Insulated impact traffic doors are often used to shield customers from services areas such ablutions, loading and refuse areas, but when it comes to doorways between hospitality areas and kitchens there is a far more appropriate solution – the Apex SCP Traffic Door.

The Birchwood Conference Centre is undergoing extensive renovations and recognised the need for a door that could handle the high pedestrian traffic between kitchen areas and patron hospitality areas but also wanted an aesthetically pleasing door that would blend in with the new décor.

The Apex SCP Traffic Door was chosen for this purpose, and according to Wim Dessing Jnr, sales director at Apex Strip Curtains & Doors, one of the reasons was that the door could be customised to meet the specific application requirement and importantly the company was able to match the colour of the door to the surrounding area.

“This means that the door adds to the aesthetic appeal of the environment in the restaurants and bars, and is not an obtrusive structure,” Dessing Jnr says.

Apart from aesthetic appeal of the Apex SCP Traffic Door, its functionality is also important due to the constant movement of waitrons between the hospitality areas and the kitchens. It is important in applications such as this to install a door that offers a self-closing mechanism which will stand up to the high volume of pedestrian traffic.

“It makes no sense to use a conventional door in this type of thoroughfare as standard door hinges will not cope with the constant opening and closing,” he explains.

The Apex SCP incorporates the Easy Swing Hinge System pioneered by Eliason in the USA more than 30 years ago. Today, this is still considered the smoothest operating and most reliable hinge system on the market and is used across the world.

Apex SCP Traffic doors are constructed from 18 mm MDF or Supawood and cladded on both sides with high pressure laminate. The edges of the door are capped with 0.9 mm stainless steel and are available with either a 500 mm or 1 000 mm stainless steel impact plate. In addition to this, scratch resistant acrylic vision panels are set in black rubber mouldings to facilitate enhanced visibility between the areas.

To date, two Apex SCP Traffic Doors have been installed at the Birchwood Conference Centre, and an order has been received for a third.

Dessing says that a different solution was applied to the areas where traffic through doorways includes catering trolleys and other wheeled apparatus. The Apex SR 9000 Impact Traffic Door is capable of withstanding high impact from trolleys, bins with merchandise and general refuse bins as well as high pedestrian traffic.

The durable Apex SR 9000 door can easily be installed in existing or new openings, and can be matched to the décor in the area as well. The door offers little resistance to traffic and has a full 180 degree swing. Each door has the option of a clear window to allow enhanced visibility and its hinges are stainless steel and of robust design providing trouble-free service.

In total, five Apex SR 9000 Impact Traffic Doors have been supplied to the conference centre to date, all of which are fitted with bumpers to protect against damage from trolleys.