Applications · Rolling Shutter Guide
Can a rolling shutter secure a closet, gun room or safe room?
Yes. A rolling shutter in or over the doorway puts a locked aluminum curtain across a closet, gun room or safe room. For the most security, choose the 63 mm single-wall slat with end retention and a lock at the bottom. It is a physical barrier, not a rated vault door: it carries no security or ballistic rating.
Key facts
- Roll-A-Shield recommends its extruded single-wall slat with end retention for high-security openings; end retention runs each slat in its own track in the guide rail to resist it being pushed out. Roll-A-Shield data
- On the 63 mm single-wall slat a manual shutter takes a key lock, a thumb-turn lock or a heavy-duty locking bottom bar; the heavy-duty bar comes key only, thumb-turn only, key both sides, or key one side and thumb-turn the other. Roll-A-Shield data
- Roll-A-Shield's order sheet asks which side of the shutter the lock goes on (box side or back side), so the locking side is set when the shutter is ordered. Roll-A-Shield data
- A narrow closet sets the operator: a strap or crank shutter can be about 10 in wide overall, a motorized one needs at least 22 in of clear opening, and a spring one at least 31 in overall. Roll-A-Shield data
Applies to: Rolling shutters installed over interior doorways, walk-in closets, gun rooms, gun cabinets and safe rooms, any make; Roll-A-Shield shutters, manual or motorized.
Walk-in closets, gun rooms and safe rooms are a common interior use for rolling shutters: the shutter becomes a lockable door that rolls out of sight when the room is open. Roll-A-Shield builds these for homes and for businesses such as pharmacies and gun shops, where shutters are often installed indoors. This page covers which slat and lock to choose, how the shutter mounts in a doorway, and what to expect from it.
What does a rolling shutter give a closet or gun room?
A locked aluminum curtain across the doorway, in place of a door. Getting through a closed shutter takes time, tools and noise. Roll-A-Shield holds no security certification for its shutters, so judge the construction and the lock rather than a rating, and do not treat it as a rated vault door or safe. It is not bullet-resistant either. See Are rolling shutters bulletproof?.
Which slat should I choose?
For the most security, the 63 mm single-wall extruded slat with end retention. End retention adds screws at the slat ends that lock into their own channel in the guide rail, to keep the slats from being pushed out of the rail during a break-in; Roll-A-Shield recommends extruded slats with end retention for high-security openings. Extruded slats are stronger than the foam-filled ones. For lighter use, such as keeping a closet private, the insulated foam-filled slats are typically enough. See What is end retention?.
Which lock?
On a manual shutter, the lock is at the bottom and secures the shutter into the guide rails. The slat decides the options:
| Slat | Lock options on a manual or spring shutter |
|---|---|
| 63 mm single-wall | Key lock or thumb-turn lock (not offered in Black or Metallic), or a heavy-duty locking bottom bar |
| 38 mm insulated | Slide lock, or the heavy-duty locking bottom bar |
| 55 mm insulated | No lock (built only as a motorized shutter) |
The heavy-duty bar comes as key only, thumb-turn only, key on both sides, or key on one side with a thumb-turn on the other. On one recorded call, staff said a key lock can be unlocked from both sides, while a thumb-turn opens from one side only; confirm this for your lock when ordering. The lock sits on one face of the curtain, chosen when the shutter is ordered, so decide which side of the doorway you will lock it from. More: How do rolling shutters lock?.
A motorized shutter has no bottom-bar lock as standard; it is held down by its motor, and access is controlled by how it is operated, for example a key switch or keypad. See Key switch, wall switch and keypad options.
How does it mount in a doorway?
Inside the room, outside it, or recessed into the doorway itself. In a closet doorway the box fastens above the opening, to the header where there is one. On individual recorded calls, staff said it could instead go between the side walls, and an installer described a closet with no header where the box's end caps were screwed into the same material the guide rails fasten to, ideally with the box also fastened back to something solid. Treat that as one case and send photos so your mounting can be checked. If you would rather not see the box, a reverse mount or a soffit can hide it. See What is a reverse-mount shutter?.
At floor level, a U-channel bottom track cannot be used where people walk, because it is a trip hazard.
Will it fit a narrow closet or a gun cabinet?
Usually; the minimum width depends on the operator.
| Operator | Narrowest |
|---|---|
| Strap or crank | About 10 in overall |
| Motor | 22 in clear opening; below 24 in only a 10 Nm motor fits |
| Spring | 31 in overall |
Wall-hung gun cabinets get shutters too. See What is the smallest shutter you can build?.
What should I think about before closing someone in?
How the room opens from inside, and what happens in a power cut. A wired motor can be ordered with a manual override (CMO) and a hand crank. On one recorded call, staff said the override can be placed on the inside or the outside, but not both; confirm which side you need when ordering.
Safety: If anyone could be inside the room when the shutter is down, check your local egress rules. An override, solar or battery motor keeps the shutter operable in an outage. Mains wiring for a wired motor is a job for a licensed electrician.
What next
Send the doorway's width and height, photos of the header and side walls, and which side you will lock from. For pricing, see How much do rolling shutters cost?; for a quote, call (480) 921-0200 or request a quote.
Frequently asked questions
Can a shutter go on a closet with no door header?
Possibly. On one recorded call, an installer described fastening the box between the side walls instead of to a header, with its end caps screwed into the same material the guide rails go into, ideally with the box also fastened back to something solid. Send photos so the mounting can be checked for your closet.
Is a rolling shutter bulletproof?
No. Roll-A-Shield shutters are not bullet-resistant and carry no ballistic rating.
Can I lock a motorized shutter?
Not with a bottom-bar lock as standard; a closed motorized shutter is held down by its motor, and access is controlled by how it is operated, for example a key switch or keypad.
Parts and next step
Need a part or a hand?
Replacement motors, remotes, straps, slats and hardware ship from our Tempe, Arizona factory. Phoenix-area owners can book a service visit; everywhere else, our technicians help by phone. Call (480) 921-0200; the factory answers technical questions for any rolling shutter, not only ours.