ALUPROF
’ SLIDING DOORS FOR CITY AND SUBURBIA ’
BY WOJCIECH BROZYNA - MD OF ALUPROF UK
There are several design choices when considering the specification of sliding doors for use in a city high rise or in a typical residential setting . Not only are the opening styles important to suit the clients ’ needs , but there are also choices which will make the door both look and perform better for longer , if specified correctly .
The types of sliding door can be broken down into two basic operational functions , these can be simple inline sliding , or folding sliding . Inline sliding doors consist of large sliding panels which slide within the door reveal to open the room up to the outside . In their most basic form , they are two sliding panels , normally with one fixed and one sliding . Along with the basic sliding doors , there are ‘ tilt and slide ’ doors and ‘ lift and slide ’ doors . These doors offer higher weather ratings than the basic sliding door systems . The ‘ tilt and slide ’ is basically a large open-in sash which is fully sealed with a centre seal and is locked with multiple points around the frame . The hardware allows the panel to open in and then slide to one side behind the fixed panel . The ‘ lift and slide ’ offers a lift facility with a large handle once operated lifts the sliding panel up very slightly off the bottom seals and then allows the panel to slide with little effort . These systems can be specified with 2 , 3 or 4 tracks allowing the door panels to stack behind each other within the door reveal . There is also the option to hide the door panel or panels into a side wall given the space , to offer an almost clear opening .
Sliding folding arrangements allow the doors to ‘ concertina ’ open , offering an almost clear opening . Doors are stacked perpendicular to the track , either on one side or both sides , depending on their design . These doors can either stack internally or externally , again , depending on the design option . Because of their frame design and ease of installation , they are often specified in home improvement applications .
Crucial to all large sliding door installations is the need to have a substantial structure to fix to on all sides . Often the head of the opening can cause issues , particularly on a wide door installation . If there is any settlement of a lintel or structure , this can cause issues with future operability . Live loads should also be considered to ensure that the sliding door does not bind in certain loading conditions . Colour can also become an issue , such as a dark door facing south , so expansion should be allowed for in the construction . Clear guidance should be sought on these issues from the systems company and structural engineer to ensure ease of operation .
Given the styles of door available , the choice comes down to visual appearance and practicality . Externally stacking sliding folding doors may not be suitable in a high-rise application due to limited space on a balcony . Sliding doors do offer more clear glazing per opening with much less aluminium visible but may not offer a full opening . With more available outdoor space , sliding folding doors are often chosen for home improvement or new traditional home build or grand designs type projects .
Weather performance is crucial , especially in high rise applications . Basic sliding doors often will not meet the exposure requirements of a high rise location but lift and slide doors that rely on their weight once closed to rest weather seals , can offer exceptional weathering capability . Aluprof ’ s MB-77HS system , for example , offers an impressive maximum Class 4 air tightness when tested to BS EN 12207 and a Class 9A ( 600Pa ) for watertightness when tested to BS EN 12208 . This door has also been successfully tested to CWCT standards when used within a high rise facade and is possibly the door style most often chosen by specifiers for high rise use .
Key for most designers and specifiers on high rise applications is the threshold arrangement which is to be kept as low as possible
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