Bi-parting Hangar Doors For Associated Painters, Spokane

SpecDor designed and manufactured the hangar doors for Associated Painters’ new hangar for aircraft maintenance and painting,  situated in Spokane, Washington.  For this project, SpecDor worked with architects LMN Architecture and contractor Garco Construction Inc.

The opening of the building was 180 feet (54.86 metres) wide by 48 feet (14.63 metres) high.  This required a bi-parting hangar door using three blades on each side.  A dual drive system with two motors per side was specified along with four-wheel drive to increase traction.

Bi-parting Southern Configuration

The building was designed with no pocket spaces to house the blades inside the building when the doors are open.  Hence, a bi-parting Southern design configuration was proposed whereby the blades stack on the outside of the building.

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This configuration is typically used in climates where snow and ice is not a concern as the hardware and bottom rails are exposed to the elements.

Bi-parting Northern Configuration

Spec-Dor offered an alternative bi-parting Northern design configuration and was able to supply amended building drawings to show how this could be efficiently incorporated into the existing building design.

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The bi-parting Northern configuration ensures that when the doors are closed, the bottom rails are completed protected from the outside weather.  This is essential in climates subject to snow and ice.

Brush Weather Stripping

Brush weather stripping comes standard with Spec-Dor doors.  It helps prevent dust and dirt entering the building and also helps keep the heat in (or out in hot climates).

Hangar Door Brush Weather Stripping

Rail Flashing

The rail flashing option was selected as it provides many benefits during installation and during the life of the building.  Installation times are reduced as the rail flashings eliminate the need for concrete forms prior to pouring or grouting the rails.  Concrete can be poured the same day as the rails are set, saving time and money.

Rail flashings prevent chipping and erosion of the concrete around the rail and provide a smooth and level crossing for equipment and aircraft.  The uniform, frictionless surface of the flashings is ideal for the brush weather stripping to slide along and form a good seal.  This has the added benefit of greatly enhancing the life of the weather stripping.

Heated Rails

In the end, the bi-parting southern configuration was chosen as the climate of Spokane was not considered harsh enough to warrant the extra cost of the Northern configuration.
Unfortunately, Spokane suffered the snowiest November on record in 2010 with 25.7 inches of snow.  Luckily, with Spec-Dor’s revolutionary design, the bottom rails can be retrospectively fitted with sill track heating elements.  The integrated pull pits allow the heating cables to be installed and provide easy access for through-life maintenance.   If the record snowfall is an indication of future climate change, this could prove to be a very attractive option indeed!