Elephant Doors Install and Repair
Large acoustical sliding doors are sometime called "Stage Doors" or "Elephant Doors". These are used when a swinging hinged door is not practical because of its size, but the sound needs to be controlled. We have sold these systems all over the world and continue to do regular quoting. The vast majority are electrically operated due to their size. The most common sizes run around 18' x20' or higher.
We have the capability to create any size you need for your project!
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Elephant Door Acoustical Test Video
Elephant Door Frequently Asked Questions
Can Elephant Doors be installed in existing buildings?
What are the cost considerations for Elephant Doors?
Can Elephant Doors be customized to fit specific requirements?
Are Elephant Doors weatherproof?
Are Elephant Doors safe to use?
Are there any safety features in place to prevent accidents with Elephant Doors?
Sliding acoustical doors or "Elephant Doors" are a great option for people that want the benefits that come from acoustical doors but need a sliding implementation in order for the doors to work with their space.
The good news is that there are some great options for customizing sliding acoustical doors, which makes it easy to implement them into your facility. For larger openings we proved electric operators and necessary controls.
Our customers include:
- Disney Studios
- Sunset Studios (Sunset Bronson, Sunset Gower, Sunset Las Palmas)
- Boeing Aircraft
- Northrop
- Culver Studios
- Cal State University
- Nokia Theatre
- Paramount Studios
- Kennedy King University
- Schools
- Hospitals
What Is an Elephant Door?
An Elephant Door is an oversized sliding door system designed for very large architectural openings. Unlike a standard commercial sliding door, an Elephant Door may measure 18 feet by 20 feet or considerably larger. Systems can be engineered for openings reaching 30 to 40 feet high when a project demands an unusually large entrance.
The primary advantage of the sliding configuration is that it eliminates the enormous swing radius that would be required by a comparably sized hinged door. This makes Elephant Doors particularly useful for sound stages and commercial buildings where maximizing usable interior space is important.
When acoustical performance is required, the door system is engineered to help reduce sound transmission between spaces. This makes the design especially well suited for facilities where controlling noise is a critical part of building operation.
Acoustical Elephant Doors for Sound Stages
Sound isolation is one of the most important considerations when designing doors for movie, television, recording, and entertainment facilities. A large opening can become a significant weak point in an acoustically controlled structure if the door assembly is not properly designed.
Our Elephant Door systems are engineered with acoustical performance in mind. Depending on the specific system and project requirements, our acoustical door assemblies can achieve approximately STC 53 performance.
For production facilities, this level of sound control can help isolate a sound stage from surrounding activity. Exterior traffic, nearby production work, equipment, and other sources of noise can interfere with filming and recording, making properly engineered acoustical doors an important part of the facility.
Custom Elephant Doors for Large Openings
No two oversized openings are exactly alike. That is why Elephant Doors should be engineered around the requirements of the individual project rather than treated as an off-the-shelf commercial door.
Factors that may influence the design include:
Opening width and height
Required acoustical performance
Building structure
Interior or exterior installation
Door panel configuration
Available sliding space
Manual or electric operation
Safety requirements
Access controls
Weather exposure
Architectural requirements
Door panels can be shipped in manageable sections to simplify transportation, handling, and installation at the project site.
Electrically Operated Elephant Doors
Because Elephant Doors can be extremely large, many installations utilize electric door operators. An appropriately engineered operator makes it possible to move an oversized door safely and efficiently without relying on excessive manual force.
Our systems integrate the operator with the door panels so that the components work together as a complete door system. The electric operator can drive a roller chain concealed within the track, avoiding an exposed chain or cable.
Controls can also be customized according to the facility. Options may include constant-pressure key switches, relays, safety edges, and other controls required for a particular installation.
Where appropriate, systems can also be designed so the door can be manually operated in the event of a power failure.
Elephant Doors for Movie and Television Studios
Elephant Doors have a long history in the entertainment industry because sound stages present a unique challenge. A production facility may need an opening large enough for vehicles, equipment, scenery, sets, and production materials while still maintaining the acoustic integrity of the stage.
Our Southern California location has given us extensive experience supplying large acoustical sliding doors to the entertainment industry. Elephant Door systems have been provided for major production facilities and studios, helping solve the unusual architectural and acoustical challenges associated with large sound-stage openings.
The same engineering principles can also be applied to other industries requiring oversized doors and sound control.
Applications Beyond Sound Stages
Although the term "Elephant Door" is strongly associated with movie studios, these large sliding door systems have many potential commercial and institutional applications.
They may be appropriate for aerospace facilities, manufacturing plants, theaters, performance venues, universities, schools, hospitals, warehouses, research facilities, and specialized industrial buildings.
Elephant Doors can also be designed with curved or radius sliding hardware when conventional straight-track configurations do not meet the architectural requirements of the building.
Elephant Door Installation, Repair, and Service
A large acoustical sliding door is a complete engineered system involving the door panels, track, operator, controls, safety components, seals, and supporting structure. Proper installation is therefore critical to long-term operation.
Existing facilities may also be candidates for an Elephant Door retrofit. Retrofitting requires careful evaluation of the opening, surrounding structure, available space, electrical requirements, and desired acoustic performance.
Ongoing inspections and maintenance can help identify worn components and operational issues before they result in more significant door problems.
Request a Quote for a Custom Elephant Door
If your facility requires an oversized acoustical sliding door, Specialty Doors can help develop an Elephant Door system around your project's requirements. From sound stages and entertainment facilities to aerospace, industrial, educational, and institutional buildings, we specialize in challenging large-door applications.
Whether your project requires an 18-foot opening, a 30- or 40-foot-high door, electric operation, specialized controls, acoustical performance, or a completely custom configuration, contact us to discuss your specifications.
Request a quote for your Elephant Door project today and let our team help design, furnish, install, or repair a large sliding door system built for your facility.
Elephant Door Trending
Sound stage doors have long been an important component in the enterainment industry, serving as versatile spaces where producers, filmmakers, and artists bring creative visions to life. While most of the focus is on the equipment and technology in these studios, an important element that is often unnoticed are elephant doors.
In the magnificent world of movies and television, where shows come to life, you'll find yourself on a sound stage. These large scale production areas are where all the behind the scenes magic hapens with skilled artists and professionals working to bring stories to the screen. Behind the scenese, there is an important feature of these sound stage rooms that ofte go unnoticed, the sound stage door, also referred to as an "elephant door".
Understanding STC Ratings for Elephant Doors
When choosing a specialty door for an environment where noise control matters, STC (Sound Transmission Class) is an important specification to understand. STC is a rating system used to describe how effectively a building component, such as a wall, window, or door assembly, reduces airborne sound transmission.
In general, a higher STC rating indicates greater resistance to sound passing through the assembly. This can be especially important for recording studios, theaters, conference rooms, offices, industrial facilities, mechanical rooms, schools, healthcare environments, and other spaces where controlling unwanted noise is a priority.
Elephant Doors can be incorporated into projects where acoustic performance is an important design consideration. The actual sound isolation achieved depends on the complete door assembly, including the door construction, frame, seals, hardware, installation, and surrounding wall system. Even a high-performing acoustic door can lose effectiveness when gaps around the perimeter allow sound to travel through.
When specifying an Elephant Door for an acoustically sensitive project, architects, contractors, and facility managers should consider the required STC performance along with opening size, access requirements, durability, and operating conditions.
Selecting the appropriate door system helps create an opening that provides convenient access while supporting the overall acoustic goals of the building or room.
Other Industries that Utilize Elephant Doors
Performing Arts Theaters & Live Entertainment Venues
Theaters, concert halls, performing arts centers, and live entertainment venues can benefit from Elephant Doors when they need to move oversized scenery, stage equipment, lighting systems, props, and production materials between backstage areas and performance spaces. Large acoustic doors can also help separate noisy production areas from auditoriums, rehearsal rooms, and other sound-sensitive spaces. For venues where acoustical performance matters, doors with an appropriate STC rating can help reduce sound transmission while still providing the unusually large openings required for production operations.
Aerospace and Aircraft Manufacturing Facilities
Aerospace manufacturers, aircraft maintenance facilities, and specialized industrial hangars frequently need extremely large door openings for moving aircraft components, tooling, machinery, and other oversized equipment. Elephant Doors can provide a practical solution where conventional commercial doors simply aren't large enough. When facilities also require acoustic separation between manufacturing, testing, assembly, and office areas, large specialty doors can combine accessibility with sound-control capabilities.
Industrial Manufacturing and Testing Facilities
Heavy manufacturing plants, research facilities, automotive testing centers, and equipment manufacturers often operate machinery that produces significant noise while also requiring large openings for forklifts, cranes, vehicles, and oversized products. Elephant Doors can help create separation between production or testing areas and quieter portions of a facility without sacrificing access. High-STC door systems can be particularly useful for facilities performing engine testing, equipment testing, product development, fabrication, or other high-noise operations where controlling sound transmission is important.