Types of door

Doors are openable barriers at the entrance to buildings, rooms or other spaces such as cupboards that allow people, vehicles or goods to enter and leave. They most commonly swing on hinges and include furniture or ironmongery that allows them to open, close, stay closed and sometimes to lock.

There are many different types of doors, all with different purposes. Common types of doors include:

• Automatic door: Opens and closes automatically either by electric power or spring power, activated by sensors (e.g. pressure, motion, infrared beam, push button, etc.).
• Batwing doors: A type of saloon door that extends from knee-level to chest-level.
• Bi-fold door: Comprising several sections that open in concert and fold up against one another.
• Blind door: This has no visible trim or components and is designed to blend with the adjacent wall.
• False door: This is a wall decoration that is intended to resemble a door.
• Fire door: A door that is intended (when closed) to resist the passage of fire and/or gaseous products of combustion.
• Flush door: Completely smooth door, usually found in the interiors of houses.
• French door: A frame around one or more panels (either transparent or translucent).
• Half door: Also known as a Dutch door, this consists of a door that is divided in half horizontally and is often used in stables.
• Ledge and brace door: Also known as plank or batten doors, and consisting of vertical planks or narrower battens fixed together by two or more ledges (horizontal timbers).
• Louvred door: Comprises fixed or moveable louvres (or fins), typically used for wardrobes.
• Pivot door: A door supported on a bearing away from the edge rather than on hinges.
• Revolving door: Comprising several leaves that radiate from a central shaft to form compartments, rotating about a vertical axis. Usually found on public and commercial buildings.
• Rolling shutter door: Typically made of steel, this type of door is usually found in warehouses, garages, shops, and so on.
• Saloon doors: Traditionally found in bars, consisting of bidirectional hinges that close the door using springs.
• Security door: Constructed using strong steel for use on vaults, safe rooms, and so on.
• Single-leaf door: A single rigid panel that fills the doorway and swings open either outwards, inwards or bi-directional.
• Sliding door: Constructed on steel sliders and typically made of glass. They slide to open, sometimes sliding into a concealed pocket in a adjacent wall.
• Wicket door: A door built into a much larger door which can be opened independently. Usually found on the entrances to cathedrals or large garage doors.

[edit] Find out more

[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki

• Door clear opening width.
• Door closer.
• Door energy rating.
• Door terminology.
• Doors.
• Fire door.
• Types of lock.
• Width of doors, stairs and escape routes.
• Window.
• Window and door schedules.

Comments

Bi-Fold doors seem to be very popular recently, I've just took the plunge and ordered up a set of aluminium bifolds to open up my living area to the garden after becoming awfully jealous of my neighbours. Whilst you can order bi-folds in UPVC or Timber I ended up picking Aluminium as they should have a longer life span and the sightlines are so slim.