Floor and head, door centerline
ANSI/BHMA A156.4 · EN 1154
Maryland, DC & Northern Virginia
Center hung pivots, often sold as center hung pivot hinges, place the pivot point in the middle of the door’s thickness. A bottom pivot carries the door’s weight straight down to the floor, and a top pivot keeps the door aligned at the head. Because the load skips the jamb, the frame does not sag. Most sets are non-handed and work on single or double acting doors. Pair them with a floor closer or overhead concealed closer when the door must close on its own.
The floor carries the load, so wide, tall and heavy doors stay square without frame strain.
One non-handed set lets kitchen, corridor and service doors swing both ways with a floor closer.
Hardware hides inside the door and floor, leaving only slim plates and a clear, modern face.
King Locksmith And Doors Inc. installs, adjusts and repairs commercial door hardware across Maryland, Washington DC and Northern Virginia. Our technicians work on center hung pivots, floor closers and the doors they carry in offices, hospitals, hotels, schools and government buildings. We inspect the floor box, the top pivot and the door itself before we recommend a fix, so the repair lasts. We also schedule our work around your hours to keep busy entrances open.
The right center hung pivot set depends on the door, the floor and the foot traffic it sees each day. Use these five quick checks before you order new hardware or plan a door retrofit.
Start with the door’s real weight, width and height. Every center hung pivot hinge and floor closer has a load rating. Many standard sets top out near 350 pounds on doors up to 4 feet wide and 8 feet 6 inches tall.
Heavier glass, wood or metal doors need a heavy-duty set with a larger bearing. Choosing a set rated above the actual weight protects the bearing and keeps the door from dropping over time.
Center hung pivots work on single acting doors that swing one way and double acting doors that swing both ways. Most sets are non-handed, so one part fits left or right openings. That keeps spare parts simple across a building.
Double acting doors suit kitchens, corridors and service routes where staff push through with carts or trays. Single acting doors need a stop on the header and a closer built for one direction of travel.
A center hung pivot only lets the door turn. It does not close the door. To control the swing, pair it with a center hung floor closer or an overhead concealed closer. Without one, the door swings freely and stays wherever it stops.
Closer templates differ between pivot types, so the closer must be made for center hung use. Ask about hold-open, backcheck and dead-stop options early, because they decide which floor box you order.
Floor closers sit in a cement case set into the slab, so the floor needs depth and a solid base. New construction allows for this early. Retrofits may need saw cutting and patching.
Wet entrances, mop zones and exterior doors need sealed cases and rustproof parts. Cold vestibules may call for cold weather closer fluid, which keeps the door speed steady through winter. We can check threshold drainage and slab depth during a site visit.
Many center hung floor closers are not listed for fire-rated doors. If the opening carries a fire label, confirm the listing before you buy, or choose hardware approved for that assembly. Ask for products tested to ANSI/BHMA A156.4.
Accessible routes need light, steady, predictable control. Under the 2010 ADA Standards, interior doors should open with no more than 5 pounds of force and take at least 5 seconds to close from 90 to 12 degrees.
Offset pivots are the most common alternative. Both carry the door from the floor, but their pivot points, swing options and adjustment needs differ. Here is how the two compare.
Consideration
Center Hung Pivots
Offset Pivots
Supports single or double acting doors
Single acting only, one swing direction
Non-handed parts fit left or right
Handed, so you must order correctly
Concealed in door, only floor plate shows
Exposed pivot arms show at door corners
Weight drops straight down through the centerline
Off-center load can need intermediate pivots
Pairs with double acting floor closers
Closers must match the exact offset distance
Center hung pivots work hard on busy doors, and small problems grow fast. Watch for these warning signs before a dragging or slamming door becomes a safety or security risk.
We mount top and bottom pivots on new doors, align the centerline, and test the full swing.
We remove worn, leaking floor closers and fit matching center hung units sized to your door's weight.
We replace worn pins, bushings and top pivots to stop wobble, squeaks and gaps at the header.
We reset sagging or dragging doors, adjust the bottom arm, and restore even gaps along every edge.
We cut, set and patch cement cases in existing floors when old boxes rust, crack or flood.
Scheduled visits clean, adjust and inspect pivots and closers, so small wear never becomes a failed door.
Tell us about your door, and we will recommend the center hung pivots, closer and repair plan for your building.
