When choosing a commercial garage door, there are many factors to consider, including material, style, size, and insulation. One that isn’t always obvious is the amount of headroom the door will need ― that is, the space that the track system and springs will take up at the ceiling of your building. Some doors need more than others, and it’s important to know what your building will accommodate before you get a nasty surprise on installation day.
The headroom needed for your commercial garage door is dependent on the track system and spring that are installed with the door. Fortunately, there are several available options to customize your door and the clearance required. Available options include:
- Following the roof
- High-lift systems
- Full vertical tracks
- Spring cycles
- Door weights
- Customizing track thickness
Standard doors with torsion springs and a 2-inch track with a 15″ radius usually require 16″ in headroom. It’s important to remember that changes to the door, spring and track configuration will affect the amount of clearance needed. When installing a trolley or jackshift opener system, additional headroom or side room is also necessary, and the amount varies by manufacturer. Please refer to the opener manufacturer’s documentation to find exact overhead clearance requirements.
If you’re unsure about your door configuration’s headspace needs, contact a professional garage door dealer like Overhead Door Company of Greater Cincinnati to help you determine the best setup for your garage opening.
