Essentials for Equipment Screen Doors

January 24, 2023

Equipment enclosures require properly designed access doors to enable maintenance while visually blending with surrounding aesthetic screens. By consulting specialists early in design, attractive screen doors with smooth functionality protect equipment without detracting from buildings.

Equipment Screen Door Challenges

Typical problems with equipment screen door installations result from:

• Retrofitting off-the-shelf doors rather than integrated custom solutions.

• Prioritizing initial cost over smooth long-term functionality.

• Failing to coordinate dimensions/locations of doors and equipment.

This leads to entry points that disrupt visual continuity or present operational issues requiring correction.

Integrated Door Design

To optimally conceal infrastructure, equipment screen doors should:

• Feature matching louver panel construction and colors as adjacent screens.

• Include durable finishes for color retention.

• Carry complementary louver patterns tailored for specific free area needs.

• Hide door joint lines with trim strips to appear as a continuous assembly.

Focus on Serviceability

Beyond aesthetics, customized access doors should:

• Precisely align with equipment locations needing maintenance.

• Fold or slide smoothly via heavy duty pivots and pulls.

• Open easily without mechanical binding despite large sizes.

• Promote ventilation for hot equipment while deterring unauthorized access.

Getting door placement, sizing and details right from the outset results in equipment enclosures that artfully blend into building facades rather than detracting from them. Work closely with reputable façade consultants and consult Aire Renaissance early in design development to beautifully conceal infrastructure service doors.