How to Choose the Right Heavy Duty Hinge
May 2022
Heavy duty hinges are essential to most building projects. Whether it’s for an industrial, commercial or residential project, heavy duty hinges can also be used for various applications, including windows, gates and storage containers that require extra support. They’re designed to take the weight and support heavy doors, gates and lids.
In this blog, we explore different types of heavy duty hinges and show you how to choose the right heavy duty hinge for your application.
Different Types of Heavy Duty Hinges
Choosing the right type of heavy duty hinge will provide great performance and ensure that your application delivers consistent, reliable and long term performance. Depending on the type of hinge, design and materials used, ensure you find the right hinge that’s most suited to your application for best results.
Heavy Duty Continuous Hinges
Heavy duty continuous hinges, also known as piano hinges, can run the full length of the door and use ball bearings to reduce friction to ensure the smooth operation of a heavy, solid door.
Heavy Duty Concealed Hinges
Heavy duty concealed hinges cannot be seen when the door is closed and create a seamless appearance. With no protruding hinges, they cannot be tampered with, offering additional security benefits.
Heavy Duty Modular Hinges
Heavy duty modular hinges are stainless and mild steel hinges in 3mm to 5mm leaf thickness. The hinges can be custom configured to be either fixed or removable pin hinges and includes 4 knuckle butt hinge and lift-off flat style hinges.
How to Choose Heavy Duty Hinges for Your Application
Using the wrong type of door hinge can cause unreliability, and can be a safety hazard, especially within high traffic, commercial environments. If a door is heavy and/or is used often, the hinge will need to be up to meet that demand to maximise a door’s function and the safety of those using it.
High Traffic Commercial Environments
Heavy duty hinges are designed to connect and stabilise multiple heavy objects. They are ideal for commercial environments where there’s regular traffic throughout the day.
Offices
Workplace environments can often experience a high volume of traffic and require a heavy duty hinge that can support a door’s frequent use whilst continuing to deliver a smoother opening and closing action.
Retail – retail stores, shopping centres, shops
Retail environments experience an exceptionally high traffic volume through their doors each day. Shopping centres require reliable heavy duty hinges that can support heavy door weight, and provide a smooth opening and closing action. Heavy duty hinges are designed for exceptional endurance and durability and wear a lot less than most other hinges.
Industrial – warehouses, factories
Warehouses and factories often have heavy duty stainless steel doors where there is machinery, corrosive materials and processing equipment. Heavy duty hinges are ideal for exceptionally heavy entryways or those that require limited access or additional fortification and security.
Leisure – hotels, pubs, restaurants, cafes, sports facilities
Most leisure facilities experience daily foot traffic. Therefore, they require heavy duty hinges to withstand near-constant opening and closing to enable customers and staff to enter/leave the facilities safely and without interruption.
Healthcare – medical centres, hospitals, nursing homes
Heavy duty hinges offer a robust and safe solution for healthcare and medical settings that experience a high volume of foot traffic. Heavy duty hinges, such as heavy duty continuous hinges, also have fewer sharp edges, reducing the risk of injury to patients, visitors, and staff.
Domestic Environments
Residential environments that experience regular or high volume traffic may require a heavy duty hinge to ensure continuous smooth opening and closing.
Architectural hinges, including lift-off hinges, butt hinges and architectural continuous hinges, are also particularly good options for fire-proof doors in commercial or rented properties to ensure the utmost levels of safety and security.
Heavy Duty Hinges for Gates
Heavy duty hinges are essential for gates as they are strong enough to support the weight of a heavy gate and durable to rough weather conditions and corrosion, whether it’s a heavy metal frame gate, a residential gate or a large bi-folding gate on an industrial unit. Heavy duty hinges connect the gate to a post while supporting its weight and providing smooth opening and closing.
Heavy Duty Hinges Materials and Finishes
Most heavy duty hinges are made with stainless steel for exterior use or thicker steel for interior applications. These hinges are designed to make opening and closing a heavy door a much smoother operation than smaller, lighter duty hinges.
- Aluminium is an incredibly versatile metal that’s lightweight, hardwearing and resistant to corrosion.
- A stainless steel heavy duty hinge’s hardwearing and corrosive resistant properties make it ideal for external or weather-exposed installations.
- The strong, hardwearing and corrosive resistant properties of a mild steel heavy duty hinge make it a great solution for a solid internal door.
Heavy duty hinges from Cooke Brothers come in a range of finishes to suit your project, including brass, chrome, bronze, zinc, satin anodised, gold anodised and brushed nickel.
Buy Heavy Duty Hinges Online at Cooke Brothers
At Cooke Brothers, you’ll find an extensive range of high quality, heavy duty hinges. Many of which are maintenance-free and offer increased durability without compromising on appearance.
Order your heavy duty hinges online now and choose from our same day, next-day, or 48-hour delivery. If you need advice on which heavy duty hinge is best for your next project, or you need to use our custom hinge manufacturing services, then get in touch with our team today.
