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Achieving performance on-site

Some acoustic doors may be heavy and require appropriate wall structures to support them. Guidance for handling and installation should be sought from our Technical Services Department.

Doorsets are supplied with all the necessary seals fitted to either door or frame, including astragals for pairs. With acoustic doors the gap between door and threshold on the floor must also be sealed with contact seals or wiping seals, depending on performance requirements and floor finish. Thresholds are needed and these must be level with the door. They should be bedded on mastic and screw-fixed direct to hard surfaces while carpet and textured flooring should stop either side. Low profile aluminium thresholds may be fixed on a hardwood packer so that the top of the threshold is 5mm above the floor finish.

Gaps between back of frame and wall must be fully packed with mineral wool, leaving only enough space for mastic pointing where no architrave is used. Special care is needed to check that doors close correctly all around, noting a slight resistance when the door closes against its seals.

• A level floor is essential to threshold sealing
• Seal under the threshold and bottom of jambs, as well as back of frame
• Frame should be plumb square and level to ensure that seals contact fully all around
• Seals must not be cut for ironmongery
• Never paint seals or close a freshly painted door onto them
• Avoid damaging all seals, particularly on the bottom edge
• Periodic checks of seals will help maintain performance

Best practice on-site is critical, sound is like water in that all gaps must be properly sealed to stop leakage.