With its functional, durable, and aesthetic qualities, commercial glass doors have been a favorite among property owners, especially those that operate businesses. Over time, however, these doors tend to sag, wear out on the floor, become unaligned, and not shut properly. Many times, these issues can be fixed through the adjustment of the commercial glass door pivots.
Knowing how to adjust commercial glass door pivots can go a long way in helping property managers and maintenance professionals detect such misalignment issues before they turn into costly fixes. The reason for the caution is that commercial glass doors are quite heavy and can be very delicate.
What Are Commercial Glass Door Pivots?
Commercial glass door pivots make it possible for the door to revolve around its vertical axis as opposed to traditional side-hinged doors. These pivots typically consist of the top and bottom pivots, with some models having the third or middle pivot.
The bottom pivot mainly takes most of the door’s weight, with the top providing stability.
Indicators That Your Glass Door Pivots Require Adjustment
Prior to performing any adjustments, you first need to understand the nature of the problem. Here are some common symptoms:
- The glass door drags against the floor or the threshold.
- The glass door sags.
- The gaps between the door and the surrounding areas are uneven.
- The glass door rubs against its frame.
- The glass door doesn’t close properly.
- The glass doors are not aligned properly.
- The door feels harder than usual to close.
The next step would be to determine the source of the problem. If the frame is out of square or plumb, it may cause alignment issues even if the door’s pivots are adjusted.
Adjustment Tools
The following tools might be needed depending on the design of the pivot system:
- Allen/hex key
- Screwdriver
- Open-end wrench
- Spirit level
- Tape measure
- The appropriate shims for supporting the door during adjustment
It is critical that the procedure should always be done using the specified by the hardware manufacturer tools.
Step 1: Examination of the Door and Frame
First, take a look at the door assembly. Ensure that the frame is square and level and then note down the space available around the door and the point of the gap where the unevenness is noted.
Do not turn any of the adjustment screws right away. First, decide if the door is high, low, out of alignment or moved sideways. This step will help to avoid making any unnecessary adjustments.
Step 2: Finding the Adjustment Screws
The pivot assembly of commercial glass doors is often covered or hidden underneath access covers. Remove the proper access cover to expose the adjustment screws.
Depending on the hardware, there can be separate screws for adjusting the height and alignment of the door. There is usually limited room for adjustment in some of the systems. For instance, some glass door hinge systems have limited adjustment allowances in millimeters.
Step 3: Adjustment of the Door Height
If there is drag between the door and the floor/threshold, the height may need to be adjusted.
In many commercial pivot mechanisms, there will be an adjustment screw or pivot pin that can be used to raise and lower the door. In some cases, the mechanism works by rotating the adjusting screw clockwise for raising the door and counterclockwise for lowering; however, this is not the case with all mechanisms, so it should be checked prior to adjustment.
Adjustments should be made in small steps, checking the clearance and functioning of the door after each adjustment.
Step 4: Adjustment of the Door Horizontally
If the door is leaning or rubbing against the frame, it may require a lateral adjustment.
Some hinge mechanisms have the capacity for adjusting the pivot horizontally. The locking hardware should be loosened just enough and the adjustment should be made followed by tightening of the locking screws firmly.
In the case of heavy commercial doors, it is especially important to relieve the weight of the door during adjustment process. Some manufacturers provide guidelines regarding this in case of certain systems.
Step 5: Verify the Door Closer
It is important to note that pivot adjustment and door-closer adjustment are two different operations. If the door is correctly aligned but still closes hard, closes too slowly or does not lock, the hydraulic closer needs adjustment.
Commercial closers normally have separate controls for sweep and latch-speed settings. Make minor adjustments and check the door operation after each of them. Overly turning hydraulic adjustment valves may cause damage to the closer.
Step 6: Test the Door
After making adjustments to the pivots, try opening and closing the door a few times. Check that:
- The door swings properly.
- The glass does not touch the frame.
- The openings remain even.
- The door is completely closed.
- The door locks properly.
- The door does not touch the floor.
- All adjustment and locking screws are tightened.
- Final checking the door for leveling is always helpful.
When To Contact a Professional
Though minor adjustments might seem relatively simple, commercial glass doors can be heavy, costly, and dangerous if they are not supported correctly. It’s best to have professionals install and maintain doors that are badly sagging, have broken pivot hardware, cracked glass, unsecured components, or are constantly falling out of alignment.
If the door is adjusted incorrectly, it will put unnecessary pressure on the glass, pivot hardware, or frame itself. In the case where the door keeps falling out of alignment even after being adjusted, the pivot hardware, closer mechanism, frame, or glass mounting pieces need to be inspected and replaced.
Conclusion
Adjusting commercial glass door pivots can ensure smooth operation and longevity of the commercial entrance. It requires identifying the problem, making small adjustments, securing heavy doors, and locking down all the necessary components at the end.
Given the variety of pivot mechanisms among different manufacturers and different door setups, it’s best to follow all the installation and maintenance guidelines that are provided. Where there is damage to the hardware or glass door, heavy frames, and constant misalignment, it’s better to contact a commercial glass door professional.