How a Pivot Door Works: Floor Pivot, Hinges and Sills

How does a pivot door work?

A pivot door turns on a vertical axis that sits away from the door’s edge, not on hinges along one side. That makes part of the door swing in and part swing out as it opens. Two makers Honey Rock works with, Jada and Bertrand, build pivot doors in different ways.

Jada says its doors “pivot on a hydraulic floor pivot.” Bertrand’s MB-86N has an “off-center rotation axis” and concealed bearing hinges. Both approaches hide the hardware. The door reads as a single plane of steel, aluminum or glass.

What is a hydraulic floor pivot?

A floor pivot is a hidden mechanism in the floor that carries the door’s turning point and controls its movement. Jada says the floor pivot is concealed within the finished floor. It also says the floor pivot helps control the movement of the door and acts as a hold open and hydraulic closer.

In plain terms, the pivot sets how the door turns, how it stops and how it closes. You get no separate closer on the door itself. Jada also says its pivot doors use a concealed multi-point locking system, which keeps the weatherstrip in contact over the full height of the door.

Read our glossary entries for pivot door and pivot hinge for short definitions.

How does Bertrand’s MB-86N pivot door work?

Bertrand’s MB-86N uses an off-center rotation axis with concealed bearing hinges. Bertrand publishes numbers for this system. We give them in the units it uses.

Item	What Bertrand publishes for the MB-86N
Maximum leaf size	2,0 x 3,4 m, up to 2 m wide and 3.4 m high
Hinge load	Concealed bearing hinges, load capacity up to 500 kg
Threshold	Low, 20 mm, can be built in for a zero threshold effect with drainage to the outside
Locking	Locked by alternating strips on the leaf and frame; one-latch or two-latch options
Thermal variants	Three: ST, SI and SI+
Insulation	UD from 0.73 W/m2K for paneled leaves measuring 2000 x 2180 mm

The UD figure applies to a paneled leaf of the size Bertrand names. It does not describe a glazed door or a different size. Bertrand lists other pivot systems too, so ask which one suits your opening.

Why is a pivot door less weathertight than a swing door?

Because part of the door sweeps in and part sweeps out. Jada explains it this way: the weatherstrip sits on different planes and does not offer a single plane of compression seal. That is why Jada says pivot doors should only be used in covered areas with limited exposure, unless special sill drainage is added.

This is an honest limit, and it matters in Texas, where rain can drive sideways. Put a pivot entry under a deep porch or a covered entry. If the door must face open weather, ask the maker about sill drainage before you commit.

Jada adds that a pivot door, like an inswing door, needs a raised threshold for the weatherstrip to sweep against. The threshold is often stone or part of the hard flooring. If you plan a rug inside, tell the maker, since the sill height must clear it. The details are worked out in the shop drawing process.

What else should you know about size and screens?

Pivot doors come as single doors or as pairs. Jada says pairs lock like outswing or inswing pairs. It also says screens are not practical because of the dual projection, and that pivot doors come with a welded attachment flange to join the door frame to the framing.

Jada notes there are not as many attachment solutions for pivot doors as for its typical products, though it may customize the method. Jada publishes no maximum door size. Ask for shop drawings, and do not assume a size is possible because a photo shows one.

For the framed hole the door sits in, see our post on rough opening vs frame size and the glossary entries for sill and rough opening.

What should you ask before you order a pivot door?

Ask about the floor, the sill and the weather. Our checklist:

1. Is the entry covered? How deep is the overhang?
2. What is the sill detail, and is drainage included?
3. How much does the leaf weigh, and what does the hardware carry?
4. Who sets the floor pivot, and when in the build?
5. What happens to the floor finish around the pivot?
6. How does the door lock, and where is the handle?

Honey Rock describes its work as running “From the initial design process to the final installation.” Pivot doors need early decisions about floors and framing, so bring us in during design. We do not publish prices or lead times. Ask the maker through us.

For a full buying guide, read pivot door buying guide and our pillar on pivot doors. To compare the makers, see Jada and Bertrand.

Who is a pivot door a good fit for?

It suits a wide, tall entry under cover, where the design is the point. Jada says these doors are ideal where you want to add drama to a space or where a pocket sliding door is impractical. Bertrand says architects favor its MB-86N for striking entrances and large-scale dimensions.

It is a weaker fit for an exposed entry facing open weather, a very tight vestibule, or a door that needs a screen. If that is your case, compare it with French doors or a custom entry door. We would rather tell you now than after the order.

Next step

Tell us about your entry, wall and floor at /contact-us or call (214) 484-9982. Start with the pivot doors pillar for options and trade-offs.