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Sliding Door Hardware Glossary of Terms

by Kate Donkin on 17/04/2019

Sliding door hardware, particularly if you’re new to it, can often be quite a complex subject to understand. P C Henderson aims to make it as easy as possible for customers to both specify and install our products, which is why we’ve developed our glossary of terms:

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

A

Aperture

An opening whereby a sliding or folding system can be installed.

Apron Plate

A means of connection between a door and hanger. There are three types of apron plates:

  • Angle Plate - which is fitted to the corner of a door (L shaped).
  • Top Plate - which is fitted to the top of the door (flat).
  • Side Plate - which saddles either side of the door (U shaped).

Anti Jump Cam

Used in our Rustic 80 kit, this component is fitted between the door and the hanger to prevent the hanger from jumping off the track upon closure of the door.

B

Bottom Rolling System

This type of system can be used in applications where top hung structural support is limited, e.g. orangeries, conservatories, out buildings and extensions. This system consists of two rollers located at the bottom of the door, allowing the door to run along the track below which carries the weight.

BOM

Bill of materials. A list of raw materials, components and parts which are used to manufacture an end product.

Bracket

Components which are fastened to the building structure of the opening which supports the track. Brackets can be soffit fixed to the underside of a lintel or ceiling, or they can be faced fixed to the side of a lintel or wall. Brackets can accommodate multiple or single lines of track.

Brush Strip

Placed within the track, a brush strip prevents draft from passing through sliding door system.

Butt Hinge

Sometimes known as a mortice hinge, a butt hinge is constructed of two matching metal panels connected by a pin and barrel system. One side of the butt hinge is routed into the door and the other is attached to an adjacent door or frame.

C

CAD Drawing

A 2D or 3D precision drawing which displays components and dimensions of a system.

Centre Folding

Used to describe a folding system whereby the door hardware is fitted to the centre of the door. When the doors are folded open they are parked equally either side of the track.

Clip Stop

A type of track stop which catches the door and holds it in place upon closure.

Concealed Gear

Hardware that is routed into the top of the door so it cannot be seen.

Channel Coupler

A component used to join two channels together. This is attached to a channel when set into concrete screed.

Channel Lug

A component used when fitting channel into a concrete screed to prevent removal when set.

D

Door Stop

A fixed object which can be attached to the wall or floor. Its main function is to stop the door from travelling further than required and preventing damage via collision with the door and wall.

Door Thickness

The measurement of the smallest side of a door.

E

Elbows

A section of Multidirectional track which changes the direction of the hanger.

End Clip

Used to stop a track from sliding out of its brackets, holding it securely in place. Also caps off the end of the track for aesthetic purposes.

End Folding

Used to describe a folding system whereby the door hardware is fitted to the end/corners of the doors. When the doors are folded open they are parked on one side of the side of the track.

F

Face Fixed

When a track is installed on the front facing side of the opening. An example of this would be a set of sliding doors which slide in front of an opening rather than within.

Fascia

A cover that is placed over the door hardware to give the system a more professional finish. This is only used in systems where there is a requirement for the hardware to be hidden.

Finger Pull

Commonly used in pocket door systems, a finger pull is fitted to the thinnest side of a door to allow the sliding door to be easily pulled out when it is inside of the pocket.

Fire Door Kit

Door hardware which helps prevent the spread of fire. Our fire door kit for sliding doors provides up to half an hour fire door assembly when purchased with a solid timber based fire door. Our fire door hardware is positively appraised by Warrington Fire Research.

Fittings Kit

Additional hardware to be used when more than one door is required for a sliding or folding system. A fittings kit will contain all the hardware necessary to add an additional door to an existing system.

Fixed Panel

A panel used in a sliding door system which is fixed and cannot be moved, allowing a sliding door to move in front or behind it.

Floating

A folding door system where the doors are not hinged or pivoted to the opening frame. This allows a bank of doors to slide to any position during operation.

Flush Bolt

A bolt which is designed to sit flush with the door when applied to the face or edge of the door.

Flush Pull

Used where a handle with a projection is not suitable, a flush pull lies flush against the front and/or back of the door (using routing detail) and allows the user to easily open and close the door.

Frame

The structure of a doorway/opening whereby the door is fitted.

G

Glass Clamp Kit

A glass clamp kit saddles either side the top of a glass sliding door and attaches to a hanger which allows it to slide along a track. This is used as opposed to an apron plate which would connect the door and hanger in wooden door applications.

Glass Profile

A glass profile saddles the entire length of a glass door and attaches to two hangers which allows it to slide or fold along a track. This is commonly used for a heavier glass door applications.

Guide

A component that is used to direct the door into its correct position and ensure the system operates efficiently. In sliding systems, a guide is used to stop the door from swinging away from the opening whereas in folding systems, the guide is used to keep the door upright. A floor guide is used for top hung systems whereas a top guide is used for bottom rolling systems.

Guide Channel

A length of rail used to control and direct the travel of a door in both sliding and folding systems. In folding systems, the guide channel is also responsible for maintaining the upright position of the door(s).

H

Hanger

A weight bearing component designed to facilitate the sliding of a door along a piece of track or rail.

Hinged to Post

Used to describe folding doors which are hinged to one side of an opening.

I

Interlocking Profile

Used in straight sliding systems, an interlocking profile consists of two profiles: one is fitted to a fixed panel and the other to the moving door. Upon closure of the door the profiles lock together, creating a weather proof seal.

Intersects

A section of Flexirol Multidirectional track which offers a choice of two directions for the hanger to travel down.

Intumescent Seals

Used in fire rated systems, intumescent seals expand in the event of a fire and seal off the gap between the door and the frame -reducing the spread of fire and smoke.

Inward Opening

When folding doors fold to the inside of a building.

J

Jamb Kit

Used in pocket door installations to provide a more professional finish. It is a timber lining kit which is attached to the door framework, so when the door is closed you cannot see the top of the door or into the pocket.

Jointing Bracket

A bracket used to join two pieces of track together.

K

Kit Pack

A kit pack contains all components required for the successful installation of a sliding or folding door as opposed to buying all components separately.

L

Liner Kit

Also known as a jamb kit, a liner kit is used with pocket door systems to create a professional finish. Lengths of timber are used to seal off the gap around the door so that you cannot see into the pocket or above the door.

Lintel

A horizontal structure found across the top of a door or window.

Louver

A blind or shutter structure used on exterior applications which contains horizontal slats which can be angled to allow the entrance of light and air but to avoid direct sunlight and rain.

Low Headroom

Reduces the clearance between the bottom of the track and the top of the door. Can be used for sliding door applications where there is low or restricted headroom. View our Low Headroom kit here.

M

Max. Door Weight

The maximum door mass that can be taken by a sliding or folding door system.

Meeting Kit

Used in our Securefold system when two rebated doors meet upon closure to help aid weatherproofing.

Mortice Hinge

A hinge which is inset into the door and frame using a pre-routed area to allow for a more professional finish. The hinge sits flush with the surface of the door and frame.

Mounting Kit

A block of aluminum used to mount/attach a hinge to an aluminum door.

Multi Directional

A system which allows doors to be moved at 90 or 135 degree angles, allowing the panels to be stored completely clear of the opening.

N

Nogging

Noggings are horizontal pieces of timber or aluminium which link two uprights together in pocket door systems. Noggings are used to increase the rigidity of a system.

Non Mortice Hinge

A non mortice hinge is an entirely surface mounted system that requires no routing or additional preparation before the fitting process.

O

Opening Height

The distance in an opening from the floor (or sill) to where the track will be fixed.

Opening Width

The maximum horizontal measurement within a door frame.

Outward Opening

When folding doors fold to the outside of a building.

Overhead Runway

A track system which is used to transport any type of equipment other than doors, e.g. industrial curtains or goods in manufacture.

P

Panel

Used to describe a door in some folding and multidirectional hardware systems.

Pivot

Used in folding door systems to allow the doors to move along the track. A pivot is the central point in which the mechanism turns.

Pocket Door

An interior sliding door system whereby the door slides into a cavity in the adjacent wall when the door is open. View our Pocket Door hardware here.

R

R Loc

A clever ratchet system in our Securefold system that enables installers to easily raise or lower a door.

Reveal (Left and Right)

The wall area either side of an opening.

Roller

A component which takes the weight of a door on a bottom rolling system as opposed to the hangers on a top hung system. Its main function is to move the door along the track/channel.

Round the Corner

A system to be used when a unit of stacked doors to the side of an opening would be impractical. The system allows the panels to be directed around a corner upon opening, ideal for certain garage door applications. Click here to view our Round the Corner hardware.

S

Seal

To be used on exterior door systems to provide weatherproofing or on interior systems to prevent drafts.

Self-Close

Automatically closes a sliding door after opening, without the need for a power source. A self-timer can be combined with this system to adjust the time period before the door closes. This system is commonly used in applications such as hospitals and for disabled access points. View our Self-Close door hardware here.

Soffit Fixed

When a track is installed on the underside of an exterior or interior architectural structure. An example of this would be if the door hardware was fixed to the ceiling, causing the door to slide within the opening

Soft Stop

A soft stop system catches a door in its final moments of travel, gently decelerating it into its final position. This means no slamming doors and improves the longevity of the product.

Simultaneous Action

For use with internal bi-parting door systems whereby the movement of one door causes the other door to move (open/close) simultaneously. Click here to view our Simultaneous Action hardware.

Standard Gear

Hardware that is fixed to the surface of a door.

T

Telescopic

A sliding system which allows multiple doors to travel simultaneously.  Upon movement of the first door, any additional doors will follow. View our Telescopic sliding door hardware here.

Threshold

A strip of wood, metal or stone which creates the bottom of a doorway.

Top Hung System

This is the most commonly used system whereby the door is hung and supported by two hangers located at the top of the door. All the weight is taken by the hangers (or hangers and hinges in a folding system).

Top Mounted Hardware

Hardware which attaches to the top of a door.

Track Stop

A component fitted to the end of a track which prevents the door from sliding off during operation.

Trigger

Triggers, used in soft stop systems, attach to the top of a track and catch the damper upon open or close to help decelerate the door.

U

Uprights

Uprights are used in pocket door systems to create the cavity in which the door slides into when open – uprights can be made of wood or aluminium.

W

Wall Fixing Profile

Used on the exterior of a building with our Shutter Slide system. The profile attaches to the wall to create a lintel in which the track and brackets can attach to.