14 new ideas for doors and door hardware

1. WIDE-STILE OPTION EXPANDS RESILIENT DOOR SERIES

The Model 50H adds a five-inch-wide stile door to YKK AP America’s ProTek line, which consists of hurricane-impact and blast-mitigation products for commercial applications. Designed to integrate with both storefront and curtain wall framing systems, the Model 50H has been tested to meet the stringent Miami–Dade County and Broward County (Fla.) building codes.

The manufacturer has also performed blast mitigation (ASTM F 1642) and water performance (ASTM E 331) testing, as well as ASTM large-missile tests to demonstrate the doors’ ability to handle projectiles during high-wind events. Depending on climate, doors can also be fitted with lighter-duty glazing options that meet small-missile tests.

Factors contributing to the strength of the door, according to the manufacturer, include all-aluminum stile and rail construction and a welded-seam corner design. Multiple locking, hinge, and threshold options are available. YKK AP America

2. WINNING RETAIL PROJECT FEATURES CURVILINEAR GLASS DOORS AND DIVIDERS

The Marc by Marc Jacobs Showroom, housed within the Manhattan headquarters of global fashion house Marc Jacobs, was a winner of the American Institute of Architects’ 2014 Honor Award for Interior Architecture. Designed by Jaklitsch/Gardner Architects with HLW International, the showroom includes offices divided by curvilinear glass forms using doors by DORMA.

The dividing glass elements create a subtle screening effect to delineate private zones while maximizing daylight penetration. A gradient frit pattern creates privacy for seated guests while providing a full view of the showroom when visitors stand up. The shape of the glass enclosure reflects the structural conditions of the building as well as the client’s programmatic needs.

Also on the Building Team:  McGory Glass (glass vendor), Hage Engineering (SE), Buzzoni SRL (fabricator/millworker), and Apogee Design & Construction (GC). DORMA

3. RECYCLED CONTENT, LOW-VOC DOORS HELP MAKE CONVENTION CENTER GREENER

Music City Center, a $585 million, 1.2 million-sf convention center, opened in Nashville, Tenn., last spring. Architects tvsdesign, Tuck-Hinton Architects, and Moody-Nolan selected numerous sustainable products for the LEED Silver project, including storefront and entrance systems by Tubelite.

The manufacturer’s eight-foot monumental doors and storefront systems were extruded using EcoLuminum, a high-recycled-content composition with durable finishes. Tubelite estimates that the recycled material represents a 95% reduction in energy compared with non-recycled aluminum. The framing for the Music City Center storefront and entrance systems was finished by Linetec using a clear anodize, which uses no VOCs.

Also on the Building Team: Oldcastle BuildingEnvelope (glass fabricator), Alexander Metals (door installer), and Bell & Associates Construction, Clark Construction Group, and Harmony Construction Group (general contractors). Tubelite

4. PROTECTION SYSTEM COMPONENTS SHIELD DOORS, WALLS FROM WEAR AND TEAR

InPro’s IPC line of door and wall protection products is designed to protect building interiors without compromising aesthetic appeal. For doors, the series includes kick plates, door-edge protectors, door-frame guards, and related protective wall coverings.

Available materials include rigid sheet goods (vinyl or G2 BioBlend) and stainless steel. Kick plates can be specified in standard rectangles or custom curved designer profiles for decorative effect. The manufacturer offers 100 standard colors as well as ethnic- and nature-inspired finishes.

The available range of products includes items that meet the Greenguard Environmental Institute and state of California requirements for low-emitting products, as well as Greenguard Children & School chemical emissions levels. InPro

5. KITCHEN WALL AND WINDOW SYSTEM MELDS INDOOR, OUTDOOR ADVANTAGES

NanaWall Systems has introduced the Kitchen Transition system, encompassing folding glass windows and folding glass floor-to-ceiling walls. The folding walls replace a conventional wall or a sliding glass door, and the windows are designed to replace traditional windows over a countertop.

Seamless transitions are part of the system’s engineering, allowing designers of high-end multifamily properties, hotels, and restaurants to create varied combinations of indoor and outdoor preparation and serving areas. When closed, the system provides secure weather protection in both hot and cold climates, according to the manufacturer.

Window and wall-door portions of the system operate independently, creating opening possibilities up to 36 feet wide. Wood systems are available in pine, spruce, beech, Douglas fir, and mahogany. Aluminum systems are available with a powder coating in more than 200 gloss or matte colors. NanaWall Systems

6. SPEEDY ROLL-UP EXTERIOR DOORS BOOST SECURITY FOR UNIVERSITY GARAGE

The University of Southern California selected Spiral roll-up doors, from Rytec, to help ensure the safety of users in the Galen Center garage regardless of whether or not a game is scheduled. Home of the USC basketball and volleyball programs, the arena garage has roll-up doors with an operating speed of 60 inches per second.

This fast action is designed to help prevent access by intruders. Advanced electronic controls manage all door functions, including speed adjustments and intelligent power-consumption monitoring. The rigid, aluminum-slat construction is coupled with a design that eliminates metal-on-metal contact for quieter operation and reduced maintenance, according to the manufacturer. Rytec

7. CLASSROOM LOCKDOWN SOLUTION IS DESIGNED TO ENHANCE SECURITY

By pushing a button on a remote fob, a teacher can accomplish a quick classroom lockdown with the Schlage CO-220 electric lock. An illuminated visual indicator on the interior side provides verification that the door is secured. The fob may be worn around the neck or wrist for quick accessibility. Door access options include PIN and proximity-card readers.

Units may be programmed manually at each lock, or adjusted using access-control software. Cylindrical and mortise chassis options are available, as well as a wide variety of finishes and lever styles. The CO-220 is ANSI/BHMA A156.25 rated and is ANSI/BHMA Grade 1 certified and UL fire rated. Schlage

8. BALANCED DOOR SETS COMBINE DECORATIVE EDGES, EASY PIVOTING

Narrow-stile balanced doors from Ellison Bronze feature thin, decorative edges with balanced door systems. The torsion bar closer spring can either be concealed within the door frame, or exposed. Doors can also be equipped with the manufacturer’s PowerNow power operators. In a balanced door system, the fulcrum is placed at one-third the width of the door, so one-third of the door leaf recesses into the facility.

This creates a more balanced pivot point for better weight distribution, according to the manufacturer. The design allows heavy doors made of durable materials to be opened more easily, in spite of wind or building stack pressure. Available materials include stainless steel, bronze, and aluminum. Ellison Bronze

9. BISTRO WELCOMES BREEZES WITH FOLDING PATIO DOORS

Martingale Wharf, an American bistro in Portsmouth, N.H., created a bridge between its indoor and outdoor dining areas using folding patio doors from Andersen Windows. Resembling a wall of windows when closed, the doors create an indoor-outdoor flow when opened.

The manufacturer’s patio doors are available in monumental and standard sizes, ranging from four feet to 48 feet in width and up to 10 feet in height. They are top-hung for easy operation and can be specified in traditional or contemporary panel styles. Eleven standard exterior colors are available, plus custom colors.

The restaurant designers selected a dark interior door finish to complement the nautical décor; available wood selections include pine, oak, maple, cherry, alder, mahogany, or vertical-grain Douglas fir. Low-e4 glass enhances the project’s energy efficiency. Andersen

10. LARGE OPENINGS ACCOMMODATED WITH MULTI-SLIDE ALUMINUM-CLAD DOORS

Openings up to 24 feet wide and 10 feet tall can be spanned with the new VistaLuxe Collection of doors from Kolbe. The doors can stack open or pocket into a wall, and can be manufactured as custom corner units. Available interior woods include sustainably harvested species and bamboo.

The extruded-aluminum-clad exteriors may be painted in standard, custom, and mica colors, all backed with a 30-year finish warranty. Anodized finishes are also available in metallic tones, and matching finishes may be specified for divided lites and in-airspace grilles. The minimalist, narrow door stiles are intended to maximize daylight openings and viewing areas while maintaining energy efficiency. Kolbe

11. RETROFIT BI-FOLD CABLE DOORS WITH LIFT-STRAP CONVERSION KIT

Bi-fold doors that are currently equipped with cables may be converted to lift-strap operation with a retrofit kit from Schweiss Doors. Custom-made polyester lift straps do not require cables or pulleys to adjust.

The three-inch-wide straps are rated at 29,000 pounds of tensile strength, compared with a conventional quarter-inch steel cable’s 7,200-pound rating. Lift straps wrap around a drum as the door opens, increasing the drum’s diameter. The larger the circumference, the faster the door opens, providing momentum as the doors rise.

According to the manufacturer, lift straps do not rust or tangle. Auto-latches and remote controls are available. The lift straps carry a 10-year warranty. Schweiss Doors

12. ARCHITECTURAL WOOD DOORS BROADEN EXTERIOR CHOICES

VT Industries now offers Exterior Stile and Rail wood doors, complementing its existing line of interior architectural wood doors.Available in varied elevations, sizes, and thicknesses, the doors are further customizable with multiple veneer species, sticking, and panel options. Available species include alder, cherry, fir, mahogany, pine, walnut, and white oak, including FSC woods.

Doors in each order are manufactured to match, helping to ensure a uniform appearance for all doors on a single project. Standard and custom elevations include floating-panel construction with internal dampening to eliminate rattles, and split-proof panel construction with built-in thermal barriers. Coordinating sidelites and transoms are available. VT Industries

13. SUSTAINABILITY TECHNOLOGY MAKES LOCKS MORE ENERGY EFFICIENT

Ecoflex mortise lock technology, now available from ASSA ABLOY Group brands Corbin Russwin and Sargent, results in a 97% reduction in energy usage compared with standard electrified locks, according to the manufacturer. The technology is suggested for electronic access control applications including use as a basic electrified lock with a wall reader, in an integrated hard-wired lock, or in an integrated battery-powered lock.

Because it draws less than a quarter watt at 12 volts, Ecoflex offers flexibility for consolidating power supplies and reducing operating costs. In particular, it may produce significant savings in fail-safe applications such as stairwell towers, where locks on every floor draw constant power. The actuator is designed to improve system reliability by eliminating the risk of voltage drops and inductive kickback, enabling longer cable runs and eliminating the need to add kickback diodes to an installation. ASSA ABLOY

14. INTEGRATED INTERIOR SHADE SYSTEM ADDS VERSATILITY TO SWINGING, SLIDING DOORS

Marvin Windows and Doors now offers an integrated interior shade system, available on new swinging and sliding doors and as a retrofit option. The shade system is also compatible with many of the manufacturer’s window units. On swinging doors and windows, the integrated shade system operates both top down and bottom up.

On sliding doors, the shades move with the door, eliminating the need for a user to raise the shades when operating the door. Unlike between-the-glass offerings, Marvin’s system is compatible with all glazing types, including gas-filled and surface-coated glazings. The shades can be used with simulated divided lites that have spacer bars.

Mechanisms are fully concealed, and cords are hidden. Both blackout and light-filtering fabrics are available, with a range of 15 colors. The shade material is anti-static, liquid-repellent, and dust- and soil-resistant, and comes with a 10-year warranty. Marvin Windows and Doors