Frameless Glass Doors are the beautiful doors, you might see, inside a mall. Typically, these will be found using 1/2″ tempered glass. Holes are pre-drilled, while the glass is still raw, for hardware. Hardware can consist of tubular handles, architectural panic hardware, also, magnetic lock armatures (a steel plate used for magnetic lock adhesion). The vertical sides of the glass are exposed. Door shoes for top, and bottom, can be full width, or by using corner patches (shoes, less than a foot long, which grab the glass by compression, and the help of a collared thru-bolt fastened thru pre-drilled glass). These shoes are most always found with polished cladding (i.e. polished brass, stainless, or chrome, exteriors).
Manual lock functions can be achieved by use of manual deadbolts, secured at the bottom of the shoe. Mentioned earlier, there are very fancy tubular bar exit devices, that are very pleasing on the eye. These bars plunge by single action of the user, and a header-mounted roller strike will disengage. Vertical face mag-locks are also used, as well as magnetic shear locks. Egress is achieved, using motion detecion, touch-sensor bars, a request to exit switch, or wired mechanical panic exit devices.
Access control can be managed thru stand alone systems, managed by use of control boxes, or managed thru software. Time settings, for locked mode, unlocked mode, holiday mode, or daylight savings time mode, can be easily managed by use of software. Access control, is inherently suited for this application. Access control can make use of card readers, retinal scanners, remote switch control, hand scanners, intercom / CCTV communications, as well as other methods.
Frameless Glass Doors are typically pivoted at the top jamb side corner. A hydraulic floor closer can serve both pivot, and closing, function. The bottom, can also be a pivot, by itself. Top pivots can make use of walking beam pivots, patch fittings, or concealed overhead closers
Balanced Doors are also frameless glass doors. These doors pivot both at the jamb (using a torsion tube), and also, by means of pivot arms, which extend about a third of the way into the opening, when the door is closed. These are artistic pieces of work. A quite professional representative, will often compliment the establishment as a Doorman. He’ll know all the regulars, and, will more than courteously, open the door for you. These individuals always seem content, and genuinely happy to greet everyone.
Floor closers can be costly, but should be expected to last for years. You can replace existing floor closers with newly manufactured, or rebuilt, replacements. Rebuilt floor closers will only be as good as the mechanic. Some older, obsolete models, require a retrofit to a new model floor closer. Floor closers are typically housed inside cases, which are set into the concrete floor. Floor closers can also be de-activated, by use of center pivots, or offset arm pivots. This allows for use of more economical surface mounted, or concealed overhead closers. While the initial retrofit may, or may not cost more, future benefits can be realized by easier replacement, and less costly closer replacements.
The face of the tempered glass, on these doors, is remarkably strong. The edges of the glass is a vulnerable point. Chipped edges, will compromise the tensile strength of the glass. Is is the safest bet to replace the glass, if the edges are chipped. Try to limit errant damage by delivery personnel, or toted suitcases. Simply taking a door down, in this condition, brings a risk of the glass breaking. Through communication, the customer, should be made aware of this. Existing door shoes, and hardware, can be transferred to the new glass. Another thing to watch out for, is misalignment of the door(s), causing center glass edges, or jamb side edges meeting side-lites, to rub on each other. This can be caused by worn out pivots, improper alignment, or slipping door shoes. The pivots can be replaced. Proper alignments can be made, and shoes can be re-shoed.
Doorsmith, Inc. is a commercial repair, and installation, service that proudly serves Orange County, California. We are available for inspection, maintenance, and repair of all types of commercial doors, gates, and dock levelers.
Please contact us at 1 800 315 6839.
www.http://DoorsmithInc.com
CA License 902488
