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Why do we think of indoors, and out, as opposing spaces?
Why do we think of indoors, and out, as opposing spaces? For both home and the ecosystem around it to flourish, a marriage between what lies within the edifice and the space outside is critical. Bringing the outside into a structure enhances indoor air quality (IAQ), ventilation, natural daylighting, and the health of occupants. And taking into consideration the natural surroundings when adding a structure means creating minimal ecosystem disruption and preserving as much of the environmental balance as possible.
Photo courtesy of Steve Hall © Hedrich Blessing
Project by Booth Hansen
Multi Panel Door systems enable this unbroken engagement between interior and outdoor spaces. A Multi Panel Door system is a door or window structure with multiple operable panels that open sequentially to create a large opening, spanning an entire wall, or beyond. Reaching beyond the capability of a traditional hinged door, the wide and seamless openings they furnish blend the exterior space into a room or series of rooms, eliminating the perceived divide.
Not only do Multi Panel Door systems improve important health metrics, such as indoor air quality and daylight exposure, as enhancements in manufacturing and technology have augmented door and glass efficiency, these systems can occupy a greater area in the building envelope without compromising overall energy performance. Large doors are now capable of helping projects qualify for environmental certification programs, including LEED.
A Primer on Doors: The Components of Multi-Panel Door Systems and Their Benefits
Types of Operation
Multiple-panel door systems, or multi-panel systems, are composed—as the name implies—of multiple panels. The way in which these panels operate gives the system type its name. The common types of multi-panel door systems are folding and multi-slide. Multi-slide doors may be further divided into stacking multi-slide or pocketing multi-slide.
Photo courtesy of John Ellis
Project by AB Design Studio
Multi-Slide Doors
In a multi-slide door, panels stack together within the opening. They may either stack to one side when fully open, divide and stack to either side of the frame, or be stacked and contained within a pocket framed into the building’s wall, out of sight.
Multi-slide glass doors are generally used to create large openings in walls, or to take the place of an exterior wall altogether. The size of the panels and the total door unit can vary and may be custom fabricated to suit a particular building project. Usually, it is the glass itself that imposes limits on the size of each individual multi-slide panel. The number of individual panels can vary to meet the dimensions of the desired opening.
The configuration of multi-slide door panels can be designed so that all panels stack behind each other on one side of the opening or so that panels are split to stack on both sides of the opening. There are two basic options for how the individual panels appear when stacked. The first option is to keep one glass panel fixed, or stationary, and to slide all adjacent panels to stack evenly behind this stationary panel. By using this option, some manufactured designs, when fully stacked, appear to be a single panel when viewed from the inside or outside. The second option is to conceal the sliding panels, when open, in a wall pocket. In this style, the sliding panels disappear altogether, giving the appearance of an unimpeded opening in an otherwise solid wall area.
Furthermore, multi-slide doors need not be limited to a single wall plane. Manufacturers have developed methods to allow doors to meet at a corner location, eliminating the need for a post or frame element. When open, the corner literally disappears, allowing a full visual and physical three-dimensional connection between outdoors and inside. When fully closed, the door panels come together to form the corner.
Folding Doors
In a folding multi-panel door system, panels stack perpendicular to the opening when fully opened. As with multi-slide systems, folding system doors may stack to one side when open or can divide and stack on both sides of the opening. The folding action mimics the expansion and contraction of an accordion. The panels may be inswing or outswing, depending on design preference and use.
Folding glass doors may either be floor mounted or top hung, with top-hung systems the preferred method. In a top-hung folding door system, the top track carries the weight of the doors and the floor track serves as a guide. Precision bearings and rolling hardware are used to operate the door. The frame must be secured to an adequate header with minimal deflection when the doors are installed. The structural support required and header size depends both on the weight of the doors and the surrounding structural conditions.
Photo courtesy of Eric Figge Photography
Project by JZMK Partners
Why do we think of indoors, and out, as opposing spaces?
Why do we think of indoors, and out, as opposing spaces? For both home and the ecosystem around it to flourish, a marriage between what lies within the edifice and the space outside is critical. Bringing the outside into a structure enhances indoor air quality (IAQ), ventilation, natural daylighting, and the health of occupants. And taking into consideration the natural surroundings when adding a structure means creating minimal ecosystem disruption and preserving as much of the environmental balance as possible.
Photo courtesy of Steve Hall © Hedrich Blessing
Project by Booth Hansen
Multi Panel Door systems enable this unbroken engagement between interior and outdoor spaces. A Multi Panel Door system is a door or window structure with multiple operable panels that open sequentially to create a large opening, spanning an entire wall, or beyond. Reaching beyond the capability of a traditional hinged door, the wide and seamless openings they furnish blend the exterior space into a room or series of rooms, eliminating the perceived divide.
Not only do Multi Panel Door systems improve important health metrics, such as indoor air quality and daylight exposure, as enhancements in manufacturing and technology have augmented door and glass efficiency, these systems can occupy a greater area in the building envelope without compromising overall energy performance. Large doors are now capable of helping projects qualify for environmental certification programs, including LEED.
A Primer on Doors: The Components of Multi-Panel Door Systems and Their Benefits
Types of Operation
Multiple-panel door systems, or multi-panel systems, are composed—as the name implies—of multiple panels. The way in which these panels operate gives the system type its name. The common types of multi-panel door systems are folding and multi-slide. Multi-slide doors may be further divided into stacking multi-slide or pocketing multi-slide.
Photo courtesy of John Ellis
Project by AB Design Studio
Multi-Slide Doors
In a multi-slide door, panels stack together within the opening. They may either stack to one side when fully open, divide and stack to either side of the frame, or be stacked and contained within a pocket framed into the building’s wall, out of sight.
Multi-slide glass doors are generally used to create large openings in walls, or to take the place of an exterior wall altogether. The size of the panels and the total door unit can vary and may be custom fabricated to suit a particular building project. Usually, it is the glass itself that imposes limits on the size of each individual multi-slide panel. The number of individual panels can vary to meet the dimensions of the desired opening.
The configuration of multi-slide door panels can be designed so that all panels stack behind each other on one side of the opening or so that panels are split to stack on both sides of the opening. There are two basic options for how the individual panels appear when stacked. The first option is to keep one glass panel fixed, or stationary, and to slide all adjacent panels to stack evenly behind this stationary panel. By using this option, some manufactured designs, when fully stacked, appear to be a single panel when viewed from the inside or outside. The second option is to conceal the sliding panels, when open, in a wall pocket. In this style, the sliding panels disappear altogether, giving the appearance of an unimpeded opening in an otherwise solid wall area.
Furthermore, multi-slide doors need not be limited to a single wall plane. Manufacturers have developed methods to allow doors to meet at a corner location, eliminating the need for a post or frame element. When open, the corner literally disappears, allowing a full visual and physical three-dimensional connection between outdoors and inside. When fully closed, the door panels come together to form the corner.
Folding Doors
In a folding multi-panel door system, panels stack perpendicular to the opening when fully opened. As with multi-slide systems, folding system doors may stack to one side when open or can divide and stack on both sides of the opening. The folding action mimics the expansion and contraction of an accordion. The panels may be inswing or outswing, depending on design preference and use.
Folding glass doors may either be floor mounted or top hung, with top-hung systems the preferred method. In a top-hung folding door system, the top track carries the weight of the doors and the floor track serves as a guide. Precision bearings and rolling hardware are used to operate the door. The frame must be secured to an adequate header with minimal deflection when the doors are installed. The structural support required and header size depends both on the weight of the doors and the surrounding structural conditions.
Photo courtesy of Eric Figge Photography
Project by JZMK Partners
Multi-Panel Door System Material Options
Both folding and multi-slide multi-panel door systems are available in a variety of materials. The material selected for the door has implications for its efficiency and performance. Careful selection of each project’s doorframe material should consider use, aesthetics, climate zone, and efficiency goals.
Aluminum
Aluminum systems have a clean, modern appeal, with some manufacturers offering a narrow 2¾-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 ramp sill meet commercial Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) code requirements. Aluminum frames are offered in several finish options. White, anodized clear, and dark bronze aluminum match most commercial aluminum window finishes. Selecting aluminum eliminates the need for finishing, and offers low maintenance. That said, aluminum typically has the highest U-factor and is best suited for use in moderate climates where heat loss is not a concern.
Aluminum Thermally Controlled
This system offers improved thermal performance suitable for climates in which it is desirable to prevent extreme weather from impacting the conditioned interior space. Featuring thermal breaks throughout, and narrow 215/16-inch 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 (2¼ inches) are suitable for high wind environments and can include impact-rated features. A proprietary panel design by a leading manufacturer allows for split-finish color options for the interior and exterior providing maximum design flexibility.
Aluminum Wood
Better suited to exterior environments than a solid wood door, an aluminum wood system features a low maintenance aluminum exterior with a natural wood interior and a narrow 35/8-inch stile and rail profile The hybrid panel construction typically consists of a 1¾-inch-thick extruded aluminum exterior and ½-inch solid wood interior. Typically, several wood species options are offered and commonly include vertical grain Douglas fir and mahogany. The exterior aluminum surface can be powder coated for a range of colors or finished for an all-wood look. An engineered aluminum panel construction creates strength and rigidity for larger openings and panels up to 12 feet tall.
Clad Systems
Made using heavy-gauge extruded aluminum cladding as an 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 than other materials. Clad systems typically have the best U-factor, offering maximum energy efficiency in colder climates. Certain manufacturers offer a newer, contemporary cladding design, which features consistent-width narrow 215/16-inch stile and rails, a square profile, and standard paint and anodized finishes combined with the warmth of a wood interior. Contemporary clad complements more contemporary 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. Wood surfaces will require ongoing sealing, staining, or painting. Standard wood systems incorporate a 35/8-inch stile and rail profile, with 7½-inch and 10-inch bottom rail options, and they can accommodate custom panels from 1¾ inches to 2¼ 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, and, when FSC certified, earn the project green credits.
Vinyl
High-quality vinyl offers excellent performance in all environments, and is an ideal solution for renovations, offering a match with popular vinyl window packages. Certain manufacturer’s feature a narrow 215/16-inch stile & rail profile and stainless hardware for more contemporary styling.
Establishing a Solid Footing: Thresholds and Components
Sills or thresholds need to be coordinated with the multi-panel door system and should support both the door system and number of door panels. Thresholds should be selected based on weather exposure and floor transition.
Thresholds are available in at least three different profiles and should be specified according to the project design needs. Flush sills are designed to be recessed into the floor, creating a level transition between the finished interior floor surface and the exterior. Flush sills can incorporate the same finish flooring between the sill tracks. Flush sills offer seamless transitions and are a preferred solution where there are covered openings. Raised sills, or weather-resistant sills, are the preferred solution for weather-exposed openings because of their greater ability to repel inclement weather. Raised sills are intended to have a raised profile and sit up above the exterior. Depending on the manufacturer, raised sills come in varying interior leg heights. Ramped sills are commercially compatible and offer ADA compliance when there is less than or equal to a ½-inch change in the sill height compared to the walking surface. Despite the threshold profile, all threshold styles are typically thermally broken. The grade of material for the threshold should be specified, as well as the bearings, hinges, and wheels of the door panels. Acetal and stainless steel are the most commonly seen materials.
To control air leakage and improve energy efficiency, multi-panel door systems also rely on a mix of perimeter seals applied to each door panel. Top seals can be brush type to allow for the smooth operation of the door while still restricting the transfer of air and weather. The bottom or sill seal may be composed of low-friction coated rubber applied to the bottom of the door, creating a full seal yet allowing for the smooth operation of the door panels. Continuous seals along the edges of each door panel may be compression rubber gaskets, fin brush seals, or both. Careful application of high-grade seals provides a tight seal when the doors are closed and helps to maintain pressure and weather resistance.
Not only do door components and thresholds play an important role in efficiency, they also impact health and safety. According to the California Commission on Disability Access (CCDA) Accessible Route and Entry: “Door Hardware - Thresholds, handles, pulls, latches, locks, or other operating devices are not accessible. Kick plates.” ranked number 10 on the top 10 list of construction-related ADA violations between May and June 2017.
“There are lots of difficulties in regard to entrances and doors,” says Ana Action, building access expert. The bottom 10 inches of a door on the push side must a have smooth, uninterrupted surface to allow door to be opened by a wheelchair footrest without causing a trap or hazardous condition. Thresholds must be no higher than ½ inch on either side of the door. Any style of door hardware must be able to operate with one hand, without tight grasping or pinching of the wrist. Hardware must be installed between 30 and 44 inches above the finished surface.
Photo courtesy of Pentraprism
Project by Materia/Trace Wilson Design Inc.
The Benefits of Bringing the Outdoors In
Multi-panel door systems not only open up design opportunities by removing the border between inside and outside, but they also enhance the sustainability of a structure. The components and operation of multi-panel systems have inherent environmental advantages.
Photo courtesy of Dan O’Connor
Project by Tomecek Studio Architecture
Multi-Panel Doors and Indoor Air Quality
A critical aspect of sustainable or green design takes into consideration indoor air quality (IAQ). Good indoor air quality means a healthier living environment. Indoor air quality refers to the air quality within and around buildings and structures, especially as it relates to the health and comfort of building occupants. Common pollutants can occur and build up indoors, creating the risk of indoor health concerns. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and ASHRAE, in the past, residential ventilation was not a major concern because it was felt people were getting enough outdoor air by opening their windows and from air leaking through the building’s walls (infiltration). However, as homes and duct systems are built tighter to save energy and meet today’s codes, these tighter envelopes are more likely to trap contaminants indoors, raising concerns about indoor air quality. Studies from the Environmental Protection Agency on human exposure to air pollutants show that indoor levels of pollutants may be two to five times, and sometimes even more than 100 times, higher than outdoor levels. People in buildings frequently report discomfort and building-related health symptoms and occasionally develop building-related illnesses. Coupled with tighter homes, people now spend almost 90 percent of their day indoors—65 percent of that in their homes. Residents also are less likely to open windows because of energy costs, security issues, drafts, noise, and dirty air from outside, according to ASHRAE.
Indoor Air Pollution and Health
Understanding and controlling common pollutants indoors can help reduce the risk of indoor health concerns. The Environmental Protection Agency notes that health effects from indoor air pollutants may be experienced soon after exposure or, possibly, years later.
Immediate Effects: Various health effects may show up shortly after a single exposure or repeated exposures to a pollutant. These include irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat; headaches; dizziness; and fatigue. Symptoms of conditions like asthma may worsen. Such immediate effects are usually short-term and treatable.
The likelihood of immediate reactions to indoor air pollutants depends on several factors, including age and preexisting medical conditions. In some cases, whether or not a person reacts to a pollutant depends on individual sensitivity, which varies tremendously from person to person. Certain people can become sensitized to biological or chemical pollutants after repeated or high-level exposures.
Specific effects may be worsened by an inadequate supply of outdoor air coming indoors or from the heating, cooling, or humidity conditions prevalent indoors.
Long-Term Effects: Other health effects may show up either years after the exposure has occurred, or only after long or repeated periods of exposure. These effects, which include some respiratory diseases, heart disease, and cancers, according to the EPA, can be severely debilitating, or even fatal. For this reason, it is essential to try to improve the indoor air quality in homes even if symptoms are not noticeable.
There are three basic strategies for improving indoor air quality, as recommended by the Environmental Protection Agency: source control, improved ventilation, and air cleaners. Source control refers to improving indoor air quality through removing or eliminating individual sources of pollution, such as removing asbestos. Ventilation improvements refers to increasing the amount of outdoor air coming indoors. Air cleaners can be employed to remove pollutants and particles in indoor air.
Using Multi-Panel Systems to Help Achieve IAQ Goals
According to the EPA, lowering the concentrations of indoor air pollutants in a home means increasing the amount of outdoor air coming indoors. Mandatory standards, such as ASHRAE Standard 62.2, Ventilation and Acceptable Indoor Air Quality in Low-Rise Residential Buildings, and voluntary standards, like the Environmental Protection Agency’s Indoor airPLUS, provide guidelines on proper ventilation rates to secure indoor air quality.
The introduction of outdoor air is one important factor in promoting good air quality. Air may enter a home in several different ways, including: through natural ventilation, such as from windows and doors; through mechanical means, such as by means of outdoor air intakes associated with the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system; and through infiltration, a process by which outdoor air flows into the house through openings, joints and cracks in walls, floors and ceilings, and around windows and doors. Using multi-panel systems opens up areas typically blocked by walls and aids in whole-house air circulation, bringing clean and fresh air into any structure and replacing existing, stale air. Larger openings allow for greater natural ventilation. By removing the divide between interior and exterior living spaces, multi-panel systems can also draw occupants outside more frequently.
Photo courtesy of Dror Baldinger Photography
Project by Craig McMahon Architects, Inc.
Additional Sustainability Benefits from Multi-Panel Door Systems
In addition to its vital role in improving indoor air quality, multi-panel door systems can further improve indoor health and energy efficiency in a building, both by their design and their components.
Natural Daylighting: Allowing for more glass and light, multi-panel door systems can be a good passive heat source and minimize the use of electricity for daytime lighting. Introducing daylighting into interior spaces is also beneficial for occupant health, reducing headaches induced by artificial light, and diminishing the symptoms of seasonally affective disorders.
As knowledge of the relationship between light and health increases, a better understanding of the circadian performance of the indoor environment can help to ensure that designers deliver projects that effectively support the biological lighting needs of building occupants, writes Kyle Konis, Ph.D., AIA, assistant professor of architecture at the University of Southern California (USC).
Providing daylight is important for the wellbeing of building occupants. How that daylight is provided inside of buildings is critical in the wake of emerging research showing the significant impact of light on the human circadian system. In modern buildings, Konis notes, light is often provided by electrical sources that may be adequate for the performance of visual tasks but lack the appropriate spectral composition and intensity required to stimulate the circadian system. Over time, lack of exposure to appropriate patterns of light/dark can disrupt the circadian system, leading to negative outcomes including poor sleep, reduced alertness, and increased risk for a range of health problems.
Under funding from the American Institute of Architects (AIA), Researchers at the University of Southern California are working on a metric and software workflow to help architects maximize the circadian-effective area of a project using daylight during design. Unlike the daylight metrics used in green building rating systems, which evaluate the amount of light delivered to a horizontal workplane over the year, a circadian daylight metric must assess light exposure at the eye and must also be sensitive to the timing, intensity, duration, wavelength, and past history of light exposures.
The area-based circadian daylight metric can be used to understand “when” and “where” interior daylight is effective for circadian stimulus. In the early stages of design, the goal is to maximize the area achieving the highest entrainment quality grades by adjusting the building form, massing, aperture size, and ceiling height while balancing additional concerns such as functional efficiency, program requirements, and cost. In later stages of design, the metric can be used to inform the selection of building components, such as glazing and facade systems, and controls for automated shading systems. By allowing replacement of an entire wall with glass, multi-panel systems can maximize provision of beneficial light to the interior.
Energy Efficiency: Most multi-panel door systems offer dual-paned tempered glass, creating an insulating barrier between the inside and out. Manufacturers may offer advanced low-e glass options to help reduce cooling costs in the summer and heating costs in the winter. Overall U-factors (insulating factors) in the door panels can be achieved at or near the common fenestration target of 0.30 or better, depending on specific glazing selections made for low-e or other coatings.
Maximum Use: The innovative design of multi-panel systems connects both indoors and out, maximizing a space’s livability and connecting occupants to the exterior of a structure.
Local Manufacturing: Finding a domestic or local manufacturer contributes to green design by minimizing fuel and transportation costs normally associated by importing products from areas outside of the United States.
Recycled Packaging and Materials: Certain manufacturers pack and ship systems using recycled materials, providing safe transport and smart use of renewable resources.
Responsible Materials: If wood or clad multi-panel 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.
LEED Projects: Multi-panel door systems can help to earn a LEED designation for projects. Architects and project owners can submit many of these characteristics for point consideration within their projects.
Possible LEED v3.0 Points 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
Measuring the Green Performance of Doors and Windows in Your Structure
Under an all-encompassing evaluation by The National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC), a multi-panel door system earns credit for all of its energy-efficient features, including energy efficient glass, thermally improved frames, and even down to such minutiae as the spacers used between layers of insulated glass.
NFRC testing also looks at other overall performance characteristics, including the solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC), which measures how much solar energy passes through a particular glazing, creating heat gains within a building. SHGC is expressed as a number between 0 and 1. In areas where heat gains are a concern, coatings are applied to the glass to allow less transference. “NFRC: 100 Procedures for Determining Fenestration Product U-factors” is the accepted standard for rating windows, doors, and skylights for U-factor. A U-factor is typically rated between 0.20 and 1.20. This standard establishes standardized environmental conditions, product sizes, and testing requirements so that architects and others can make informed choices fairly and accurately by comparing the performance of different products.
NFRC testing also responds to green building standards by assigning a value to the visible light transmittance (VT). Values are between 0 and 1. VT determines the effective light available for daylighting, helping gauge potential offset of electricity costs for lighting a building’s interiors.
In addition to thermal performance, codes and standards—including those of the NFRC—have increasingly recognized air leakage (AL) as a very significant factor in fenestration performance. Today’s window and door products must meet minimum standards for air infiltration and be tested, certified, and labeled for this performance. The total system must be able to withstand wind pressures associated with its geographic location, and air leakage must be controlled not only for energy performance but also for occupant comfort and long-term durability of the fenestration system. NFRC expresses AL as a number ranging between 0.1 and 0.3.
U-factor, SHGC, VT, and AL are all disclosed on an NFRC label for an individual product. The lower the U-factor, the better the insulation level of the unit, meaning less loss of heat to the outside. A low SHGC means more solar energy will be blocked, eliminating passive heat gain into the building from outside. The higher the VT, the more natural light is transmitted through a product. A higher AL means greater air infiltration over the life of the product.
Typical high-performance doors have lower U-factors and SHG depending on climate zone. The most suitable AL rating for an energy-efficient building will be at or near 0.1; VT is dependent upon climate zone and client preference.
Sustainable Living: Multi-Panel Door Systems and Universal Design
The term “universal design” was coined by the architect Ronald L. Mace to describe the concept of designing all products and the built environment to be aesthetic and usable to the greatest extent possible by everyone, regardless of their age, ability, or status in life.
In universal design, homes are designed in such a way that they allow occupants to age in place, and so that they facilitate the living experience of everyone, including handicapped residents. Certain features, like wider hallways, lowered window hardware, and wider door openings, allow occupants to seamlessly transition through the phases of life without having to move or remodel. Multi-panel door systems offer a natural solution for aging-in-place design considerations. They also offer an aesthetic range to allow for a variety of styles in universal design.
Aging-in-place design features include:
- Door Thresholds: Flush preferable
- Interior Doors: There needs to be 32 inches of clear width, which requires a 36-inch door
- Levered door hardware
- Plenty of windows for natural light
- Lowered windows or taller windows with lower sill height
- Low maintenance exterior and interior finishes
- Easy to operate hardware
The AIA is actively studying and promoting aging-in-place features through its Design for Aging (DFA), to “foster design innovation and disseminate knowledge necessary to enhance the built environment and quality of life for an aging society.”
Not only has the DFA Knowledge Community recognized the importance of flexibility and adaptability in design, it has also documented the vital role that green features play in aging-in-place. During its biennial Design for Aging Review design competition in 2013, the green features with the greatest jury-recognized impact were maximized daylighting (64 percent of the green projects recognized by the jury); energy efficiency (61 percent); and site design considerations (42 percent). Sixty-five percent of the jury-recognized projects also described a connection to nature. These projects captured views to parklands, oceans, gardens, and orchards and buildings were planned around natural site features as well as including indoor/outdoor spaces. Many of the awarded projects included abundant natural light, both in common spaces and within residential units. Two projects specifically noted the inclusion of daylight to regulate circadian rhythms and minimize the effects of sundowning in their buildings’ dementia populations. Because of their ability to achieve flexibility, meet compliance standards, and create environmental benefits, multi-panel door systems can offer a unique solution for universal and aging-in-place designs.
ADA Compliance
In some cases, universal designs may wish to consider ADA compliance.
The ADA requirements for commercial use include:
- A door may swing out of a room as long as there is a 48-inch clear area in front of the door to allow those in a wheelchair to safely maneuver.
- For the door to swing in, there must be a full 60 inches of maneuvering space in front of the door, as well as 18 inches of clearance along the side of the door.
- Doorway thresholds may not be more than ½ inch, or ¾ inch for exterior sliding doors.
For ADA compliancy, some multi-panel door systems offer a ramp sill and threshold option for folding and swing door systems, along with panic hardware. If required, a 10-inch bottom rail option can be selected.
For an outswing folding system, the ramp sill is an option when the interior and exterior floor levels are the same and a maximum sill height from finish floor of ½ inch is required. Surface mounted sweeps applied to the bottom of the panels are provided. Adequate overhangs are recommended to reduce risk of water infiltration in these installations.
Conclusion
People are innately attracted to light, open, airy spaces. Home and nature are not spaces in opposition. The most welcoming interior spaces find a way to translate these variables from nature and bring them inside. Characterized by symmetry and balance, this aesthetic transcends design trends and translates instead into a variety of styles. The successful, healthy, sustainable home erases the distinction between indoors and out for both the beauty of its aesthetics and the health benefits it brings to occupants. Under the Green and Healthy Homes Initiative definition, a green and healthy home supports the people living there in many different ways. A healthy home is dry, clean, safe, well-ventilated, pest-free, contaminant-free, well-maintained, and energy-efficient. A sustainable home is a healthy home, and that goal is an all-encompassing one.
By their very design, multi-panel door systems enable this engagement between interior and outdoor spaces. By literally removing the walls and barriers between nature and the interior of a structure, multi-panel systems offer seamless openings that blend the exterior space into a room or series of rooms, eliminating the perceived divide.
Not only do multi-panel door systems improve important health metrics, such as indoor air quality, as enhancements in manufacturing and technology have augmented door and glass efficiency, these systems can occupy a greater area in the building envelope without compromising overall energy performance. The best systems are not only built to visually and physically engage spaces but also to perform when called upon.
Amanda Voss, MPP, is an author, editor, and policy analyst. Writing for multiple publications, she also serves as the managing editor for Energy Design Update.
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LaCantina Doors is the leader in designing and manufacturing products that create large open spaces. Offering the most innovative and comprehensive range of folding, sliding and swing systems available, LaCantina Doors utilizes the same signature narrow stile and rail profile across its product line for a complete and perfectly matching door package. Designed and made in California, LaCantina Doors have contributed to award winning projects ranging from residential, retail, commercial, educational facilities, resorts and is the preferred choice when it comes to products that open spaces. Backed by an industry leading warranty, LaCantina Doors are available across the U.S. and Internationally. www.lacantinadoors.com
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