| 1 |
Glass Type and Safety |
Confirm whether the glass is tempered, laminated, or a combination of both. Check safety markings, certification documents, and the intended application.
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Recommended
Use tempered safety glass for most interior and many exterior doors. Laminated glass is preferable where post-breakage retention, security, or overhead glazing protection is important. Tempered glass cannot be cut or drilled after heat treatment.
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Hardware must be compatible with the selected glass thickness and pre-drilled hole pattern. Avoid field drilling tempered glass.
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Inspect every panel for edge damage before installation. Do not install glass with chips, deep scratches, or visible cracks.
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| 2 |
Glass Thickness |
Match thickness to door size, weight, traffic level, wind exposure, and the hinge or roller system.
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Common residential and light-commercial door glass is approximately 8–12 mm thick. Heavier or larger doors may require thicker glass or a framed system. Final thickness should be verified by structural and hardware calculations.
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Confirm the maximum panel weight supported by hinges, pivots, rollers, clamps, and tracks. A glass door can weigh roughly 20–30 kg per square metre for 10–12 mm monolithic glass, excluding hardware.
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Use suitable lifting equipment and at least two trained installers for large panels. Keep glass upright and supported on approved setting blocks.
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| 3 |
Door Frame Material |
Compare aluminum, steel, timber, and frameless configurations according to corrosion resistance, rigidity, thermal performance, and appearance.
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Aluminum is lightweight and corrosion-resistant; stainless steel provides high strength and a premium finish; timber requires moisture protection; frameless systems provide a minimalist appearance but transfer more responsibility to the glass and hardware.
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Check frame compatibility with hinges, locks, seals, thresholds, and adjustable fixing points. Dissimilar metals should be isolated where galvanic corrosion may occur.
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The opening must be square, plumb, and structurally sound. Shim the frame without twisting it, and use fixings appropriate for concrete, masonry, steel, or timber substrates.
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| 4 |
Door Size and Clear Opening |
Measure the structural opening, finished floor level, wall thickness, swing area, and required clear passage rather than relying only on nominal door dimensions.
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Typical single-door widths are often around 700–1,000 mm, while heights are commonly about 2,000–2,400 mm. Local accessibility rules may require a minimum clear opening near 800–850 mm, depending on the building type and jurisdiction.
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Verify edge clearances, hinge positions, handle projection, lock backset, and the space required for a closer or floor spring.
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Take at least three width and height measurements because openings may vary. Use the smallest verified dimension and allow the manufacturer’s specified installation tolerances.
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| 5 |
Door Weight and Load Capacity |
Calculate the combined weight of glass, frame, handles, locks, closers, and decorative components before ordering hardware.
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Glass weight increases with area and thickness. For accurate ordering, request the maximum panel weight, maximum panel width, and maximum panel height permitted by the complete door system—not by one hardware component alone.
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Select hinges, pivots, rollers, and closers with a safety margin above the calculated operating load. Confirm the number of hinges or suspension points required.
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Anchor load-bearing hardware directly into suitable structural material. Do not rely solely on thin wall finishes, plasterboard, tile, or unsupported cladding.
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| 6 |
Seals, Thresholds, and Weather Performance |
Evaluate air leakage, water resistance, acoustic control, drainage, and thermal bridging, especially for exterior or bathroom applications.
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Frameless doors generally provide less air and water resistance than fully framed systems. Look for continuous seals, properly designed thresholds, drained tracks, and performance data tested for the intended exposure.
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Confirm seal material compatibility with cleaning chemicals, ultraviolet exposure, temperature changes, and the selected glass thickness.
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Seal perimeter joints with compatible materials and maintain drainage paths. Do not block weep holes or use sealant where movement joints are required.
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| 7 |
Hinges, Pivots, Rollers, and Tracks |
Choose hardware based on door type: hinged, pivot, sliding, bi-fold, or telescopic. Review cycle rating, adjustment range, corrosion resistance, and maintenance requirements.
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Hinged doors need accurate hinge alignment; pivot doors need properly supported top and bottom points; sliding doors need a rigid, level track and adequate wall clearance. High-traffic projects should use hardware with a documented cycle rating.
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For wet, coastal, or high-humidity locations, prioritize corrosion-resistant finishes and materials. Ensure rollers are matched to the track profile and door weight.
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Level tracks precisely and check door movement before applying final covers. Adjust gaps after the structure has settled and verify that the door cannot jump from the track.
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| 8 |
Locks, Handles, and Access Control |
Assess security level, emergency egress, privacy, user frequency, cleaning, and compatibility with mechanical or electronic access systems.
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Exit doors may require panic or emergency-release hardware under local codes. Bathroom and office doors often need privacy functions, while commercial entrances may require controlled access and door-position monitoring.
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Confirm handle length, lock case dimensions, cylinder format, strike position, latch alignment, and whether the selected lock requires a specific glass cut-out.
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Test locking, unlocking, emergency release, and door-closing functions with the building operator. Do not compromise required escape routes for security features.
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| 9 |
Opening Direction and Installation Method |
Decide between in-swing, out-swing, sliding, or pivot operation after reviewing circulation, furniture, wind pressure, accessibility, and fire-escape requirements.
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Sliding doors need sufficient wall length and a protected travel zone. Swing doors require clear floor space and stop positions. Pivot doors need accurate floor and head support, while frameless doors require precise glass-to-hardware coordination.
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Select floor springs, door closers, stops, soft-close units, or anti-jump devices according to the opening method and operating frequency.
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Install after major wet work and structural movement have been controlled. Protect glass from welding sparks, cement dust, impact, and contact with incompatible sealants.
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| 10 |
Standards, Documentation, and After-Sales Support |
Request drawings, glass specifications, test reports, installation instructions, spare-part information, warranty terms, and export packaging details.
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Requirements differ by destination. Confirm applicable building, safety, accessibility, fire, wind-load, acoustic, and energy regulations before production. Final shop drawings should show glass size, hole locations, hardware, tolerances, and fixing points.
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Ensure replacement seals, rollers, cylinders, handles, and fasteners can be identified and ordered by part number or technical description without relying on a brand name.
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Use a documented inspection checklist covering plumb, level, clearances, smooth operation, safety glazing, fastener tightness, seal continuity, and final cleaning. Record any deviations before handover.
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