Bi-folding glass doors design defies gravity

D R Services create bi-folding glass doors without either a frame or a bottom track.

Accepting that levitation only takes place in conjuring acts, manufacturing bi-folding glass door systems could be considered a leap of faith, with the assembly attempting to defy gravity as it moves from the closed to an open position and back gain.

Architectural glazing and ironmongery specialist, D R Services has built its reputation in the construction industry by providing design solutions and creating bi-folding glass doors is a challenge it has already met in a number of different applications.

Director of D R Services, Julie Jarvis comments: "There are particular problems to creating folding doors, especially in glass, because as they rotate through 90 degrees, all their weight is trying to tilt over like a pendulum.

And in many cases designers want to install them where you cannot have a 'parking bay' or there is no ceiling.

"That said if you can install a goalpost frame and a bottom channel for a feral pin you can transfer the loads.

The pin is normally formed from polymer so that it moves easily and almost noiselessly.

Then we tend to employ very strong hinges - generally from the range of Teufelbeschlag to carry the weight of the trailing leaf or leafs".

While in theory you could create a folding door with an unlimited number of leaves, the practical limit due to weight is actually five.

In exceptional circumstances D R Services has also created bi-folding doors without either a frame or a bottom track.

It then becomes necessary to ensure the first outboard leaf is folded back flat against the side hung leaf on an 180 degree pivot hinge and locked in position before the pair are moved together.

In the case of a major public building in Glasgow the manufacturer also makes use of specially produced ball-race transfer units which allow the leading edge of the door to roll on the floor surface.

Rather than unsightly external rollers, these barely visible ball races take account of any twist in the heavy glass doors.

Each of the four sets located in the lobby area features individual leafs of 10 mm thick toughened glass, 1200 mm wide by 2300 mm high.

The glass was given a very light screen printed finish to provide privacy between different areas of the building, while electronic latches prevented unauthorised access in one direction.

The most recent innovation to be added to the D R Services range presents special insulating glass units that enable the manufacturer to offer external folding and other types of fully glazed doors that meet the requirements of Part L to the Building Regulations for domestic properties.

DR Services is able to offer customers a bespoke design service for all types of construction project, while specifiers can choose to utilise fittings fashioned from aluminium, stainless steel, or ones presenting an anodised or polyester powder coat finish.

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