Big Doors, Big Dreams
Critical to sustainability are the enhancements to interior environmental quality provided through increased daylighting and fresh air ventilation. Movable glass panel door systems open areas typically blocked by walls to aid in whole-house air circulation, bringing clean and fresh air into the home. Allowing for more glass and light, multiple panel door systems offer a good passive heat source and minimize use of electricity for daytime lighting.
If wood or clad door systems are under consideration, certain manufacturers offer FSC®-certified wood. The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) sets forth principles, criteria, and standards to guide forest management and practices toward sustainable forestry worldwide. FSC certifiers verify that companies claiming to sell FSC-certified products have tracked their supply back to FSC-certified sources. This chain of custody certification assures that consumers can trust the FSC label.
Movable glass panel door systems can help to earn a U.S. Green Building Council Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) designation for their projects. Architects and project owners can submit many of these characteristics for point consideration within their project.
Possible LEED Opportunities:
- Energy & Atmosphere Prerequisite 2
- Energy & Atmosphere Credit 1
- Materials & Resources credit 2
- Indoor Environment Quality Credit 4.4
- Indoor Environment Quality 6.2
- Indoor Environment Quality 8.1
- Indoor Environment Quality 8.2
Manufacturer Testing and Certification
The best manufacturers create movable glass panel door systems that are not only visually appealing but also are built to perform, even in the most severe climates and regions. Door systems should be developed, designed, tested, and engineered for optimal thermal performance, structural integrity, strength, and protection against the elements.
For additional confidence when specifying products, manufacturers themselves can gain certification. The National Accreditation & Management Institute, Inc. (NAMI) has established product testing and quality assurance validation programs. NAMI certifications offer global certification and quality assurance designations. They specialize in fenestration and building envelope products, which include, but are not limited to windows, doors, and glazing wall systems.
Two Gables – Glencoe, Illinois – Wheeler Kearns Architects
Photo courtesy of LaCantina
Movable glass panel doors allow this Chicago-area home to embrace nature while also sheltering it during harsh winters.
Located on a one-acre wooded ravine site north of Chicago, the house is strategically positioned within existing trees on the site to take advantage of the picturesque views. Twin gabled volumes–one for sleeping and one for living–are connected by a glazed breezeway that fuses house and landscape. Movable glass panel door systems were utilized to address unique challenges within the project by incorporating thermally broken construction and optimizing the scale of units. The thermally broken frames improve the energy efficiency of the doors, an important factor in Chicago’s winters. They also enhance visibility and create spacious open areas when the units are opened. The home, situated upward and slightly angled away from the street, creates an eccentric approach that delays frontal views and enhances privacy.
Photo courtesy of LaCantina
Large patio doors may raise concerns about insect intrusion, especially in certain climates. Modern movable glass panel door systems come equipped with screen options that keep bugs at bay while allowing fresh air to circulate.
ENHANCING OPTIONS
Movable glass panel door systems offer the ideal solution to create a boundless living experience for any home. These door systems, both folding and multi-slide, are available in a variety of materials and have multiple hardware options. Selection of system specifications should consider use, aesthetics, climate zone, and efficiency goals.
Frame Materials
Aluminum
Aluminum systems have a clean, modern aesthetic. Contemporary appeal is enhanced by an optional narrow 2- ¾ inch stile and rail profile, allowing for maximum glass and light. Aluminum is suitable for use in exterior applications or as interior space dividers. A 10-inch-tall bottom rail and low-rise sill meet commercial Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements. Aluminum frames are offered in several finish options. Anodized white, clear, and dark bronze aluminum rails and stiles match most commercial aluminum window finishes. Selecting aluminum eliminates the need for finishing and offers low maintenance. Aluminum typically has the poorest U-factor and is best suited for use in moderate climates, where heat loss is not a concern.
Aluminum Thermally Controlled
This aluminum system offers improved thermal performance suitable for climates where temperature fluctuations can impact the conditioned interior space and where higher resistance to water and air infiltration is required. Featuring non-conducting thermal breaks throughout and narrow stile and rail profiles, aluminum thermally controlled systems are designed for optimal energy efficiency and structural performance that minimizes condensation build-up and heat-cold transfer. European thermal struts create a non-conductive bridge between the outside and the inside of the door. Thicker panels (2-15/16 inches) are suitable for high wind environments and, when specified, can include impact-rated features. Split finish color options for the interior and exterior provide maximum design flexibility.
Aluminum Wood
Better suited to exterior environments than a solid wood door, an aluminum wood system offers a low-maintenance aluminum exterior with a natural wood interior. The hybrid panel construction typically consists of a 1-¾-inch-thick extruded aluminum and ½-inch solid wood interior. Typically, several wood species options are offered. Common options are vertical grain Douglas fir, alder, and mahogany. The exterior aluminum surface can be powder coated to a range of colors or finished to duplicate an all-wood look. An engineered aluminum panel construction creates strength and rigidity for panels over 8 feet tall.
Clad Systems
Made using heavy gauge extruded aluminum cladding as the exterior, in combination with a solid laminated wood core construction and a natural wood interior facing, clad systems offer greater durability, efficiency, and ability to withstand the elements. Clad systems typically have the best U-factor, offering maximum energy efficiency in colder climates. New, contemporary cladding systems use consistent-width narrow stile and rails, a square profile design, and standard anodized finishes combined. Contemporary clad complements more modern architectural styles and window packages.
Wood
Best for interior space dividers, or exterior applications shielded from weather, all wood systems lend a distinctive architectural style to a space. Usually available in a range of wood species, wood finishes may be prepped for custom finishing on site or fully finished in factory. The wood surface does require sealing, staining, or painting. Standard wood systems incorporate a 3-⅝-inch stile and rail profile, with 7- ½-inch and 10-inch bottom rail options and can accommodate custom panels from 1- ¾ inches to 2- ¼ inches thick. Most manufacturers use a solid laminated veneer lumber (LVL) wood core construction to maintain the integrity of the frame. Wood can provide energy efficiency and good thermal performance. When FSC-certified wood is used, the system can earn the project green credits.
Vinyl
Vinyl offers excellent performance in all environments, and is an ideal solution for renovations, offering a match with popular residential vinyl window packages. This material captures a lower price point while still allowing for a modern, expansive door opening. Energy-efficient, high-quality vinyl systems perform well in all environments and offer a budget-friendly solution for home renovations and new construction. Narrow 2 15/16” stile and rail profile, allowing more glass and light, are highly compatible with contemporary design. No finishing is required and vinyl offers a low-maintenance finish.
High Desert Butterfly – Bend, Oregon – Tozer Design LLC
Photo courtesy of LaCantina
The movable glass panel doors in this award-winning design truly maximize the potential of the space.
Tozer Design’s High Desert Butterfly is a breathtaking private residence in Bend, Oregon with extraordinary views of the Cascade Mountains. The architects utilized multiple movable glass thermally controlled, aluminum multi-slide doors, resulting in a home defined by natural light and expansive views of the majestic Pacific Northwest landscape.
The doors integrate seamlessly into the space’s design, which employs passive design principles and biophilic design to create year-round living spaces that invite and blend with nature. This two-level residence achieves these principles effectively with the help of structural features such as the strategic roof overhangs, which allow the space to cultivate winter sunshine while also protecting it from the sun during hot periods. High Desert Butterfly is a home that breathes. It invites the natural environment rather than repel it. As a result of this close physical relationship to nature, a greater overall wellbeing is fostered. Not only do the selected doors enlarge the space physically, they enhance the feeling of freedom within them. “It was critical to have maximum glass and minimum frame at High Desert Butterfly. The products provided this modern profile well. Also, the easy-to-operate, no-corner-post closure provided the owners an incredibly dramatic indoor-outdoor living space,” remarked Tozer Design.
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