Note. Unitcom do not supply and install doors, so this is an unbiased opinion from decades of looking and working with doors that didn't work or shouldn't have been installed.Please check with your local council and Australian and New Zealand standard AS/NZS to ensure your design complies.
We do hope this helps to simplify your choice.
GETTING NEW DOORS OR GATES?
DOORS IN SHORT.
BEST = SINGLE COMMERCIAL ALUMINIUM Door, Designed with a CENTRE RAIL and also with CLEAR SAFETY GLASS along with an ELECTRIC LATCH / STRIKER and STAINLESS HARDWARE and QUALITY LOCKS
WORST = Frameless Glass, Auto-doors, Solid Timber Doors with no Glass at all, Magnetic Locks or Power to lock, no mechanical locks for exit, those needing press buttons to exit are all the basic bad things
WORST = Frameless Glass, Auto-doors, Solid Timber Doors with no Glass at all, Magnetic Locks or Power to lock, no mechanical locks for exit, those needing press buttons to exit are all the basic bad things
SINGLE?
SINGLE DOOR & NEVER EVER DUAL DOORS but WHY?
SHORT ANSWER = It is cheaper and it isn't better for moving into a unit with Dual Doors????
CHEAPER as there is less aluminium used for construction? A skylite has one frame, a door has two frames, one for the glass and one for the door. Do less Aluminium
CHEAPER as only one set of hinges and not two are needed and a single door closer instead of two. Also no Drop-bolts
CHEAPER less maintenance and with doors moving all the time they do wear out.
QUIETER when the door is opened with a key and when it self closes it is much softer without the rattle of the fixed door movement. Great for areas were the noise can be heard.
MUCH QUIETER when the door is opened remotely without a bang each time it is pushed opened. Also when the door closes. N
CLEARER as there is less aluminium and so there is more glass and more light.
BETTER SECURITY as persons are not able to open or slide-bolt to prevent the door locking, if a keyed slide-bolt is used then the people moving in would have to find whom has the key to open the extra doors when needed and usually don't.
EASIER for access with a softer push required to open the door for access.
SAME FOR MOVING IN OR OUT
Measure the size of the doors that enter the units, ie. Unit 1 front unit door is 80cm wide.
Then if you make the front foyer entrance doors 81cm wide then you will now fit something that is 1cm wider items into the foyer than into the unit.
There is no point having twin opening doors allowing access to park a car in the foyer when the stairs width and opening into all units is only wide enough for a pushbike.
Commercial?
Good doors are stronger and thicker and true commercial grade that will last longer and will help prevent the door dropping or coming out of alignment.Cheaper quotes usually mean Domestic Thin Cheap Light Aluminium is used, this saves money for the install but then comes the expensive maintenance and troubled doors that will need replacement before they should.
Aluminium?
Aluminium is low maintenance with no need to paint like Timber. Normally Anodised or Powder Coating for protection.More durable as a stronger material. Also allows for greater areas of glass for sunlight to lighten the foyer and keep from being dark.Being about to see if anybody is outside prior to exiting day or night is much safer.Will not swell with damp rain.Will not twist and bind with hot sun.
CENTRE RAIL?
This is the piece that runs horizontal across the doors and windows / sidelights.
This will structurally strengthen the doors to help prevent the doors from dropping with time.Better locks can be installed and away from the door jamb. Your knuckles are saved entering and less scratches. Saftety with making it easier for people to see the door or windows from walking into the clear glass.
This will structurally strengthen the doors to help prevent the doors from dropping with time.Better locks can be installed and away from the door jamb. Your knuckles are saved entering and less scratches. Saftety with making it easier for people to see the door or windows from walking into the clear glass.
CLEAR SAFETY GLASS?
The clear safety glass is what is best to allow visibility and protection from people trying to break-in or from accidental breakage. It is very loud and gets attention if glass is broken.
Check your local regulations but usually Laminated Glass and Toughened Glass are much more safer that then the old annealed glass that generally when broken turns into jagged shards and daggers. It is the law that the type of glass needed to be installed and if your doors are older than 1989 your old doors are likely dangerous and not compliant or safe.
Check your local regulations but usually Laminated Glass and Toughened Glass are much more safer that then the old annealed glass that generally when broken turns into jagged shards and daggers. It is the law that the type of glass needed to be installed and if your doors are older than 1989 your old doors are likely dangerous and not compliant or safe.
ELECTRIC LATCH/STRIKER?
This will allow an intercom system to remotely release the front door, when the visitor is identified and if access is granted. By the simple press of a button this will release the latch to allow the visitor to open the door without a key.
We suggest to ensure the new door latch/striker is NOT the FSH brand or any latch --purchased from JAYCAR Electronics as these will cause issues with intercom opening. Either intermittent and replacement again needed shortly after installed or even damaging the electronics of the intercom system.
Good brands are PADDE that are 12 volt DC and silent operation, or EFF that have AC buzzing versions. Dorcas also make a great range of models.
NOT Maglocks as these need battery backup to provide security with a black-out. Also Egress / Press to Exit buttons are needed that simply annoying and a worry for many visitors, and also Break Glass Switches are needed for when these buttons fail for emergency exiting, Backup batteries for blackouts that need replacement usually every 5 years (SLA batteries Dry up). Power is needed for access and exit. With electronic needed for the controlling, a simple handle on the a lock is the best option.
We suggest to ensure the new door latch/striker is NOT the FSH brand or any latch --purchased from JAYCAR Electronics as these will cause issues with intercom opening. Either intermittent and replacement again needed shortly after installed or even damaging the electronics of the intercom system.
Good brands are PADDE that are 12 volt DC and silent operation, or EFF that have AC buzzing versions. Dorcas also make a great range of models.
NOT Maglocks as these need battery backup to provide security with a black-out. Also Egress / Press to Exit buttons are needed that simply annoying and a worry for many visitors, and also Break Glass Switches are needed for when these buttons fail for emergency exiting, Backup batteries for blackouts that need replacement usually every 5 years (SLA batteries Dry up). Power is needed for access and exit. With electronic needed for the controlling, a simple handle on the a lock is the best option.
STAINLESS HARDWARE?
Stainless Hinges to prevent rust and door movement. 304 grade maybe will stain but will last, 316 will look nicer for longer.
Stainless Handles will also look better for longer.Extra Heavy Duty Door Closers.
QUALITY LOCKS?
There are so many cheap locks on the market to save costs and to get the job but then needed to be replaced only a year after installation can sometimes cause extra problems if the cutouts do not allow the replacement with good locks, Lockwood for example is a good quality brand that is usually better than most.Locks with a lever handle inside for the best and easiest exit.
Flat or no lock handle for the outsides for security. Handles to help close the door mounted not on the locks but door frame.
Flat or no lock handle for the outsides for security. Handles to help close the door mounted not on the locks but door frame.
NO FRAMELESS OR SLIDING DOORS.
Frameless doors, are the worst possible but often the most wanted in fancy foyers.
- Locks are expensive and need power to open, need backup power for blackouts for security otherwise doors are open or locked solid. The need for exit buttons, and break glass buttons, thousands $$$$$ extra to the cost in only the electronics. When door closers fail in a couple of years and not a decade then thousands to replace each time as under floor door closers are expensive as hidden in frame or jambs.
- Key-switches needed for access.
- Electricity needed to access, if electrical surge or spike, even a close lightning strike you are locked out, as electronics are blown and backup system are all destroyed the controls. No access at all.
- Exit in fires only with electricity to open. Press a button to exit.... Then also brake glass buttons needed that can be pressed and the door will to permanently open 24 hours a day until a service call to replace the glass for security.
- Locks are expensive and need power to open, need backup power for blackouts for security otherwise doors are open or locked solid. The need for exit buttons, and break glass buttons, thousands $$$$$ extra to the cost in only the electronics. When door closers fail in a couple of years and not a decade then thousands to replace each time as under floor door closers are expensive as hidden in frame or jambs.
- Key-switches needed for access.
- Electricity needed to access, if electrical surge or spike, even a close lightning strike you are locked out, as electronics are blown and backup system are all destroyed the controls. No access at all.
- Exit in fires only with electricity to open. Press a button to exit.... Then also brake glass buttons needed that can be pressed and the door will to permanently open 24 hours a day until a service call to replace the glass for security.
GATES IN SHORT
These are simple, do not make like a ladder, no point having a 20 foot gate with horizontal foot holds to simply be a ladder to climb up and over. Maybe a mesh on the outside if this is needed.
Best to have a mesh or perforated metal covering locks from the outside but allows a easy exit.
Mesh can be installed on the front or rear of the gate dependent on the design.
Have proper door closers designed for outside and NOT pool sprung hinges that Slam the door breaking the locks and everybody's sleep in the neighbourhood.
Have proper door closers designed for outside and NOT pool sprung hinges that Slam the door breaking the locks and everybody's sleep in the neighbourhood.
CLICK THE BELOW PHOTOS TO DISPLAY CORRECLTY.
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