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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Location
    Oberon, NSW
    Age
    64
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    0

    Default Source for bidirectional door hinges?

    My ol' man had a severe stroke several years ago and part of the conditions of his release was making the family home wheel-chair friendly. This included rehanging the dunny door to open outwards... so if he fell off the loo we could still open the door and help him.

    Now, it's been like that for a few years but it's a right PITA. I'm hoping to source some bidirectional or "Z" hinges, which are basically two ordinary hinges joined together by one leaf, so the door will open either way and still sit flush in the jamb.

    I've seen 'em on a restaurant, but they've no idea who installed 'em let alone where to buy 'em. Anyone else know? Or at least know the correct name so I can do a google without wasting another arvo?
    I may be weird, but I'm saving up to become eccentric.

    - Andy Mc

  2. #2
    Join Date
    May 2003
    Location
    Kuranda, paradise, North Qld
    Age
    63
    Posts
    2,026

    Default

    Skew,
    I've looked into this for a few jobs, there's 2 hinges back to back like you metion, they're spring loaded and are known (around here anyway) as bomber hinges. I don't think they'd really be suitable for a dunny door. Because of their action you need a larger than usual gap around the door and you can't fit stops, so it might get a bit stinky as a dunny door. If you do go for bomber hinges get good ones and make them larger than you'd normally use, otherwise the spring in the top hinge tends to sag very quickly leading to the door jamming against the jamb. (DAMHIK )

    The other alternative for a bidirectional door would be pivots mounted in the head and sill. These are expensive and also a pain to fit (and not easy to get a hold of in Cairns, you might have better luck down there with a mob that specialises in commercial fitout type hardware)

    I would go with lift off hinges. In Qld they are mandatory on all domestic toilets. Door opens inwards as usual but there is a deeper than usual head stop that covers a larger than normal gap between the door and the head. Person has a heart attack, you unlock door from outside, lift door up off its hinges and skew it out the opening. Cheap, simple, easy to fit and complies with the BCA (AFAIK)

    Mick
    "If you need a machine today and don't buy it,

    tomorrow you will have paid for it and not have it."

    - Henry Ford 1938

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Nov 2004
    Location
    Port Pirie SA
    Age
    52
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    0

    Default

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  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Location
    Oberon, NSW
    Age
    64
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    Default

    Thanks Mick. You've given me something to chew over.

    I hadn't given much thought to the weight of the door; being an old house it's solid timber and has a frosted glass top panel. It's heavy. I'd say that's enough to rule out the bomber hinges... and I was hoping to avoid lift offs for the same reason. Don't want to "rescue" the ol' man only to drop the door on top of him.

    I think I know what you mean by the top'n'bottom pivots. Something like I use for bifold doors but a bit more heavy duty. Well... way more, actually. I use cheapies in my bifolds 'cos the customers want expensive looks without paying for it.

    Harry: Thanks for the URL, mate. But as you can tell I'm having second thoughts.
    I may be weird, but I'm saving up to become eccentric.

    - Andy Mc

  5. #5
    Join Date
    May 2003
    Location
    Kuranda, paradise, North Qld
    Age
    63
    Posts
    2,026

    Default

    Skew,
    double action hinges, like Harry posted, that's them, bomber hinges. I've got the name somewhere for a floor pivot that's spring loaded - somewhere amongst all the paperwork of past quotes, if I come across it I'll post it. Have a look at toilet doors in a newish hospital if you can. They've got pivots and have a small springloaded stop block near the striker plate. In normal use the door opens in and when closed butts into this little stop. In an emergency you unlock the door and push the stop into the jamb so that you can open the door outwards. You'll need some sort of removeable stop otherwise it'll be a real pain to actually close and latch the door.

    Mick

    PS, know any mainteance chippies at a hospital? You might need to pay a visit with 6 pack in hand
    "If you need a machine today and don't buy it,

    tomorrow you will have paid for it and not have it."

    - Henry Ford 1938

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Location
    Oberon, NSW
    Age
    64
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    0

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by journeyman Mick
    PS, know any mainteance chippies at a hospital? You might need to pay a visit with 6 pack in hand
    Hmmm... my li'l bro was a male orderly at the local hossie until recently. Got a couple of security cameras from him not long ago, should be able to wangle a whole dunny door.

    BTW, the cameras were headed for a skip... along with a lot of 'puta HW being upgraded.
    I may be weird, but I'm saving up to become eccentric.

    - Andy Mc

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Mar 2004
    Location
    Melbourne
    Age
    58
    Posts
    86

    Default

    There is a place in North melbourne near the lost dogs home that specialises in door furniture, i cant remember there name but if you are heading past nth melb oval then the mitre 10 take the next left turn and they are about 100m down on the left

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