Commercial double doors are common in schools, healthcare facilities, churches, municipal buildings, manufacturing plants and other facilities where a wider opening is needed. While they may look like two standard doors installed side by side, paired doors can require specialized hardware to make sure both leaves operate, close and latch properly.
When components such as astragals, coordinators, flush bolts or meeting-stile hardware become damaged or improperly adjusted, the result can be doors that will not close correctly, fail to latch or interfere with one another.
Seven Oaks Doors & Hardware helps facilities throughout North Carolina, South Carolina and South Central Virginia repair, retrofit and replace commercial doors and hardware, including hardware used on paired and double-door openings.
Why Commercial Double Doors Need Specialized Hardware
A pair of commercial doors usually consists of an active leaf and an inactive leaf, although the exact configuration depends on how the opening is designed and used. The active leaf is typically the door used for everyday traffic, while the second leaf can be opened when additional clearance is needed.
The challenge is making sure the two doors work together correctly. Depending on the opening, commercial double door hardware may include astragals, coordinators, flush bolts, exit devices, closers, strikes and other components designed specifically for paired doors.
What Is an Astragal?
An astragal is used at the meeting point between two doors. Depending on the application, it can help cover the gap between the door leaves and contribute to the proper operation of the opening.
When an astragal becomes bent, loose or damaged, the doors may rub against one another or have difficulty closing. Facility managers may also notice an excessive gap between the doors or visible damage where the two leaves meet.
Because the condition of the doors and frames can affect how the entire opening operates, Seven Oaks can evaluate both the hardware and the surrounding commercial doors and frames when diagnosing problems.
What Does a Door Coordinator Do?
Some pairs of doors must close in a particular sequence. A door coordinator helps control that sequence so the inactive leaf closes before the active leaf.
If the doors close in the wrong order, the active leaf may strike the inactive leaf or fail to latch correctly. A damaged or improperly adjusted coordinator can therefore create what appears to be a closer or latch problem when the real issue is the closing sequence.
This can be especially important on certain fire-rated openings. Changes to those openings should be evaluated as part of the complete assembly. Seven Oaks provides commercial fire door and hardware services for facilities that need repair, replacement or retrofit work involving rated openings.
Flush Bolts and the Inactive Door Leaf
Flush bolts are another common component on paired commercial doors. They can be used to secure the inactive leaf at the top and bottom of the opening while allowing it to be released when the full width of the doorway is needed.
Problems can develop when bolts become difficult to operate, no longer align correctly or fail to engage as intended. Door sag, frame movement and damaged hardware can all contribute to these problems.
Simply replacing the bolt may not solve the issue if the door itself is no longer properly aligned.
Signs Your Double Door Hardware Needs Attention
Facility teams should have a paired opening evaluated when the doors begin hitting each other, one leaf will not latch, the inactive leaf will not remain secured, the doors close in the wrong sequence or hardware repeatedly works loose.
Problems can also develop when older openings have been modified over the years. Hardware may have been replaced without considering how the components need to function together.
In those situations, commercial door and hardware retrofitting may provide a practical way to improve the existing opening without automatically replacing every component.
Double Doors, Exit Hardware and Access Control
Paired openings can become more complex when they also incorporate panic hardware, electronic locking components or controlled entry systems. The hardware needs to allow the opening to perform its intended function while maintaining appropriate egress.
Seven Oaks can evaluate electronic access for commercial doors and hardware as part of a larger door or hardware upgrade.
Commercial Double Door Repair and Retrofitting
When paired commercial doors stop operating correctly, the problem is not always one individual piece of hardware. Door alignment, frame condition, hinges, closers, latching hardware and meeting-stile components can all affect how the opening performs.
Seven Oaks Doors & Hardware has served commercial facilities since 1989, helping facility managers address aging and troublesome openings throughout North Carolina, South Carolina and South Central Virginia.
If your commercial double doors are rubbing, failing to latch, closing in the wrong sequence or showing signs of worn hardware, Seven Oaks can evaluate the complete opening and recommend an appropriate repair, retrofit or replacement solution.
Request a quote for commercial door and hardware service from Seven Oaks Doors & Hardware.
