Head, floor and jamb mounted
ANSI/BHMA A156.4 · UL 10C · NFPA 80
Maryland, DC & Northern Virginia
Offset pivots hang a door from the top and bottom instead of the side. A top pivot sits in the head frame. A bottom pivot sits in the floor and carries most of the door’s weight. The pivot point sits about 3/4 inch off the door face, so the door swings like it would on hinges. Tall or heavy doors also get an intermediate pivot on the jamb. This setup protects the frame, handles heavy traffic and lets doors swing open up to 180 degrees.
The floor carries the door's weight, so frames, welds and jambs stay square for many years.
Grade 1 sets support lead-lined, glass and oversized doors that would quickly wear out standard hinges.
Doors swing up to 180 degrees and clear the opening for carts, hospital beds and wheelchairs.
King Locksmith And Doors Inc. is a commercial locksmith and door company serving Maryland, Washington DC and Northern Virginia. Our technicians install, adjust and repair door hardware for small businesses, government agencies, hospitals, hotels and large enterprises. We work on hollow metal, wood, aluminum and fire-rated openings. We match each part to the door’s weight, use and code needs. Every job gets clear pricing, clean work and quality hardware that keeps your doors working right.
The right offset pivot set depends on the door, the frame, the floor and the traffic it sees. Use these five checks to narrow your choice before you order parts or book a site visit.
Start with the door’s weight and width. Light interior sets often carry up to 250 or 300 pounds on doors up to 42 inches wide. Heavy duty sets carry about 650 pounds on doors up to 48 inches wide.
Lead-lined X-ray doors and large steel doors need extra heavy sets rated well over 1,000 pounds. Always pick a rating above the real door weight. Add the weight of glass, kick plates and exit devices too.
Most offset pivots use a 3/4 inch offset. This is measured from the center of the pivot to the face of the door. It works for standard hollow metal and wood doors in flush frames.
Choose a 1-1/2 inch offset when the door or frame has cladding, molding or thick trim. The deeper offset helps the door clear that trim. Note that deeper offsets often carry lower weight ratings, so check the door weight first.
Top and bottom pivots alone can let a tall door bow or twist over time. An intermediate pivot mounts on the hinge edge and jamb. It holds the door straight and keeps the latch lined up.
Most makers call for at least one intermediate pivot on doors up to 90 inches tall. Add another for each extra 30 inches of height. Fire-rated doors usually require one as part of their UL listing, whatever the height.
Fire doors need pivots listed for the rating on the door label. Fire-rated offset pivot sets are made for doors up to three hours. They must be installed per NFPA 80 and the maker’s listing.
Lead-lined doors in imaging rooms need heavy sets with screw holes spaced to miss the lead. Exterior doors need corrosion-resistant finishes that hold up to rain and road salt. We check labels and site conditions before we quote any job.
The bottom pivot needs a solid, level floor. Concrete slabs work best. Thin tile, raised floors or radiant heat may need a jamb-mounted bottom pivot instead of one cut into the floor. We check slab depth before any core cutting.
Also plan the door closer early. Overhead closers pair well with offset pivots. Concealed offset floor closers combine the bottom pivot and closer in one unit for a clean look on lobby and entry doors.
Butt hinges are the most common way to hang a door. For heavy, tall or busy openings, offset pivots often last much longer. Here is how the two options compare.
Consideration
Offset Pivots
Butt Hinges
Floor carries the weight, not the frame
Jamb and screws carry all the weight
Grade 1 sets handle 650 pounds or more
Heavy doors need extra or oversized hinges
Keeps frames square and welds intact longer
Heavy doors can pull frames out of square
Fewer sagging, dragging and misaligned door complaints
Worn hinge knuckles often lead to door sag
Clean look with less visible hardware
Three or more knuckles show on the frame
Offset pivots last for years, but parts wear out. Heavy traffic, floor movement and weather all take a toll. These are the problems we see most often across the DMV.
We install offset pivot sets on hollow metal, wood and aluminum doors, sized to each door's weight.
We swap worn top, bottom and intermediate pivots, then re-plumb the door so it latches cleanly again.
We convert sagging hinged doors to offset pivots, moving weight off tired frames and onto the floor.
We add intermediate pivots to tall or heavy doors that bow, twist or miss the strike plate.
We install and inspect labeled fire-rated pivots so fire doors meet NFPA 80 and pass annual inspections.
We repair and replace offset floor closers, set closing speed and seal floor boxes against water damage.
One worn pivot can drag a door, crack a frame and fail an inspection. Book a free site assessment today.
