Door Seals

A door seal, also known as an edging strip, is a flexible channel made from rubber, plastic, or composite materials designed to fit securely onto the edges of panels, doors, and windows. Serving as a draught excluder, a door strip seal is ideal for preventing drafts and helping to retain heat, while also providing crucial protection from exposed sharp metal or glass edges. These versatile tools are also used in electrical installations to protect cables and wires from abrasion when they are passed through frames or grids.

Types of Door Seals and Edging Strips

Door seals and edging strips come in a variety of types, distinguished by their profile, material and features:

Common Profiles: These seals are available in different profiles, with the most popular ones being the U, V, and P shapes. The U-channel is a great choice for protecting the sharp edges of sheet metal, while V- and P-profiles are ideal for creating a weatherproof environment.
Material Selection: Common materials for seals include EPDM rubber, PVC plastic, and foam. EPDM rubber offers trustworthy weather resistance, foam provides an excellent compressible gasket for tight seals, and PVC plastic is a cost-effective option.
Added Features: Many seals are available with a self-adhesive backing for a quick and easy installation. Other profiles feature internal steel wire inserts that provide enhanced support and durability, ensuring the seal maintains its shape for a long-lasting, secure fit.

Fixing Methods

Door seals and edging strips are available in different fixing methods to suit your installation needs, such as:

Self-Gripping: These seals have an internal gripping feature that allows for a quick and easy push-on installation. This method provides a very secure fit without the need for additional adhesives or tools.
Self-Adhesive Backing: This type of seal comes with a pre-applied adhesive strip for a simple peel-and-stick application. It’s ideal for smooth, flat surfaces and provides a clean, secure bond.

Brush Strips

While door seals made from rubber or plastic provide a solid, channel-based seal, brush strips offer a highly effective alternative for different applications. A brush strip is a straight length of extruded aluminium or plastic, known as a carrier or holder. The carrier houses a length of filaments or bristles, typically made from black nylon, in the form of a long brush. This unique construction allows a brush strip to create a flexible seal, making it ideal for filling gaps where a solid door seal would be impractical.

What Does a Brush Strip Do?

Just like rubber door seals, brush strips are used to provide an effective seal, particularly in high-traffic areas. Most commonly, a brush strip is attached under or at the bottom of a door, where it acts as a draught excluder to prevent heat from escaping and cold air from entering. This flexible barrier also serves to prevent the ingress of dust, debris, leaves, and litter at the threshold of a building or factory.

Benefits of Door Seals

Beyond their protective functions, installing door seals provides a range of benefits for any space. These include:

Energy Savings: A secure door seal can significantly reduce heat loss in a room, minimising the need for heating systems. By stopping drafts, it also helps maintain a consistent indoor temperature, leading to lower energy consumption and reduced utility costs.
Comfort and Noise Reduction: Seals create a barrier against outside air, ensuring a more stable and comfortable environment inside. This barrier also serves to dampen sound, reducing noise from high-traffic areas and surrounding environments.
Improved Air Quality: A tight rubber seal strip effectively blocks the entry of dust, pollen, and other airborne allergens from outside. This is particularly important for individuals with respiratory sensitivities or allergies.
Pest Control: Small gaps beneath and around doors are a common entry point for insects and rodents. Installing a seal provides a simple and effective physical barrier to keep pests outside.
Moisture Protection: An effective seal can prevent rain and moisture from penetrating doorways and damaging flooring or internal structures. This is crucial for protecting the integrity of your property.
Reduced Wear and Tear: The soft, rubber profile of a door seal acts as a cushion between the door and its frame. This absorbs the impact, preventing loud slamming noises and reducing wear and tear on both the door and the frame.

Common Materials for Door Seals

The choice of material used for a door seal is crucial, as each offers unique properties suited to different applications and environments:

EPDM Rubber: This synthetic rubber is a top choice for outdoor applications due to its excellent resistance to UV light, ozone, and extreme weather conditions. EPDM rubber also maintains its flexibility and integrity over a long period, making it ideal as a durable, long-lasting seal.
Silicone Rubber: Known for its high-temperature performance, silicone rubber is extremely flexible and is a top choice for a wide range of challenging environments. It's often used in medical, food, and automotive industries due to its chemical resistance and non-toxic properties.
Neoprene (Polychloroprene): A durable synthetic rubber, neoprene offers good resistance to oils, greases, and weathering. It's particularly well-suited for industrial applications that require a robust seal that can resist both harsh environmental conditions and various chemicals.
Nitrile Rubber: Also known as Buna-N, this material is highly resistant to oil, fuel, and other petroleum-based products. It’s a common choice for seals in automotive and industrial machinery where a high degree of oil resistance is required.
PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride): PVC is a cost-effective and versatile plastic that can be either rigid or flexible depending on its composition. It's widely used for general-purpose applications where a basic seal is needed without the high performance of other materials.
Thermoplastic Elastomers (TPE): TPE is a type of material that combines the processing ease of plastic with the flexibility of rubber. It's known for being recyclable and is often used as a more environmentally-friendly alternative to traditional rubber seals.
Natural Rubber: Derived from the sap of rubber trees, natural rubber offers excellent tensile strength, elasticity, and tear resistance. However, it's not well-suited for outdoor use as it has poor resistance to weathering, UV light, and ozone.

Maintenance and Longevity of Door Seals

Proper maintenance can significantly extend the lifespan of your door seals, ensuring they remain effective for years to come. Here’s what to keep in mind:

Regular Cleaning: To maintain their performance, you should regularly clean door seals with a damp cloth or soft brush. This helps to remove any buildup of dirt and debris that can compromise the seal over time.
Avoid Harsh Cleaners: It's important to use mild cleaning solutions and avoid harsh chemicals or abrasive cleaners. These substances can damage the material, causing it to dry out, crack, or lose its sealing properties.
Annual Silicone Spray: Applying a silicone spray once a year is an easy way to keep your seals flexible and soft. This lubrication prevents the material from drying out and cracking, which can be a common issue over time.
Frequent Inspection: Regularly inspect your seals for any signs of cracks, tears, or damage. Catching these issues early allows you to replace the seal before a problem, such as a leak or draft, occurs.
Prevent Abrasion: To prevent premature wear, avoid any scraping or contact with hard objects, which can cause significant damage. Ensuring the seal is free from obstructions will also help maintain its integrity.
Proper Alignment: Ensuring proper alignment with the door frame is crucial for a door seal to work effectively. A well-fitted seal not only provides a perfect barrier, but also prevents unnecessary wear from friction.

Industrial Applications of Door Seals

Door seals are essential for a wide range of industrial environments to ensure workplace safety, efficiency and hygiene. These include:

Food and Beverage Processing: In the F&B industry, seals prevent the ingress of contaminants while maintaining a hygienic environment. They also help to contain temperatures in processing areas, which is crucial for preserving product quality and preventing spoilage.
Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology: Cleanliness and sterility are paramount in these fields. Door seals are used to maintain a highly controlled environment, protecting sensitive materials and processes from external dust and airborne particles.
Automotive Manufacturing: Seals in this sector are used to protect equipment and assembly areas from dust, debris, and welding sparks. They also serve to reduce noise from the factory floor, improving the working environment for employees.
Cold Storage and Refrigeration: A robust door seal is vital for sealing refrigerated rooms and cold storage units, keeping chilled air contained to ensure product quality and to reduce operational costs.
Cleanrooms and Laboratories: Maintaining a positive pressure environment in these settings is essential to prevent contamination. High-performance door seals ensure the integrity of the room, blocking all particulate matter from entering or leaving the controlled space.
Chemical and Petrochemical Plants: Seals are crucial for safety in these environments, preventing the escape of hazardous fumes, gases, or liquids. They must be highly resistant to a wide range of corrosive chemicals to ensure long-term durability and safety.
Manufacturing and Assembly Facilities: In general manufacturing, seals are used to protect machinery and products from dust and debris. They also help to contain noise, improve climate control, and ensure machine safety in busy production areas.

Order Rubber Door Seals from RS Malaysia

Acquiring your rubber door seals from RS Malaysia's digital platform is crafted for ultimate efficiency and convenience. Our expansive online catalogue features products from leading brands like TE Connectivity, Saint-Gobain Industrial & Consumer Solutions, or our very own RS PRO. Here, you can discover the exact seals you need — as well as associated products such as knife cutters and magnetic tape — and effortlessly complete your purchase using our secure payment methods.

Our advanced logistics framework guarantees the swift, nationwide doorstep delivery of your seals throughout Malaysia. For complete specifics on dispatch timelines, applicable charges, and various shipping choices, kindly consult our dedicated Delivery Page today!