What is a pivot door?

The origin of the pivot door

The technology of the pivot door is simple and dates back many centuries. An example of very old pivot doors can be found in the ancient city of Persepolis, in modern-day Iran. Various indications of pivot doors were found in the Gate of All Nations, a large hall built between 486 and 465 BC by the Achaemenid king Xerxes I.

These ancient pivot doors were hung on pivot hinges that pivoted in holes in the threshold and lintel. A good example are the stone doors in Hampi, India.

What are the parts of a pivot door?

A pivot door is essentially a hinged panel that can take any type of design and size. It consists of the door, a pivot system, a top spindle, a floor plate and a ceiling plate.

Unlike ancient pivot doors, contemporary pivot doors do not rotate on an extension of the vertical axis but on a pivot hinge system and a top spindle. The pivot hinge is integrated into the bottom of the door and the top spindle into the top of the door. Both are invisible on the finished door.

These pivot hinges are placed at any desired position in the door. This determines the location of the vertical axis – the spindle – on which the door rotates.

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What is the advantage of a pivot door?

A pivot door is visually very different from a regular hinged door. When the system is placed 10 cm from the side of the door, this 10 cm creates the ‘tail’ of the door. This tail will swing inward on a door that opens outward, and outward on a door that opens inward.

The unique closing movement of a pivot door

A pivot door can deviate from standard door dimensions. A pivot door can simply be much larger. They allow doors that are taller as well as wider than regular hinged doors. There are examples of pivot doors that are more than four metres wide and seven metres tall. It is all possible with the right high-quality pivot system.

Pivot doors can accommodate any size, but with the right pivot hinge these doors can also become very heavy without any problems. This means you have the design freedom to design your dream door without worrying about the execution.

With a regular hinged door, all the weight of the door ‘hangs’ on the frame. Thanks to the spindle, a pivot door can easily carry much greater weights, which are transferred through the floor. With the right hinge, your pivot door can weigh up to 500 kg.

When using the right type of pivot hinge, the hinges are invisible on the finished door, unlike the hinges of a regular door. This eliminates distraction and keeps the focus on the design of the door.

A pivot door can be made from any type of material. The only requirement is that the hinges can be integrated into the door, which is possible with almost any conceivable material, from wood to glass and steel, and from marble to copper.

A pivot door is suitable for countless types of applications, both indoors and outdoors. From large entrances to bathroom doors, pivoting walls, double doors, cabinet doors, even windows.

A pivot door with the right pivot hinges is very easy to install in new and existing situations. When the hinges are integrated into the door, there is hardly any work left to be done on site. Only the floor and ceiling plates need to be fixed.

Mounting a pivot door with FritsJurgens pivot hinges can be done quickly and easily

Pivot doors can be frameless. Because the system is placed inside the door, no door frames are needed. This makes it possible for a pivot door to blend seamlessly into the design, both in the interior and exterior.

Due to the frameless nature of pivot doors, you can also place multiple pivot doors side by side to create double doors or even pivoting walls.

Pivot doors can be double-acting. Depending on the placement of the door, the functionalities the door should have and whether or not door frames are used, pivot doors can rotate in one direction, in both directions and even 360°.

A pivot door is a ‘hands-free’ type of door. You can of course choose to add a latch and door handles, but this is not necessary. With the right pivot hinge, the pivot door can be opened and closed with a finger, shoulder, or hip. This makes the doors suitable for restaurants where waiters carry trays, but it also makes them very hygienic as the doors can be used without touching them with your hands.

A pivot door can be used without hands

What types of pivot doors are there?

Pivot doors come in all types and sizes. Pivot doors can be large or small, heavy or light, and can be used both indoors and outdoors, or as floor-to-ceiling doors. Another distinction that can be made is commercial versus residential pivot doors.

Exterior pivot doors

An exterior pivot door is a fantastic way to create a grand entrance. The entrance door is the first tangible element you encounter when you enter a building. Thanks to the endless design possibilities, a pivoting entrance can truly set the tone for the rest of the house.

Exterior pivot doors can take any shape and any size. There are countless materials to work with. Glass and steel, glass and aluminium, or a special type of wood are popular materials for entrances. In addition, copper-clad doors are also gaining in popularity.

There are also various ways to make this type of pivot door weatherproof. Moisture and draught-resistant details such as drop-down seals ensure that the pivot door meets all design and comfort requirements.

Interior pivot doors

Interior pivot doors can be placed in any indoor situation. Both in new and existing situations, a pivot door can be easily applied. A pivot door is suitable for bathrooms, kitchens, living rooms, studies, room dividers and many more indoor applications.

When you choose a pivot door for your interior, the materials can range from glass and steel to wood, marble and all other kinds of applications you can think of. The doors can be framed or frameless, single or double, large or small, light or heavy. Even pivoting bookcases and pivoting walls are possibilities.

Commercial pivot doors

Pivot doors are not only fantastic for homes but also for commercial buildings. They can be used in offices, spas, public buildings such as libraries, restaurants, shops, etc.

How do I install a pivot door?

First, you mount the pivot system and the top spindle in the top and bottom of the door. On site, you place the floor and ceiling plates. Then you lift the door into place and adjust the positioning and movement.

Mounting the pivot system and the top spindle into the door is a process that depends on the door material you are working with. The correct shapes are routed out of wooden pivot doors according to a routing guide. When working with aluminum or steel, the systems are often mounted in profiles within the door.

On site, the floor plate and ceiling plate are mounted. The placement of these plates is calculated in advance.

The door is then lifted into place. The pin of the system at the bottom of the door is placed in the floor plate and the pin in the top spindle is turned upward into the ceiling plate to secure the door.

Part of placing the door is adjusting the positioning, with which you can still move the door slightly to perfect the location.

The final part of the pivot door installation is fine-tuning the door's movement. High-quality pivot hinges offer various options to adjust the movement to your preference, from soft-close to opening damping and closing speed.

In our installation video below, you can see the process and ease of installation.

FritsJurgens Installation video System M and System M+

Extra features of the pivot door

Unlike regular swing doors, the hinges in pivot doors can give the door various extra properties, allowing you to control the movement of the door yourself.

Some of these features are:

• Soft-close

• Hold-open positions

• Adjustable opening damping

• Adjustable closing speed

• Closing certainty

These features depend on the brand of the hinge system and the type of hinge system you choose.

I want a pivot door, where do I start?

If you want to install a pivot door, it is important to think about the type of pivot door you want. Since almost anything is possible, it can be helpful to find an architect or interior architect with experience in designing pivot doors who can help you.

There are also countless professional pivot door manufacturers around the world. Many have their own specialties, such as wooden doors or steel pivot doors. If you already know what type of pivot door you want, you might consider contacting a door manufacturer. If you are not yet sure, it can be useful to browse the many fantastic pivot door projects that already exist.

There are many brands of pivot door hardware available worldwide. It is useful to keep in mind that a pivot door is a design investment that you make for the long term. It is therefore of great importance that you choose high-quality hinges to prevent maintenance, or worse, defects. Especially since pivot doors are often large, heavy doors, safety must be considered.

If you need help or are looking for the right partner for your pivot door project, FritsJurgens can help you. Feel free to contact us with all your questions.

FritsJurgens also has an extensive network of trusted dealers and partners worldwide who can help you find the right pivot door manufacturer near you.

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