Most people picture the same thing when they think of roller shutters. A shop front on a high street, maybe a garage door or the entrance to an industrial unit. And yes, those are the bread and butter of what we do. But over the years we have been called out to some locations that raise an eyebrow or two, and it turns out that roller shutters are genuinely useful in a much wider range of places than most people realise.
Historic buildings
The UK has no shortage of listed buildings, stately homes and heritage attractions, and quite a few of them have gift shops, ticket offices and storage areas that need protecting overnight. The challenge is doing it without ruining the look of the place. Shutters fitted inside the window reveal or behind original joinery can be completely invisible when open, which tends to keep conservation officers happy. We have worked on some interesting buildings over the years where the shutter is the last thing you would notice, which is exactly the point.
Sports clubs and leisure venues
Village cricket clubs, bowling greens, rugby grounds and leisure centres all have the same basic problem: valuable kit, bar stock and cash on site, often in fairly isolated locations where it can be a while before anyone notices a break-in. Roller shutters on bar hatches, equipment stores and kiosk windows are a straightforward solution, and electric operation via remote means volunteer-run clubs do not have to faff about with a set of keys between committee members.
Farms and rural premises
Agricultural theft is a serious issue in the UK and it has been getting worse. Tractors, quad bikes, fuel, fertiliser, even livestock equipment. Organised gangs target rural premises specifically because they know response times are longer and properties are harder to secure. Heavy-duty roller shutters on machinery stores, grain barns and farm shops make life considerably more difficult for anyone trying their luck. As a bonus, an insulated roller door on a machinery shed also protects equipment from the cold, which anybody who has tried to start a tractor on a January morning in the north of England will appreciate.
NHS and healthcare premises
Hospitals and GP surgeries have areas that need to be locked down outside of hours, pharmacy counters being the obvious one, but also reception desks, medical supply rooms and catering areas. Where fire compartmentalisation is also required, which it often is in healthcare settings, a fire-rated shutter does both jobs in one. That tends to make life easier when you are trying to satisfy both the estates team and the fire safety officer at the same time.
Schools
Schools get broken into more often than you might think, particularly during half terms and summer holidays. IT equipment stores, science labs, sports halls and dining areas are all common targets. Shutters on reception windows and storeroom entrances are fairly standard now, but we also see a growing number of schools using vision shutters on internal corridors and library spaces. These let natural light through and do not make the building feel like a fortress, which matters when you are talking about a school.
School kitchens are a slightly different matter. Fire-rated shutters are specified there as part of the fire strategy for the building, not just for security. It is one of the more common calls we get from the education sector.
Transport hubs
Railway stations, ferry terminals and airports involve a lot of individual retail units, operational zones and maintenance areas, all of which have different security requirements. Retail units close their shutters at the end of trading like any other shop, while operational areas such as luggage handling bays and fuel stores need heavy-duty industrial solutions. We have previously installed steel fire and security doors at Manchester Airport, which gives you an idea of the sort of environment these projects involve.
Hotels
Hotel shutters tend to be ones guests never notice, which is the idea. Bar counters use vision or polycarbonate shutters to close off overnight without blocking the view into the space. Spa and pool areas use high-speed roller doors to maintain temperature. Service corridors and loading bays get shuttered to manage deliveries without them affecting guest areas. We supplied and fitted 2020 polycarbonate shutters at the Low Wood Bay Hotel in Windermere, and when they are open you would barely know they were there. That combination of being unobtrusive when open and secure when closed is exactly what hospitality clients want.
Data centres
Physical security tends to get less attention than cyber security in conversations about data centres, but it matters just as much. Roller shutters on server room entrances, cable routes and generator enclosures add a physical barrier that complements electronic access control. Some clients and accreditation bodies require evidence of physical security measures as a condition of certification, so this is not purely a nice-to-have.
If you are not sure, just ask
We get enquiries from all sorts of premises and we are genuinely happy to talk through whether a shutter is the right solution before you commit to anything. Everything we supply is made to order and fitted to the exact dimensions of your opening, so there is no such thing as an awkward location or an application we have not seen before.
Call us on 0800 133 7044, email sales@ddrollershutters.co.uk or get a quote at danddrollershutters.co.uk.
