Sliding door
Encyclopedia
A sliding door is a type of door
which opens horizontally
by sliding, whereby the door is either mounted on or suspended from a track. Types of sliding doors include pocket door
s, Arcadia doors, and bypass doors. Sliding doors are commonly used for shower
doors, glass doors, screen door
s, and wardrobe
doors.
in Roman
houses as evidence by archaeological finds in Pompeii
, Italy
.
The 'top hung' system is most often used. The door is hung by two trolley hangers at the top of the door running in a concealed track; all the weight is taken by the hangers, making the door easy to move.
At each end is a track stopper to absorb any impact made if the door is slammed and to hold the door in the open or closed position. All top hung sliding door gear systems have a maximum weight limit per pair of trolley hangers. When specifying a suitable sliding system the estimated weight of the door is a critical factor, although most suppliers of sliding door gear can advise on door weights
As the door is hung at the top from two points, it needs additional guides at the bottom to prevent it from swinging sideways. The most common type is called 'clear threshold guiding', a floor-fixed plastic guide about 60mm wide which is fixed below the door at the mid-point of its run. A groove is cut into the bottom of the door which runs over this guide, preventing lateral movement of the door. With a glass door the panel runs through the guide as illustrated.
Because the door is always engaged in the guide, when the door is open the floor is clear, hence 'clear threshold'
Several examples of free standing top hung sliding door wardrobes can be seen on several websites. The mechanisms are safe and the bottom of the doors are held in place on tracks. The rollers also have safety locks that prevent the doors from jumping of the tracks. Additional features such as soft closers or dampners can be added to further enhance the feel and usability of these products.
A bottom rolling system consists of two rollers at the bottom of the door running on a track and two guides at the top running in a guide channel. As all the weight of the door is concentrated on the two bottom wheels, more force is needed to move the door than on a top hung system.;
Door
A door is a movable structure used to open and close off an entrance, typically consisting of a panel that swings on hinges or that slides or rotates inside of a space....
which opens horizontally
Horizontal plane
In geometry, physics, astronomy, geography, and related sciences, a plane is said to be horizontal at a given point if it is perpendicular to the gradient of the gravity field at that point— in other words, if apparent gravity makes a plumb bob hang perpendicular to the plane at that point.In...
by sliding, whereby the door is either mounted on or suspended from a track. Types of sliding doors include pocket door
Pocket door
A pocket door is a sliding door that disappears, when fully open, into a compartment in the adjacent wall. Pocket doors are used for architectural effect, or when there is no room for the swing of a hinged door. They usually travel on rollers suspended from an overhead track, although some also...
s, Arcadia doors, and bypass doors. Sliding doors are commonly used for shower
Shower
A shower is an area in which one bathes underneath a spray of water.- History :...
doors, glass doors, screen door
Screen door
A screen door can refer to a hinged storm door or hinged screen door covering an exterior door; or a screened sliding door used with sliding glass doors. In any case, the screen door incorporates screen mesh to block flying insects from entering and pets and small children from exiting interior...
s, and wardrobe
Wardrobe
A Wardrobe is a cabinet used for storing clothes.Wardrobe may also refer to:* Wardrobe , a full set of multiple clothing items* Wardrobe , part of royal administration in medieval England...
doors.
History
Sliding doors were used as early as the first century CECommon Era
Common Era ,abbreviated as CE, is an alternative designation for the calendar era originally introduced by Dionysius Exiguus in the 6th century, traditionally identified with Anno Domini .Dates before the year 1 CE are indicated by the usage of BCE, short for Before the Common Era Common Era...
in Roman
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
houses as evidence by archaeological finds in Pompeii
Pompeii
The city of Pompeii is a partially buried Roman town-city near modern Naples in the Italian region of Campania, in the territory of the comune of Pompei. Along with Herculaneum, Pompeii was destroyed and completely buried during a long catastrophic eruption of the volcano Mount Vesuvius spanning...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
.
Sliding door gear
The mechanism used to operate a sliding door is called sliding door gear. There are two standard types, top hung or bottom rolling systems.Top hung sliding doors
At each end is a track stopper to absorb any impact made if the door is slammed and to hold the door in the open or closed position. All top hung sliding door gear systems have a maximum weight limit per pair of trolley hangers. When specifying a suitable sliding system the estimated weight of the door is a critical factor, although most suppliers of sliding door gear can advise on door weights
As the door is hung at the top from two points, it needs additional guides at the bottom to prevent it from swinging sideways. The most common type is called 'clear threshold guiding', a floor-fixed plastic guide about 60mm wide which is fixed below the door at the mid-point of its run. A groove is cut into the bottom of the door which runs over this guide, preventing lateral movement of the door. With a glass door the panel runs through the guide as illustrated.
Because the door is always engaged in the guide, when the door is open the floor is clear, hence 'clear threshold'
Several examples of free standing top hung sliding door wardrobes can be seen on several websites. The mechanisms are safe and the bottom of the doors are held in place on tracks. The rollers also have safety locks that prevent the doors from jumping of the tracks. Additional features such as soft closers or dampners can be added to further enhance the feel and usability of these products.
Bottom rolling door gear
Sometimes a top hung system cannot be used, as the weight of the door cannot be supported from above; in this case a bottom rolling system is recommendedA bottom rolling system consists of two rollers at the bottom of the door running on a track and two guides at the top running in a guide channel. As all the weight of the door is concentrated on the two bottom wheels, more force is needed to move the door than on a top hung system.;