Centor’s award winning* door screening system (patents pending) for bi-fold doors is integrated into the bi-folding door frame itself. This new system, a superbly effective, world-first screening solution for openings as large as 3 metres high and 5.8 metres wide, means there’s no need to compromise between uninterrupted views and unrestricted movement in the summer months and the need to eliminate annoying flying pests year-round.

The issue of insect screening has long been a limiting factor to external door specification in the modern-day building and renovation industries. The desirability of uninterrupted views and unrestricted movement in the summer months had to be balanced with the need to eliminate insects. Centor Architectural’s new Door Screen systems are superbly effective, world-first screening solutions for bi-fold openings.

Used singly, or paired together to allow for an infinitely adjustable opening position, Centor’s Door Screen units are ready for action as soon as temperatures allow for open doors, the rest of the year they can be rolled back out of view – a revolutionary response to unpleasant flying pests for those who hate to compromise on style.

The considered design of Centor’s Door Screen systems mean they complement any bi-fold opening. Integrated into the architecture of the door frame itself and functioning so simply and smoothly the systems feel integral to the structure, not something tacked on as an afterthought.

Load Balancing Technology™ (LBT™) (patent pending) allows for the sort of effortless fingertip control synonymous with Centor products. There’s no crude spring-loading to fight against, no cumbersome latches or locks just a simple magnetic catch. One hand anywhere on the handsome, ergonomically-designed lead-stile set’s the screen in motion. Let it go and the screen glides smoothly to a stop, remaining firmly in the chosen position until further pressure is applied.

Load-balancing also means far greater mesh tension across the screen, eliminating any tendency for sag, while Tight Technology™ manufacturing techniques ensure control of the horizontal edges of the screen so they remain straight and tight across the widest spans. A built-in shock absorption system means visitors taken in by the screen’s unobtrusiveness damage only their pride! Should a strong wind gust cause the mesh to blow out of the top or bottom channels the screen is designed to self-feed back onto the roll as it is rolled away.

In developing the Door Screen systems, Centor’s designers have catered for anything that modern life might throw at these sturdy products. Manufactured entirely in stainless steel, brass and reinforced engineering polymers the systems have undergone cyclic testing to 50,000 operations in a laboratory and been extensively exposed to dust, mud, sand and corrosive atmosphere.

The systems have also stood up to impact testing with a 17kg punching bag 100 times, wind testing to 20kph and considerable  pushing, poking and prodding to simulate real life usage. Centor’s usual ten year warranty against manufacturing defects applies to all Door Screen components. PetScreen Lite, the tough PVC-coated polyester mesh chosen for the screen systems, is hardwearing and resistant to damage from pets. The mesh is easy to clean and can be replaced.

Currently there is no Australian Standard specifically for external bi-fold doors, however Australian Standard AS 2047-1999 Windows in Buildings – Selection and Installation specifies materials and performance requirements for external windows and doors. The wind load, weather and operational performance specified for other types of external windows and doors could reasonably be expected to apply to an external folding door system used in the same application. Centor recommends that all users obtain a copy of AS 2047 and AS 4420 from Standards Australia.

Centor has tested an ES2 Door Screen folding door system to the applicable requirements of AS 2047-1999 in a NATA certified testing facility (Test No. AZT0100) and obtained the results shown in the table above.

This performance data is an indication of the ratings that can be achieved with appropriate door design and manufacture. Centor does not manufacture complete door systems but supplies both the folding hardware and outer frame incorporating ES2 to door manufacturers for assembly and construction. The Centor technical department can assist manufacturers in the design and testing process for doors incorporating Centor Door Screen systems to ensure the required performance criteria for a complete assembled folding door system meets similar standards.