businesses choose a planned maintenance contract rather than arranging servicing only when problems occur.
Planned maintenance provides:
- scheduled service visits
- improved equipment reliability
- reduced risk of breakdowns
- better safety compliance
- predictable maintenance costs
It also ensures important safety systems such as fire shutters remain operational.
Emergency Repairs and Breakdown Support
Even well-maintained systems can occasionally experience faults.
Security Direct provides repair and breakdown support for roller shutters, doors and grilles.
Our engineers can diagnose faults and carry out repairs to restore the system to safe operation.
Typical Servicing Costs
Servicing costs vary depending on the product type, size and location.Typical servicing costs may include:
- Roller shutter service: £250 – £500 per shutter
- Industrial door service: £500 – £1000 per door
- Fire shutter inspection: £500 – £750 per shutter
Larger sites with multiple doors often benefit from reduced servicing costs through planned maintenance contracts.
Products We Service
Our engineers service a wide range of equipment including:
- Roller shutters
- Industrial roller doors
- Sectional doors
- Fire shutters
- Steel security doors
- Security grilles
We service equipment supplied by Security Direct as well as many other manufacturers.
Book a Service or Maintenance Visit
If your shutters or doors require servicing, our team can arrange a convenient service visit.
Regular servicing helps ensure your equipment remains safe, compliant and reliable.
Contact our team to discuss servicing, maintenance contracts or emergency repairs.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should roller shutters be serviced?
How often should roller shutters be serviced?
Most roller shutters should be serviced at least once per year to ensure they operate safely and reliably.
However, shutters used in high-traffic environments such as warehouses, retail premises or industrial units may require servicing every 6 months due to increased wear on mechanical components.
Regular servicing helps identify faults early and prevents costly repairs.
Are roller shutters legally required to be serviced?
Are roller shutters legally required to be serviced?
In commercial environments, powered roller shutters fall under the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER).
These regulations require equipment used in the workplace to be maintained in safe working condition and inspected regularly.
Regular servicing helps ensure compliance with workplace safety regulations.
How often should fire shutters be serviced?
How often should fire shutters be serviced?
Fire shutters should typically be serviced and tested every 6-12 months.
Because fire shutters form part of a building’s fire protection system, they must operate correctly during an emergency. Regular testing ensures the shutter will close automatically when triggered by the fire alarm system.
What is included in a roller shutter service?
What is included in a roller shutter service?
A typical roller shutter service includes:
- inspection of the shutter curtain and guide rails
- checking bearings, springs and mechanical components
- testing motors and control systems
- checking safety devices such as safety edges
- adjusting motor limits
- lubricating moving components
After the inspection, a service report is normally provided with any recommendations.
What happens if roller shutters are not maintained?
What happens if roller shutters are not maintained?
Poorly maintained shutters can develop faults such as:
- slow or uneven operation
- excessive noise
- motor failure
- damaged slats or curtain sections
- safety devices not working correctly
Over time this can lead to breakdowns, safety risks or expensive repairs.
Do industrial doors require regular servicing?
Do industrial doors require regular servicing?
Yes. Industrial doors often operate many times per day, which places significant stress on motors, springs and moving components.
For this reason industrial doors are typically serviced every 6 months to ensure safe operation and prevent downtime.
Do steel doors and security grilles require servicing?
Do steel doors and security grilles require servicing?
Steel doors and security grilles generally require less frequent servicing because they are usually manual systems with fewer moving parts.
However periodic checks are still recommended to ensure locks, hinges and fixings remain secure and the door or grille operates smoothly.
How much does roller shutter servicing cost?
How much does roller shutter servicing cost?
Servicing costs vary depending on the size and type of equipment.
Typical servicing costs may range from:
- £250 – £500 for a roller shutter
- £500 – £1000 for industrial doors
- £500 – £750 for fire shutter inspections
Sites with multiple shutters or doors may benefit from reduced pricing through planned maintenance contracts.
What are the benefits of a maintenance contract?
What are the benefits of a maintenance contract?
A planned maintenance contract ensures your shutters and doors are serviced at the correct intervals.
Benefits include:
- scheduled servicing visits
- improved equipment reliability
- reduced risk of unexpected breakdowns
- improved safety compliance
- predictable maintenance costs
Maintenance contracts are particularly useful for businesses with multiple shutters or doors across one site.
