Door installation and maintenance

Correct installation of a doorset is fundamental to its performance, and it is strongly recommended that doorsets are installed by a third party accredited installer, preferably a Shadbolt approved installer. Installation instructions are available from Shadbolt.

Handling

Veneered door leaves and panels are normally supplied fully finished (finishing on site is not recommended) so they do not require any further treatment on site.

Care is essential when handling on site to avoid damage to the veneers, as it may be difficult to obtain matching veneer for repair purposes. Care is also required to avoid any damage to pre-fitted intumescent, smoke or acoustic seals.

Door leaves are supplied fitted with protective end blocks and wrapped in stout cardboard. If polished, they are additionally protected with foam before wrapping. When placed on the floor, door leaves, doorsets and panels should always be rested on the protection blocks fitted.

Storage

Correct storage on site is essential. Store in a clean, dry area, in the same conditions as are expected when the building is occupied. Cover to protect against dirt and risk of damage from other trades working.

Store door leaves, doorsets and panels stacked flat and level, on supports. Supports should be timber, covered with plywood or cardboard to avoid marking the door/panel surface, minimum 100mm wide x 50mm deep, across the full width of the door/panel. There should be three such supports, equally spaced, one across the centre and one 300mm from each end.

Doors with glazed apertures should be stacked with spacers between to prevent damage to glazing beads.Veneered surfaces should not be exposed to strong light or direct sunlight as this could cause differential fading and shrinkage / cracking of the veneer.

Shadbolt_door_storage_recommendations

Site Conditions

It is essential that the following conditions are observed in order to avoid any adverse effects on doorsets or panels and their finishes.

Doorsets and panels must not be installed until the building envelope is complete and weathertight, all wet trades work is complete, and heating/air conditioning has been commissioned.

Conditions should be as close as possible to those expected in the occupied building.

Temperature should be in the range 55oF to 70oF (13oC to 21oC) and relative humidity in the range 40% to 60% during storage and installation. After installation, doorsets and panels should not be subjected to sudden or extreme changes in temperature or humidity.

If it is unavoidable that heating or air conditioning is brought into operation after installation this should be done gradually over as long a period as possible.

Moisture_content

LOCATION

Scheme matching of veneers means that it is essential for doorsets and panels to be installed in the correct positions. In many cases each doorset and panel is designed for installation in a specific location in the building or in a specific sequence, and doors must be hung with the correct face visible on each side – refer to instructions on the product’s Shadbolt bar code.

In matched schemes all doorsets and panels are individually identified to show their intended positions, and installers must be made aware of the need to fit each one in the correct location – refer to instructions on the product’s Shadbolt bar code.

CUTTING & TRIMMING

Door leaves and panels are supplied to exact finished sizes and must not be trimmed on site.

Where there is uncertainty in wall thicknesses, adjustable split frames can be supplied to allow fixing adjustment on site.

Exposed intumescent strips in long edges and the top edge of fire doors must not be trimmed.

MAINTENANCE

Regular inspection and maintenance are essential to ensure that doorsets and panels retain their design performance throughout their life.

Full recommendations are available from Shadbolt.

CLEANING

Veneered panels and doors should be cleaned by wiping with a damp cloth; where necessary a mild detergent solution may be used. Abrasive or chemical cleaners must not be used.

REPAIR

If veneered products should be accidentally damaged during or after installation, repair is usually feasible. However, exact matching of the veneer may not always be possible. Consult Shadbolt for advice.