Fact Sheets

Concrete Elephant Door

1. Concrete doors have not changed since they were first designed by Paul Hilseth in the 1940’s. At the time concrete was a logical source material.
2. The typical concrete elephant door weighs approximately 40,000lbs and rides on a solid steel bottom rail.
3. Concrete doors must be made at the jobsite. This requires a casting slab approximately 20’ x20’. Each concrete door takes 1-2 weeks to set up AFTER THE POUR.
4. All the metal parts are machined and sourced from various shops and delivered to the site.
5. When the concrete door bottom rail wares or deflects the 40,000lb door can’t be moved – even by a forklift. Eventually they all deflect especially in earthquake country. The replacement cost of the average bottom rail runs about $75,000.00  to $100,000.00 (with bottom rollers) and takes approximately a month to complete, leaving the studio without a sound door.
6. There is no local service for concrete doors.
7. The in place acoustical test on concrete doors is in the 40 STC range.

2EC8B1U19 Elephant Door:

1. 2EC8B1U19 weighs approximately 8.5’ per square foot AND is top supported.
2. Door is locally manufactured.
3. Door arrives at jobsite in panels, ready to be pinned together in the field. No slab required.
4. Install is approximately 3-5 business days per opening.
5. Door comes with emergency release so it can be manually opened when necessary during power outage and emergencies.
6. Since no bottom rail is required for the 2EC8B1U19 there is no concern of future cost to replace or down time for the stage.
7. Specialty Doors + Automation, Inc. offers 24/7 repair and maintenance service.
8. 2EC8B1U19 is place tested up to 55 STC.
9. Customers who have purchased multiple 2EC8B1U19 are, Warner Bros, Paramount, NBC/Universal, Sony, Nokia, Disney, Prospect Studios, Gower Studios, Quixote and Fullerton College to name a few. A site visit can be arranged.