Door Industry Journal - Winter 2013

DOOR EDGE DETAILING - KEY POINTS TO CONSIDER It is incredibly important to ensure that special attention is paid to door edge detailing when selecting a suitable doorset solution, as this can have a major impact on the way in which the door functions and indeed, on its longevity. Stephen Hutsby, NPD Manager from Leaderflush Shapland discusses the key points for consideration when it comes to selecting the most appropriate solution. Aesthetic appeal Doors generally tend to be lipped on the vertical edges only, or alternatively, on all four edges. Facings can then be applied over the top of lippings to either conceal them or leave them exposed. From an aesthetic perspective, either option is suitable and tends to be selected based on how well one or the other will look when in place alongside the surrounding décor. Exposed lipped doors or veneer over lips (VOL) doors utilise a 1.5mm radius to the edges to remove the sharp edge, feathering the face into the lip whereas a laminate over lips (LOL) door incorporates a 3mm chamfer for both aesthetic and durability reasons. Durable advantages When installed in areas that are subject to high levels of traffic, the leading edge of a door can become vulnerable to damage, either accidental or deliberate. Over time, constant daily use can eventually become of detriment to the door edge - accidental impacts from users for example can weaken the door edge if it is not suitably protected. When damage is done to the door edge, it can look unsightly and can also pose a safety hazard for users too. Ensuring that the products selected will stand the test of time is crucial. As a result, those tasked with the specification of a suitable doorset must consider whether timber lippings, either exposed or concealed, are sufficient to protect the edge of the door. If not, additional edge protection can be used to help improve the robustness of the door edge itself. Available in aluminium and PVC finishes, such door edge protection offers a severe duty, high impact resistance solution that can help ensure doors do not succumb to the effects of accidental damage and misuse. Fitted to the leading edge of the door leaf, an edge guard protection solution, particularly those supplied in a PVC finish, are available in a wide variety of colours to complement the door in question. This means that aesthetic qualities need not be compromised as a result. There are of course environments where a more robust, hard wearing solution may be needed - in this instance, a doorset that incorporates postformed PVC faces/edges is ideal. Meeting requirements Selecting the appropriate door edge detail will more often than not be decided when looking at the functionality of the doorset. Rebated meeting stiles on external pairs of doors for example require an increased lipping thickness, whereas anti-finger trap doors require a radiused lipping which extends over the face of the door to ensure that as the door swings open through its arc, the gap between the door and frame never increases more than 3mm. Double action doors on the other hand feature a radius which is applied to the door edge to ensure that the corners of the door edges do not bind on the frame as the door opens. In instances where doorset criteria conflicts, there are allowances and modifications that can be made to accommodate the requirements. To achieve fire certification for example, the door edges must not be Also online at: www.dijonline.co.uk doorsets feature 50 THE door industry journal winter 2013 Leaderflush Shapland The future of performance doorsets