Interior and exterior pivots are different products
An interior pivot door only has to look good and move well. An exterior pivot also has to resist wind pressure, keep water out and, in Miami-Dade and Broward, carry an approval for the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone. An interior pivot system cannot simply be moved to the front entrance.
| Interior pivot | Exterior pivot | |
|---|---|---|
| Main concern | Looks, movement, clearances | Wind, impact, water, security |
| Approval | None for wind or impact | Product approval; in the HVHZ, one valid for HVHZ use |
| Size limits | Set by the hardware and the floor | Set by the approval for each configuration |
| Threshold | Often flush with the floor | Needs a sill that keeps water out |
Exterior pivots and the hurricane zone
Large exterior pivots are one of the hardest door types to approve, because a very wide leaf turning on a single point has to survive impact and pressure tests. Approved pivot products exist, but each approval has its own maximum size, configuration and design pressure. If your design is larger than the approval allows, it cannot be installed as an approved impact door. Check the approval before committing to a size; our guide to the Miami-Dade NOA explains what to look for.
Weight and the floor
Pivot leaves can be very heavy, especially tall doors with stone, metal or thick wood faces. In many systems the weight goes through the bottom pivot straight into the floor, so the floor under the pivot has to carry that load. Ask what the pivot needs to be anchored into, and plan it before the finished floor goes down. A pivot set into a thin tile layer over a weak base can loosen over time.
Where the pivot point goes
A center pivot sits in the middle of the leaf and splits the opening into two passages. An offset pivot sits closer to one edge, which leaves a wider clear opening on one side. The position affects how much space the door sweeps inside the house, how wide the walkway really is and how the door feels to open.
Questions to ask before buying
These questions save the most trouble on a pivot project.
- Is this an interior or exterior system, and is it approved for my county?
- What are the approved maximum width, height and design pressure?
- What does the leaf weigh, and what does the floor pivot need below it?
- How does the door keep water out at the bottom and the edges?
- Does the door close slowly by itself or stay where you leave it?
- What locking is available, and does it change the approval?
- What is the clear opening once the pivot position is set?
A FEW USEFUL ANSWERS
Before you begin.
Can a pivot door be an impact door?
Yes, some exterior pivot products carry impact approvals. Each approval has size and pressure limits, so the design has to fit within them.
How heavy is a pivot door?
It depends on the size and the materials. Large entry pivots can weigh several hundred pounds, which is why the floor and the pivot hardware matter.
Can I add a pivot door to an existing floor?
Sometimes. The floor pivot usually needs to be set into the base below the finish, so it is easiest during a renovation. We check the floor at the measurement visit.