Specifying Doors for Tilt-Panel Buildings: What Builders Need to Know

When a door opening is being incorporated into a tilt-panel building, the door should be considered before the concrete panels are manufactured.

For builders and specifiers, this means more than simply choosing a door size. The structural opening, wall thickness, frame arrangement, fixing method, hardware and surrounding conditions all need to be coordinated early enough for the door opening to work with the finished panel.

Getting this information to the door supplier early can make the process more straightforward and help avoid having to work around an opening that has already been cast.

What Is Tilt-Panel Construction?

Tilt-panel construction uses large reinforced concrete panels that are cast horizontally before being lifted into their final vertical position.

The panels commonly form the external walls of commercial and industrial buildings such as:

• Warehouses
• Manufacturing facilities
• Distribution centres
• Commercial developments
• Storage buildings
• Industrial facilities

Door and other service openings can be incorporated into the panels during manufacture.

That makes door coordination an important part of the early panel design process.

What Does Larnec Need From a Builder or Specifier?

One of the most useful things a builder or specifier can do is provide the door supplier with the relevant project information before the tilt panels are manufactured.

For a personnel access door, Larnec will typically need information such as:

Structural opening size

The intended opening width and height are fundamental starting points for door selection.

If the structural opening has already been designed, providing the opening dimensions allows the door and frame to be considered alongside the panel.

Wall thickness

The thickness of the tilt panel is important when determining the frame arrangement.

Providing the wall thickness early gives the door supplier a better understanding of how the frame needs to work with the panel.

Door location and handing

The location of the opening within the building and whether the door is left- or right-handed can affect the door and hardware arrangement.

Intended use

Tell the door supplier what the opening will be used for.

For example, is it:

• A personnel entrance?
• Access to a plant or service area?
• An internal access door?
• An external commercial entrance?
• An access point within a warehouse or manufacturing facility?

This helps narrow down the appropriate door and hardware options.

Hardware requirements

If there are specific hardware requirements, these should be identified early.

This may include:

• Locksets
• Door closers
• Lever or knob hardware
• Latch guards
• Other access hardware

Larnec can supply hardware options to suit the door configuration and application.

Environmental conditions

External openings may need to account for the conditions around the building.

For projects exposed to coastal environments, wet areas or water-treatment facilities, for example, the finish may need additional consideration.

Larnec’s Sentry Protect powder-coating option is designed for applications where increased corrosion resistance is a consideration.

What Needs to Be Coordinated Before the Panel Is Manufactured?

This is where early door coordination becomes particularly important.

Once the tilt panel has been manufactured, changing the intended opening arrangement can become significantly more complicated than coordinating it beforehand.

Before manufacturing, the builder, designer and door supplier should have a clear understanding of:

1. Where the door opening will be located

The opening needs to be incorporated into the panel design in the correct position.

2. The required structural opening

The panel opening should be coordinated with the door and frame dimensions rather than designing the concrete opening independently.

3. Panel thickness

The frame needs to suit the finished wall thickness.

4. Frame arrangement

The frame configuration should be established before the panel is manufactured so the opening and surrounding construction work together.

5. Fixing requirements

The way the frame will be fixed to the concrete panel should be considered as part of the overall door installation.

6. Door swing and hardware

Door handing, swing direction and hardware can affect the space around the opening.

7. Finished floor level

The relationship between the door, threshold and finished floor should also be considered during coordination.

These details don’t all need to be complicated. The important part is making sure the door isn’t treated as an afterthought once the panels are already on site.

Why Should the Door and Frame Be Considered Early?

Tilt panels are manufactured to predetermined dimensions before being lifted into position.

That means the door opening becomes part of the building component itself.

If the door requirements are known early, the opening can be coordinated with the door and frame before the concrete is cast.

If the door is only considered after the panel has been manufactured, the project may have fewer options for dealing with an opening that doesn’t suit the intended door.

Early coordination can help avoid issues involving:

• Incorrect opening sizes
• Frame fit
• Door swing
• Hardware clearance
• Fixing arrangements
• Finished floor levels
• Site modifications

For projects with multiple doors, coordinating these details at the design stage can also make the door schedule much easier to manage.

Pre-Hung Doors Can Simplify Installation

For builders working with tilt-panel construction, a pre-hung door can provide a practical advantage.

A pre-hung door is supplied with the door already fitted within its frame, rather than requiring the frame and door to be assembled separately on site.

This can simplify the installation process and provide a more complete door package for the opening.

Larnec supplies pre-hung steel-clad personal access doors for commercial and industrial applications.

Depending on the door selected, the package can include features such as:

• Pre-hung door and frame
• Hinges
• Lock preparation
• Door closer preparation
• Reversible handing
• Commercial and industrial hardware options

The exact configuration can be tailored to the application.

For a builder, the practical benefit is having the door and frame considered as one system rather than trying to coordinate separate components after the concrete work is complete.

How Larnec Can Help With Tilt-Panel Door Coordination

Door selection isn’t only about supplying a door after the building has been designed.

Larnec’s experience with commercial and industrial access doors means the team can work from the project information provided by the builder or specifier and help identify the door and frame arrangement required for the opening.

The earlier this conversation happens, the easier it is to coordinate the door with the panel design.

For a project with multiple openings, this can also help establish a consistent approach to door sizes, handing, hardware and finishes across the building.

A Simple Checklist for Tilt-Panel Door Specification

Before the tilt panels are manufactured, make sure you have the following information ready for your door supplier:

• Structural opening size
• Panel/wall thickness
• Door location
• Door handing and swing
• Intended use
• Frame requirements
• Fixing arrangement
• Hardware requirements
• Finish/environmental requirements
• Finished floor level
• Number of doors required

Having this information available gives the door supplier a much clearer picture of the project and allows the door package to be coordinated before the panels are manufactured.