Lewis Edwards from Selo explains why sliding pocket door design had to evolve and how Selo’s ‘Enigma’ system meets the key technical design challenges required of a modern pocket door system.
Historically, architects have specified sliding pocket doors to ensure the aesthetics of their designs can be delivered but installers have been reluctant to use such products because of complex and time-consuming installation requirements, and call-backs to site when products fail. The perception of pocket doors from the installer’s perspective is that they look great but fail to work in practice.
It’s easy to see how this misconception has arisen and there are a number of issues which the door manufacturing industry needed to address:
1. Installation and reliability
Traditionally pocket doors take a long time to install and often require rectification following the completion of a project because of a failure to adopt a system-led approach.
2. The need for a system-led approach
Sliding pocket doors are often created by installers and contractors by sourcing a variety of components from multi-manufacturers, which may or may not be compatible. This impacts upon durability and product performance.
3. Design and durability
The pocket formation needs to be slim but also strong, perfectly aligned and plumb. Not something which can easily be achieved, especially when a range of incompatible products are used to create a pocket door system.
As a leader in door system manufacture, Selo believes every product should be simple to install and should deliver optimal in situ performance and product life without compromising on aesthetics.
The Enigma system tackles the core issues faced by the industry when specifying and installing sliding pocket doors by providing:
1. A complete system, which includes the pocket formation, wall interfaces, fire and acoustic components, running gear, trims, door leaf, a variety of frame and finish options, and close/open mechanisms. By adopting a system-led approach, which guarantees component compatibility, we can ensure simple installation and optimal reliability.
2. A high-performance pocket formation that benefits from strength, rigidity and perfect alignment, as well as good aesthetics. The Enigma pocket formation is robust and all aspects of the formation are engineered to ensure the smooth running of the sliding gear via alignment of all components, something which is essential to the successful, long-term operation of the door system.
3. Concealed, visible and shadow-gap frame options for ultimate design flexibility.
4. Fire and acoustic performance as standard.
5. A variety of bespoke options including bespoke trims, bespoke door leaf finishes, irregular wall thickness, heavy duty running gear and thicker door leafs when a thickness greater than the standard 44m is required.
In summary, sliding pocket doors need not be problematic for specifiers, installers or end users. By adopting a more innovative, holistic approach to system design, Enigma pocket doors provide the ultimate in design and performance to the benefit of everyone from the specifier through to the end user.
