Metal rolling shutters have one main purpose: to keep external forces out—whether that be thieves, intense weather, or flying debris. At SoCal Rolling Shutter, we carry out specialized testing to ensure that our rolling shutters continue to deliver on our high standards of safety and strength.
Testing rolling shutters isn’t a one-and-done job. We perform several kinds of tests to make sure our commercial and residential rolling shutters can handle different scenarios and stressors. Below, we’ll explain how we test our shutters for impact, wind resistance, and cycle life.
Impact
Rolling shutters are an excellent deterrent against burglars or vandals. If they see your home or business protected by locked shutters, they’ll likely move on to another target. However, if a criminal decides they do want to take a swing at your rolling shutter, we want to make sure they give up before your shutter does.
Our shutters are made of thick, durable steel. We stress test our shutters regularly by throwing everything we have at them (quite literally). We whack away at our shutters with everything from baseball bats to sledgehammers to crowbars. When our shutter door is securely locked into place, these tools barely leave a scratch on the tough curtain.
After several minutes of heavy swings, the only evidence of the attack will be a few small dents. The structural integrity of the shutter will stay intact throughout the heaviest of abuse.
And if a criminal tries to use a grinder to break through the shutter, they’ll find that the rolling shutter is very slow to cut through, and the noise of the tool would give away the burglars far before they could enter the building.
Wind Resistance
Outside of intruders, rolling shutters also need to shield a home or business from severe weather. We test the wind resistance of our shutters in a few different ways.
First, we ensure that our shutters won’t budge in extreme wind. This is done in a controlled environment where we can slowly increase the direct wind speed on the shutter. Through this testing, SoCal Rolling Shutter products are certified to withstand wind gusts up to 188 miles per hour which is as fast as a category 5 hurricane.
In an intense wind storm, the wind itself is only half the battle. The other concern is flying debris, from tree limbs to patio furniture. To test this, we set up an air cannon equipped to shoot 2×4 wood boards at our shutters. Even when a 2×4 crashes into the rolling shutter at 140 miles per hour, the metal curtain barely moves. This gives our customers peace of mind that their windows, doors, patios, storefronts, and more will remain unscathed through whatever weather is thrown at it.
Longevity
SoCal Rolling Shutter has been securing homes since 1962; and many of our customers are still using their shutters decades later. The longevity of our rolling shutters comes from our commitment to high-quality materials, partnering with a reputable manufacturer, and careful installation.
However, we don’t only rely on customer’s experiences for determining the life cycle of our rolling shutters. We also do simulations where we raise and lower a shutter hundreds or even thousands of times in a row. Based on these tests, we can confidently say that our shutters will last for 10 to 20 years (and sometimes even longer with the proper annual maintenance).
Secure Your Home or Business for Years to Come
At SoCal Rolling Shutter, we make protecting your property easy. With the flip of a switch, your home or business is safe from criminals, extreme weather, and more. To learn about durable rolling shutters that will endure high winds and strong impacts, reach out to our SoCal Rolling Shutter team today.