Weather conditions can wreak havoc on your assets, belongings, and employee productivity. Inefficient weatherproofing drains energy and resources that your business needs to thrive. Changes in temperature and humidity can be detrimental not only to the condition of the products you store but also to manufacturing practices and employee productivity.

When it comes to optimizing your workplace for safety, efficiency, and productivity, weatherproofing and energy-saving solutions are vital tools of the trade.

For six decades, Stor-it Systems Ltd. has provided innovative solutions in weatherproofing and energy-saving storage to customers throughout Atlantic Canada. In this blog, we’ll explore how we can transform your workspace into a secure, efficient, and sustainable environment.

Does cold weather affect productivity?

When our body temperature drops, it means we’re automatically expending more energy to keep ourselves warm, which leaves less brainpower for task.

Top 3 Areas to Invest in Weatherproofing Solutions

Loading Dock Seals and Shelters

On the outside of your building, where the loading dock interfaces with transport trucks or rail cars, you’ll find a gap between the outside face of the wall and the door of that truck or railcar. This gap, often as large as ten square feet, can be a major factor in your energy bills and employee productivity.

Dock seals and dock shelters provide functional benefits for loading and unloading operations. On top of that, they can offer huge financial advantages. By optimizing energy efficiency, enhancing productivity, and reducing maintenance costs, these components can create significant savings for your business.

1. Improving Energy Efficiency and Cost Savings: Dock seals and shelters can greatly enhance energy efficiency. These components establish a tight seal between the dock and the vehicle, effectively reducing air infiltration. This prevents temperature fluctuations and minimizes energy loss, resulting in decreased heating or cooling expenses and substantial utility savings.
2. Elevating Productivity: Efficient loading and unloading operations are pivotal for businesses striving to meet customer demands while maintaining a competitive edge. Dock seals and shelters create a controlled environment, reducing delays caused by adverse weather conditions and ensuring uninterrupted operations. This heightened productivity can lead to increased throughput and quicker turnaround times.
3. Reducing Maintenance and Repair Costs: Investing in top-quality dock seals and shelters can yield long-term cost savings by diminishing maintenance and repair expenditures. These components are meticulously designed to withstand frequent usage, impacts, and environmental factors, ensuring their durability and longevity over time.
4. Enhancing Workplace Safety and Minimizing Liability: Workplace safety is a paramount concern for businesses, and dock seals and shelters can reduce risks significantly. These components establish a physical barrier between vehicles and the loading dock, minimizing the chances of accidents, injuries, or property damage. By opting for high-quality dock seals and dock shelters, businesses can avoid costly incidents and mitigate potential liability issues.
5. Evaluating Return on Investment (ROI): While the initial investment in dock seals and dock shelters might appear substantial, the long-term financial benefits outweigh the upfront costs. A comprehensive assessment of operational requirements, energy consumption, and potential savings is instrumental in determining ROI. In some cases, this ROI can be as short as two years.

Overhead and Ground Level Doors

If you’ve noticed drafts, water, insects or rodents in your warehouse, there is a good chance the problem can be traced back to the weather seals on your doors. Weatherstripping is the process of sealing openings around your overhead and ground-level doors, to keep out weather, increase interior comfort, lower utility bills, and reduce noise.

Overhead and ground-level doors come with a bottom seal (Astragal) that works in conjunction with weather seals installed on the sides and header to keep those nuisances out. T

These seals can get ripped or wear out during the loading process, while older overhead doors or doors that see frequent traffic may not have full perimeter weatherstripping to seal out the elements.

Benefits of Weatherstripping

Weatherstripping protects the interior of your warehouse from the exterior conditions. In the summer months, weatherstripping keeps cool air in. In winter months, it keeps precipitation out while stabilizing the warehouse’s internal temperature and aiding in pest control.

What’s more, the cost of installing or replacing weatherstripping is low, especially when compared to the long-term benefits it provides.

Weatherstripping Maintenance & Checks

Check your weather seals for damage as part of your regular maintenance routine. Ensure doors are completely closed and inspect weather seals from the inside out using the below criteria:

• Check for cracks or signs of visible wear
• Feel for drafts coming through the door
• Keep an eye out for water near/around the door during rain or snow
• Look for daylight around the periphery of the door

If any of these conditions exist, contact us for an estimate. It can mean a big change in your energy bills.

Dock Levelers

Pit-mounted loading docks (a.k.a. dock levelers) should have weather seals installed on both the right and left sides. That’s because, on average, a gap of 1″ exists on both sides of the dock leveler and pit wall, meaning the equivalent of having a 12″x12″ window open.

We highly recommend using rubber or brush weather seals to prevent loss of conditioned air and keep unconditioned air out of the building.

Much the same as your overhead doors, if you observe deterioration to the seals or light filtering through, you are experiencing energy loss. Give Stor-it Systems a call, and we can get your seals replaced and back in good working order.

How Stor-It Systems Can Help Your Business

Weatherproofing and energy-saving storage solutions are essential tools for protecting your assets while reducing your energy costs and environmental impact. Stor-It Systems offers a range of innovative and eco-friendly solutions to meet your needs.

Our knowledgeable consultants will provide the information and expertise required to meet your challenges. The time you invest in a safe, efficient and productive workplace today will pay valuable dividends for tomorrow.