Classification of Doors

Doors are generally classified either on the basis of their working operations  or the materials used in their manufacture or fabrication. Doors are also classified according to the basic function being performed by them. 

Classification Based on Working Operations 

From the operational point of view, the doors are classified as given below : 

1. Swinging Doors 
2. Folding and Accordian Doors 
3. Sliding Doors 
4. Revolving Doors 
5. Rolling Doors 
6. Collapsible Doors 

Swinging Doors 

In these doors, the shutters are hung from the door frame by means of hinges or butts fixed to one side of the shutter'so that they swing on a vertical axis. These doors may be of single swinging, double swinging or double acting type. 

In single swinging type doors, if a person is standing on the outside of a door and the hinges are to his left, the door is a left hand door, but if they are to his right, it is a right hand door. 

In double swinging doors, the shutters are hinged at opposite sides of an opening. These doors are extensively used at the entrances of buildings. 

In double acting doors, the shutters are provided with special hinges, which keep the door closed when it is not held open. The door of this type can be easily pushed in either direction.

Details of swing Door

Folding or Accordian Doors 

These doors are used singly or as folding partitions so that two rooms may be used together as a single room or separately if so desired. They are made of wood or metal and are used for very large openings,?hese doors are also hinged together. 

Sliding Doors 

The sliding doors which slide side ways were extensively used in the past for residences. These door shutters can also slide either upward, and do not cause any obstruction to the movement of the people. The vertical sliding doors are pulled up by cables or chains and are used for large openings in industrial buildings and for freight elevator doors. The right angle doors are suspended from an overhead track and are used to very limited extent for garages. Figures shows essential features of a single and double leaf straight sliding door. 

Revolving Doors 

These doors are extensively used where frequent opening and closing of a door is to be avoided due to heavy foot traffic, e.g. fish market, public buildings. banks, hotels, stores, theaters, hospitals etc. Arrangements are made to rotate the door about a central pivot and also to lock the door. These doors revolve about one side of the shutter and get closed automatically whenever pushed and left off after use. Figure shows the plan of the revolving doors in the revolving locked and open position. 

  Revolving Doors 

Rolling Doors 

Rolling doors are a modification over sliding doors. These doors are generally made of steel or slats of sheet metal which can be easily closed or opened by slightly pulling or pushing the shutter. They do not require much space and are commonly used for garages, show rooms, shops, godowns, factory buildings etc. These are popularly known as rolling shutters. Figure shows the sectional elevation and plan of a rolling door.

Collapsible Doors 

These doors consists of a mild steel frame which is made up of light steel channel sections. They are provided with rollers at bottom and top to roll on rails when they open or collapse. These doors work without hinges and can be opened or closed by a slight pull or push, and are extensively used for residential buildings, public buildings, sheds. schools godowns etc. 

Figure shows the elevation of a collapsible door.