How often should your Roller Shutter be serviced?

When installed correctly, roller shutters are a brilliantly durable investment, with a long predicted lifespan. 

However, these full benefits can only be realised if you adopt a suitable approach to servicing and maintenance. For roller shutters – particularly if they are being used in high-traffic areas, like commercial or industrial sites – a routine servicing schedule is the most effective way to extend the lifespan of your roller shutters, maintain the highest safety standards, and keep maintenance costs predictable.

In this guide, Access Innovations’ expert team have shared their full guide to roller shutter servicing.

Why is regular servicing and maintenance so important? 

Regular roller shutter servicing and maintenance are imperative. They help site managers realise extensive benefits, including: 

• Prioritising safety – A core part of roller shutter servicing and maintenance is the careful testing of key safety features (such as anti-fall devices, safety brakes and limit switches). 
• Minimising the risk of wear and tear – Over time, key mechanical parts of a roller shutter (including bearings, springs, cables and guides) will naturally degrade. With regular lubrication and frequent inspections, these common issues can be immediately addressed (before they are allowed to escalate, to bigger failures).
• Avoiding expensive repairs and prolonged downtime – Unexpected breakdowns can represent a significant cost for a business, in both replacement parts and the productivity impact. 
• Maintaining full compliance – With these checks in place, you can ensure that your site is maintaining full compliance with all the legal requirements surrounding the safe use and maintenance of powered mechanical doors.
• Extending lifespan and ROI – With thorough, proactive servicing schedules, small issues can be addressed before they escalate, increasing the operational life of your shutters and maximising the return from your investment.
  

How often should roller shutters be serviced?

There isn’t a standardised ‘golden rule’ for how often you should arrange for roller shutter servicing. 

Our recommendations for servicing frequency vary based on a number of factors, including the site type, how frequently it is being used, and what risks are present. 

Generally speaking, however, the legal minimum frequency for roller shutter servicing is once every 12 months. 

Beyond that, you should consider increasing the frequency of your servicing schedule based on the following: 

• How often are you using the roller shutters? For doors that are used more frequently, it is recommended that you service the shutters more regularly. If the doors are being used multiple times every day, you should consider increasing the inspections to once every 4 months.
• Where is the door located? For outdoor roller shutters, more regular servicing is advised, as these doors will be exposed to the elements. 
• What does the manufacturer recommend? Suggested servicing schedules can vary from unit to unit, so always consult the manufacturer’s guidance on servicing frequency. 
• Have there been any recent extreme weather spells? If your roller shutters are external, then harsher weather conditions (including ice, temperature changes or cold winters) may accelerate their degradation. So in these instances, you may want to consider an extra servicing schedule. 

Access Innovations’ Pre-Planned Maintenance Plans

At Access Innovations, our pre-planned maintenance contracts are completely bespoke, with our services tailored to suit the specific needs of each client’s site.

We can work with you to understand the context of your site and roller door, and recommend a best-fit schedule of maintenance visits accordingly. 

This package offers: 

• A tailored schedule – Rather than a one size fits all approach to servicing, our plan is customised to suit your specific doors, their use case and the environment they operate in.
• Cost predictability – Access Innovations offers fixed-price contracts (up to 3 years), ensuring predictable costs for businesses.
• Proactive fault detection – With our trained engineers checking all critical components, any potential issues will be identified early, and addressed before they are able to escalate. 
• Improved site safety and compliance – With regular, documented checks, ensuring full compliance with safety legislation.
• Extended equipment life – With the door kept in consistently good condition, regular servicing can significantly extend the life of your roller shutters. 
• Reduced downtime – By minimising the risk of unexpected risks, businesses can avoid costly downtime and prolonged outages.
• Emergency support – Access Innovations provides 24-hour emergency call-outs, ensuring a rapid, dependable solution in the event of an emergency. 

To learn more about our pre-planned maintenance plan, or to discuss servicing solutions for your site, don’t hesitate to get in touch.