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The Ultimate Guide to Choosing Heavy-Duty Gate Hinges for Your Property

A gate serves as the interface of your facility. It controls access to a specific area, such as a passage, an entrance, or a doorway. Although most people only focus on the aesthetic appeal or the security requirements of this gate, they rarely think of hinges that support them. The gates may all look the same, whether at your home, office, commercial or industrial facilities. However, the difference lies in the standard and heavy-duty construction of these hinges. As the name suggests, the standard hinges can support light duty gates used in homes or other areas whereas heavy-duty hinges are custom-designed to support the gates in commercial and industrial facilities where high traffic can be a concern. Having known this, you may have several questions regarding these heavy-duty hinges, their types, benefits, and so on. If so, this post discusses the same and more.

Types of Heavy-Duty Gate Hinges for Commercial and Industrial Use

If you observe closely, the designs of heavy-duty gate hinges and standard gate hinges are almost the same, only they differ in their weight support capabilities. The following are a few popular heavy-duty hinges used for supporting gates in commercial and industrial facilities.

Barrel Hinges: These heavy-duty hinges are not easily visible and provide a clean look. They are known for their strength and durability.
Strap Hinges: These hinges are characterized by their long arms and distribute their weight along the surface of the gate and provide austinic appeal.
Ball Bearing Hinges: As the name suggests, these hinges are equipped with bearings, which assure smooth and seamless opening and closing of gates in commercial and industrial facilities. They are suited for most high-traffic areas.
Pivot Hinges: These heavy-duty hinges are usually mounted at the bottom or top of the gate or door, and they allow the gate to swing in both directions.
Weld-on Hinges: Most of the aforementioned types of hinges can be welded on the gates for additional security. This welding assures superior strength and durability, and ease of installations especially in industrial facilities.

Advantages of Choosing Heavy-Duty Hinges for Commercial and Industrial Uses

How are heavy-duty hinges better than standard hinges when it comes to securing the gates in your offices, commercial facilities or industrial storage areas? The following pointers will help you understand it better.

Strength and Durability: Unlike the standard gate hinges, the heavy-duty gate hinges are constructed using materials like carbon steel, 316 or 304 grades stainless steel. All these materials are known for their sturdiness, durability, and strength. In short, these hinges are engineered to withstand the continuous swinging, opening, and closing of gates without breaking, warping, or bending.
Excellent Load Bearing Capacities: Heavy duty hinges can support heavy loads, and are usually rated for specific load capacities. This helps ensure their reliability without failing or sagging in the long run.
Enhanced Security: These hinges are made from sturdy materials that add to security and safety. Additionally, they can be equipped with tamper-resistant screws or integrated with modern security measures to prevent unwanted intrusions. Further, weld-on installation helps avoid tampering of the gate.
Customization: These hinges can be customized according to door weights, size and length of the door, security features, and so on.

Factors to Consider When Choosing Heavy-Duty Gate Hinges for Your Facility

Like other heavy-duty hinges, choosing heavy-duty gate hinges for your facility requires a lot of consideration. The following pointers will help you in this regard.

Weight Capacity: Check the gate’s weight and ensure the hinges are rated appropriately. If you choose hinges that are not rated for the proper weight, then it may lead to overloading and cause failure and damage.
Security: Next, focus on the security features of the hinges. As said before, their construction adds to their security, however, that is not enough. You need to focus on features such as their compatibility with other security measures and the chances of tampering or removal.
Size and Length: Always choose longer and larger hinges because they can distribute the weights effectively and reduce instances of damage, wear and tear.
Environment: Consider the operational environment of the hinges. You need to address factors such as where these hinges will be used, factors they would be exposed to, and so on. Some materials may not be suited for your operating environment. For instance, although carbon steel hinges are durable and sturdy, they are not recommended for marine environments.

Tips for Installation of Heavy-Duty Hinges

Here are some tips for the installation of heavy-duty hinges.

Choose the Right Hinges: You must choose the hinges suitable for the weight, size, and material of your gate. Additionally, you must consider the factors such as material, operating environment, load-bearing capacity, and so on.
Mark the Position: You must measure and mark the position of the hinge on the gate and the adjacent post or frame using a level.
Secure Hinges to Gate: Use proper screws to attach the hinges to the frame.
Adjust for Clearance: Focus on the proper clearance between the ground and the gate. If required, adjust the hinges to ensure their smooth functioning.
Check the Gate: Once the hinges are properly installed, you must check the gate’s movement. This would help you understand if it opens and closes smoothly.
Establish an Inspection Routine: Inspect the hinges regularly to ensure safety.

Heavy duty hinges assure the security of your people and premises. Hence, they must be chosen carefully. These hinges will function properly for several years with proper maintenance and installation. In addition to all these, it is important to invest in quality heavy duty hinges to support your gates and doors. If you have been looking for custom and standard heavy-duty hinges in the UK, you can contact us at Kiesler Machine UK. Our experts will work closely with your team to understand your requirements before offering you the solution. Contact us today to discuss your requirements.