Double-leaf hinged gates with 400 kg per leaf open to the outside on the 1st floor

Manual operation is not possible and the hinged leaves are exposed to wind loads – what to do?

The technical operations in Rastatt needed a new home. In a two-year construction period, a new modern, but at the same time eco-friendly building was constructed. The lower part is made of concrete, the 1st floor is completely made of wood. Part of the second floor is intended for the storage of items that are not constantly needed, such as sandbags or the wooden booths for the Christmas market. Since the wooden booths in particular are relatively bulky, transporting them to the second floor using a freight elevator does not make much sense. It would also take up valuable space and generate additional costs. Therefore, they resorted to a principle that has already been used in many old merchants’ houses: the items are just brought directly into the storage room on the first floor from the outside.

However, this wasn’t an easy task: the look of the wooden cladding on the 1st floor had to be kept and, and at the same time, it was necessary to ensure appropriate isolation and thermal insulation. The solution was 2 double-leaf hinged doors that open to the outside (opening to the inside was not possible, because the doors as facade elements must completely cover the opening). The additional insulation was achieved by an inner sectional door.

But: how to open hinged gates that go outward at a lofty height and are exposed to wind load?

The company Design in Metall from Schutterwald (Germany), the manufacturer of the gates, already knew DICTATOR for some time and approached our technical customer service with the question. Of course, such extraordinary challenges spark our interest. We worked together to develop the perfect solution, taking into account the space available and every other requirement, using step and DWG files, among many other things.

The hinged gate operator DICTAMAT 310-21 XXL is not bothered by high loads or airy heights

The door leaves of the hinged gates each measure 2,132 x 2,755 mm (width x height) and weigh approx. 400 kg. It is important that the leaves open and close reliably even under wind load – and, of course, they must also remain open safely when material is stored or retrieved. This is also ensured by the integrated mechanical brake which, even when the gate leaves are closed, prevents anyone from accidentally trying to open them by hand – and possibly falling down.

The operators themselves had to be recessed and concealed from the outside. Due to the relatively difficult installation conditions and the complex requirements, DICTATOR also completely installed the operators, including the SQUARE 940-2 control unit.