We need to know the clear inside measurements, or
air opening, height and width

We hang our door up and above your clear opening,
on the outside of the building, so we won't lose any
headroom! We usually hang the door 12", 24" 30" or
36" above your clear opening. This will vary from
door to door.

We need a header placed at 12", 22", 28" or 24" to
center above your clear opening to hang our door!
You can build this into the endwall of your new or
existing building.

Shows how a header is installed in an endwall of a
building and where. The header is placed up and
above the bottom of the rafter so you won't lose any headroom!

This drawing shows how the bifold door rolls up
the outside of the building column.

Your door will look like this when fully opened. Lose
no headroom!.

WE AT THE FACTORY WILL HELP FILL IN THE "SPEC SHEET DETAILS".

A._____     Clear Opening between building Side Columns - Finished Opening.

B._____     Clear opening from bottom of truss to finished floor - or total clear height opening.

C._____     Distance from finished floor to the very top of door hinge. B+D=C.

D._____     Distance from top of clear height to top of single hinge. This distance will vary on different size doors.
The distance above your clear opening will be 12"-24"-30"-36"-48"-Other _______. Circle One.

E._____     Distance from top of clear height to center of mounting hole for single hinges.

F._____     Distance from finished floor to beginning of top building sheeting.

H._____     The distance from the finished floor to the center of the mounting hole for the hinges.

Very Top
Of Hinge

Bottom of
Building Sheeting

Door Wide Open

Bottom of Header /
Rafter / Ceiling Height

Top
Sheeting______

Bottom
______

Very Top
Of Hinge

Bottom of
Building Sheeting

Door Wide Open

Bottom of Header /
Rafter / Ceiling Height

Side Column

Side Column

Outside
of Building

Doorframe overlaps 1" on each side

Door Sheeting

Doorframe width

The side rails overlap the side columns

AA Area left unsheeted

Customer, Contractor/Owner, Building Manufacturer, Architects, Building Suppliers

The customer, contractor/owner and the building manufacturer are responsible to ensure that the building's structural design is capable of handling all the imposed loads that the bifold door exerts on your door header, endwall, and building. When your bifold door is in a full open position, the bifold door tends to pull away from the building at the hinge line exerting considerable horizontal loads on the building structure in the open position. Your building header design must meet standard deflection and strength criteria, both in vertical and horizontal directions to support the bifold door in all positions.

We will work with your architects, contractors and building suppliers to make sure the door you order will fit your clear opening and building. We will answer your questions and assist you with shop drawings to make sure that your "Automatic Bifold" door will fit your new or existing building. Available are the door weights, loadings, hinge locations, specs and fine details.

Schweiss Bifold Doors will provide you with those loads that are applied to your building and door. We will provide you with our A-1, A-2, A-3, and A-4....A7 Spec sheets for your actual measurements, movements, weights, and hinge locations.

WARNING:
Improperly designed bifold door header can result in property damage, personal injury or death.

Your building header design must meet standard deflection and strength criteria both in vertical and horizontal directions to support the bifold door in all positions.

Door SpanAllowable Deflection
0' - 50'1"
50' - 70'1.50"
Over 70'2"

THE SCHWEISS HANDBOOK IS DESIGNED TO SHOW:

The many different ways to attach a bifold door to your new or existing building structure (wood, steel, Quonset, sidewalls, etc.) Detailed illustrations to help you further understand how to prepare your building for a bifold door, without changing the design of your steel or wood building. There are many different applications of an optional freestanding header.

The Schweiss Handbook should be read by anyone involved in the design, specifications, selection or purchase of an industrial bifold door operator or automated bifold door system. Any illustrations or numbers shown in this book are for examples only. Upgrade equipment is available from Schweiss Bifold Doors and is strongly recommended that upgrade equipment be used on every bifold door.

WARNING: Without the proper upgrade equipment, the door could cause property damage, personal injury or death.

If you have any questions about bifold doors or need technical assistance, feel free to
call us at (507) 426-8273.

Thank You
Schweiss Doors

Lateral Bracing

Stub Column

Side Column

Bottom
of Stub

Top Of
Header

Overall
Height of
Bifold Door

Clear
Opening

Steel
Side
Column

Sidewall
Girt

Inside of
Building

Outside of
Building

Building
Line

Sheeting is on the same plane

Doorframe width

Doorframe overlaps 1" on each side

Side rails overlap the side columns 3" to 4"

AA - Distance to step back with the sheeting

Steel
Side
Column

Sidewall
Girt

Inside of
Building

Outside of
Building

Building
Line

Sheeting is offset

Doorframe width

Doorframe overlaps 1" on each side

Side rails overlap the side columns 3" to 4"

AA - Distance to step back with the sheeting

Wood Side Column

Inside of
Building

Outside of
Building

Building
Line

Sheeting is on the same plain

Doorframe width

Doorframe overlaps 1" on each side

Side rails overlap the side columns 3" to 4"

AA - Distance to step back with the sheeting

Wood Side Column

Inside of
Building

Outside of
Building

Building
Line

Sheeting is offset

Doorframe width

Doorframe overlaps 1" on each side

Side rails overlap the side columns 3" to 4"

AA - Distance to step back with the sheeting

Clear Opening

Wedge Stub Columns on
Steel Buildings 1' below "C" Measurement

Clear Opening Height
(Provided by Customer)

Clear Opening - Between Columns

12" Wedge

24" Wedge

36" Wedge

12" Clear Opening

12" Clear Opening

12" Clear Opening

Door in Wide Open Position

Door in Wide Open Position

Door in Wide Open Position

Side
Column

Stub Columns

Lateral Bracing

C-channel or purlin to attach
the endwall sheeting to above
the Bifold Door

Endwall
Building
Main Frame

Door rolls up
on face of the
side columns

Overall
height of
Bifold Door

Clear
Opening
Height

Door
Column

Door Column

Header Plate And The
Door Column Must Be
Flush

Stubs Welded Or Bolted To The Mainframe Or The
Continuous Header To Support The Door Header Plate

Dotted Lines Represent The
Header Plate

Endwall Sheeting Above
The Bifold Door

Main Building
Frame

Clear Opening - Between Columns

Distance To Stay Back With The Sheeting

Door
Column

Door Column

Header Plate And The Door Column Must Be Flush

Main Building
Frame

Endwall Sheeting Above The Bifold Door

Stubs welded or bolted to the mainframe or the continuous header
to support the door header plate. The door can also be attached to the
vertical stubs only leaving the continuous header off, just another way
to support the doorframe.

Clear Opening - Between Columns

Distance To Stay Back With The Sheeting

Shows where a header is installed in an endwall of a building. The header is positioned up above the
bottom of the rafter so you won't lose any headroom!

Shows where a header is, using the bottom chord in an endwall of a building.
The engineered rafters can be doubled up for sufficient support

2 x 6 Vertical

Triple Vertical Stiffeners -
Three 2x6's By Each Hinge Location

Tie Back Brace

2 x 6 Vertical

Need A Backer Plate
To Apply The Bldg.
To

Header Bolt

Ceiling

Need A Backer Plate To
Apply The Bldg. Sheeting
To This Area

Double End
Wall Rafter

Ceiling

Built In
Header Plate

3rd

2nd Building Rafter In
From The Endwall

Triple Vertical Stiffeners
(3) 2x6's By Each Hinge
Location

How To Strengthen
Your Endwall Rafter

Bolt Rafter To
Each Side Column

Side Columns Must Be Full Length
(on Larger Doors Double The Side Columns)