Everyone knows what a pivot is, correct? If not, pivots are central points, pins, or shafts on which a mechanism turns or oscillates. (Thanks Google!)
Door pivots are– as you would expect– hardware components that allow doors to rotate on a central point rather than using traditional hinges. Traditional hinges have pivot points, but are not considered pivots themselves. Pivots are often used for large or heavy doors, like those large glass Herculite doors at the mall, as they distribute the weight more evenly and provide smoother operation. There are various types of door pivots, including floor pivots, top pivots, and center-hung pivots.
- Floor Pivots: These are installed at the bottom of the door and allow it to pivot around a point on the floor. They are commonly used in conjunction with overhead door closers, either concealed or surface-mounted.
- Top Pivots: Installed at the top of the door frame, these pivots allow the door to rotate around a point near the top. Top pivots are suitable for doors that are taller than standard doors. These frequently have concealed door closers as the pivot, but not always.
- Center-Hung Pivots: These are mounted at the center of the door, allowing it to pivot from a central point. Center-hung pivots are often used in commercial settings. Photo from IDN continuous hinge https://www.idn-inc.com/ives-heavy-duty-continuous-hinge-full-surface-center-pivot-dark-bronze83-157xy313an83.html
The choice of door pivot depends on factors such as door size, weight, and the desired aesthetic. Proper installation and maintenance of door pivots is absolutely crucial to ensure smooth functioning, safety, and longevity of the door. Why, you may ask? Great question! Check out this door at UPS we did about 6 months ago:
This door would not stay closed, even if we set the door to slam (bad idea with glass… Any guesses why?). We discovered that not only was this door’s pivot point old and rusted in places, but also wasn’t properly installed!
Not properly installing door parts– particularly in high-traffic areas– leads to significantly faster wear on the parts, and can affect the safety and function of the door.
Give us at Katz Locksmith a call to check out your doors and make sure all the working points are still in good condition!
