The field of engineering imposes the search for the most appropriate solutions best suited to the particular requirements of each project.
For highly specialised industrial installations, the customer is often the greatest expert in the operational processes to be carried out. However, the further we move away from their usual scope of work, the greater the engineering guidance in decision making will have to be.
In the specific case of the development of a aircraft maintenance hangarOne of the elements on the borderline between operations (customer) and associated infrastructure (engineering) are the hangar access doors.
There are basically two types of hangar doors on the market: sliding doors and flexible vertical opening doors. Obviously, each type has advantages and disadvantages, and the advantages and disadvantages of using one or the other should be analysed:
Sometimes, the customer wants to opt for the solution they are familiar with, without considering whether it fully meets their needs, or analysing the performance of other solutions.
– La buildingThe larger footprint of sliding doors should be considered. It is not so much the impact on cost (the light does not vary) as the possible reduction of the effective working area in the event of restrictions on the occupation of the plot. Furthermore, a storage box must be provided which, in addition to the obvious increase in the cost of the structure and enclosure, affects the aesthetic appearance of the building.
- The indoor conditionsThe use of a sliding door allows the use of insulated panels, which results in a better overall transmission coefficient of the building, which has an impact on the interior comfort of the hangar. Vertical doors, on the other hand, are characterised by their high level of airtightness, which reduces the entry of dust and air infiltration with all that this entails when maintenance work is being carried out.
– La operabilityThe opening speed should take into account the number of aircraft entry and exit operations that will take place, which is normally related to the target maintenance level of the installation. In this respect, the larger the door, the greater the advantages of the vertical flexible type. In addition, having independent opening leaves allows the passage of vehicles to one area or another of the hangar.
Sometimes it happens that, due to previous experiences considered satisfactory, the customer intends to opt for the solution he/she is familiar with, without considering whether it is in line with The engineering team must therefore ask these and other questions to the customer when making a decision on the type of door to be installed. Engineering must therefore ask the customer these and other questions when making a decision on the type of door to be installed.
