Sliding double doors should be ordered with a clear panel schedule that identifies what moves, where it parks and how the supplier describes its handing. Two visible panels may form different arrangements, including a moving and fixed combination or two moving leaves. Do not use the word double as the complete specification.
The order should connect the room plan, viewing direction and manufacturer references. This is particularly useful when doors are supplied for several openings or when replacement components are being discussed.
Before approval: label each leaf, state the viewing side and confirm the actual product codes. Keep those labels consistent across the quotation, drawings and delivery documents.
Identify each panel before using left and right
Start with a labelled drawing of the opening. Identify the room or exterior side from which it is viewed, then mark the moving and fixed leaves. Add the direction of travel and the fully open positions.
A drawing label such as Panel A is a project reference, not automatically a manufacturer part number. The supplier should connect the project labels to its own terminology and components.
| Schedule field | What to record |
|---|---|
| Opening reference | A unique reference used in every document |
| Viewing direction | The stated side used to describe the drawing |
| Panel identity | Which leaves move and which remain fixed |
| Travel | Opening direction and parked position |
| Supplier reference | The confirmed system, handing and component codes |
For example, an illustrative schedule could call the left visible leaf A and the right visible leaf B in a room-side view. Those labels do not establish the handing codes for any particular product.
Confirm the manufacturer convention for sliding double doors
Different product systems can use different conventions for describing handing and component identity. Ask the supplier to confirm its convention on the drawing rather than assuming that left-hand means the same thing in every catalogue.
Andersen provides specific handing guidance for its A-Series gliding patio-door units and parts. This illustrates why the unit and its individual components need to be identified through the relevant manufacturer's documentation.
Check the required viewing direction whenever information is transferred between an architect's drawing, an order form and a parts enquiry. A mirrored interpretation can produce a correct-looking label attached to the wrong arrangement.
If the original system is unknown, state that uncertainty and provide photographs and paperwork. Do not assign a likely model or handing simply because another door looks similar.
Keep the paired hardware configuration explicit
Two moving leaves may operate independently or use a supported linking function. Identify which behaviour is included, and keep any closing or locking options separate in the schedule.
dormakaba describes one- and two-leaf arrangements and a synchro option within MUTO. Those options belong to the specified system. Two leaves should not be assumed synchronised because they share a track cover.
For a pocket arrangement, Johnson Hardware identifies a converging kit for compatible pocket-frame families. The relevant components and interfaces should be recorded rather than treating a pair of single frames as a complete approved assembly.
Confirm handles and meeting details on both leaves. A change on one panel can affect clearance or locking at the other, so review the pair together.
Distinguish opening, leaf and glazing dimensions
Label the measurement basis clearly. Overall frame dimensions, leaf dimensions, glass sizes and usable passage describe different parts of the order. Do not substitute one for another without the supplier's method.
Show the clear passage in the everyday mode and in the fully open arrangement. That makes the schedule useful for furniture access and ordinary circulation, not just manufacturing.
Record which dimensions are final and who approved them. If floor finishes or opening preparation remain incomplete, identify the necessary final measurement stage before production.
When glass or fittings change, coordinate the revised preparation and product evidence. A dimensionally similar substitute should not automatically inherit compatibility or performance documentation.
Use the schedule at delivery and handover
Ask for panel labels that correspond to the approved opening and leaf references. For multiple units, keep the packing identification and drawings together so the installer can connect each component with the correct location.
- Confirm the opening and viewing side.
- Identify fixed and moving leaves.
- Match project labels to supplier handing and part references.
- Approve paired hardware, glass and dimensions together.
- Retain the final schedule and operating instructions.
Review Forge sliding door configurations and the interior PT Door example when discussing the proposed arrangement. Send Forge the labelled opening schedule to confirm the actual system and order references.
Sliding double doors are easier to procure when the order is unambiguous at panel level. A shared schedule reduces reliance on assumptions about left, right and what the word double includes.
Questions buyers ask
Does double always mean both panels slide?
No. Confirm which leaves move and which remain fixed in the proposed system. A two-panel appearance is not a complete description of operation.
Is left-hand the same designation for every supplier?
Do not assume that it is. Use the manufacturer’s convention and a drawing with an explicit viewing direction. Keep project labels separate from confirmed product or part codes.
What should be labelled on delivery?
Use the agreed opening and panel references, connected to the supplier’s product identification. Keep the approved schedule, packing labels and drawings together for installation and future service.
Prepared for Forge Windows and Doors (FoShan) Co., Ltd. Sources checked . Catalogue photographs and planning illustrations do not establish the performance of a supplied product.
