Elevator Door Styles

As you’ve probably noticed, elevator doors come in a multitude of styles while having its own safety requirements. When in big cities, you will notice that each elevator has a different style and size. From large elevator lobby doors to small residential ones, you will come across a variety of styles as you go about life.

 Types:

 Single slide doors are the most common type of elevator door. These doors open one way or the other to allow passengers into the car. 

 Here are the other main door styles:

 ·     Single Slide Left Hand: One door panel slides open from your right as you are standing in an elevator car.

·     Single Slide Right Hand: One door panel slides open from your left, rather than your right. 

·     Single Slide Center Opening: Panels on each side come together in the center to close and push apart in order to open.

·     Two-speed Center Opening: Two sections of panels on each side come together in the center to close and push away from each other to open.

·     Two-speed Left and Right hand: Two sections of panels slide open from your right. 

·     Three-speed Left Hand and Right Hand: Same as above just with three panels. This door style is used for wide access freight elevators. 

 Center opening elevators are common and you will see them in high rises of all kinds. While two- speed doors are often used in freight and service cars they can also be seen in smaller elevators. When inside the elevator car, the door walls tuck behind each other when opened. When they close, they straighten out in line with one another.

 Sometimes, you’ll see a two or three speed center opening doors, which are rare but still used in heavy-duty vehicle and freight elevators. These elevators can have up to six door panels! Another common door style in freight elevators is the vertical bi-parting style where the doors go up instead of side to side, like a garage door. This style can also feature two or more panels just like the standard ones. 

 A unique door style is the swing hoist-way door. These doors fold in and out to close just like a pantry closet. This type is desired in small areas where the space is at a premium. As you can see, there is more to an elevator than meets the eye.