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David G. Axt, CCS, CSI ,SCIP
Senior Member
Username: david_axt

Post Number: 1871
Registered: 03-2002


Posted on Thursday, April 22, 2021 - 07:18 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

I am looking for a large (10' wide by 14' tall) sliding (or overhead) door for the back of the stage. This door will be used to move props and sets from the workshop to the stage. The tricky part is the door must be 1 hour rated and STC of 56. The architect wants to avoid using swing doors.

Any ideas would be appreciated.
David G. Axt, CCS, CSI, SCIP
Specifications Consultant
Axt Consulting LLC
George A. Everding, FCSI, CCS, CCCA, AIA
Senior Member
Username: geverding

Post Number: 922
Registered: 11-2004


Posted on Thursday, April 22, 2021 - 07:40 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

The other tricky part is sound ratings. Often the backstage is noisy.
David G. Axt, CCS, CSI ,SCIP
Senior Member
Username: david_axt

Post Number: 1872
Registered: 03-2002


Posted on Thursday, April 22, 2021 - 07:54 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

George,
I agree. The STC 56 is really high. We did find a sliding stage door that you would see on the backlot of Hollywood sound stage, but it was $125K!
David G. Axt, CCS, CSI, SCIP
Specifications Consultant
Axt Consulting LLC
Michael Chusid, RA FCSI CCS
Senior Member
Username: michael_chusid

Post Number: 602
Registered: 10-2003


Posted on Thursday, April 22, 2021 - 08:07 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

This used to be the standard industrial, horizontal sliding fire rated door.

I bet a NAAMM member can make this. Try contacting the organizations staff for referrals.

Perhaps the solution is to use two doors. One for fire and one for noise.
Michael Chusid, RA FCSI CCS 1-818-219-4937
www.chusid.com www.buildingproduct.guru
Ronald J. Ray, RA, CCS, CCCA, CSI, SCIP, AIA
Senior Member
Username: rjray

Post Number: 203
Registered: 04-2004
Posted on Thursday, April 22, 2021 - 08:18 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Hi David.

Many years ago, I specified Cornell Iron Works Thermiser Insulated Rolling Service Door for exterior acoustical doors at a stage.
I don’t recall if the doors had an STC rating, but the doors were recommended by the theatrical/acoustical consultant on the project.

You may want to contact Cornell/Cookson.
Nathan Woods, CSI, CCCA, LEED AP
Senior Member
Username: nwoods

Post Number: 843
Registered: 08-2005


Posted on Thursday, April 22, 2021 - 08:49 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

McKeon has a rated acoustic roll-up door. Their website says it provides STC-34 and is the "highest rating in the industry" in addition to being up to 4 hour fire rated.

https://www.mckeondoor.com/product/auto-set-model-fsfd-stc/
Nathan Woods, CSI, CCCA, LEED AP
Senior Member
Username: nwoods

Post Number: 844
Registered: 08-2005


Posted on Thursday, April 22, 2021 - 08:50 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Krieger does offer a sliding acoustic door, and they specialize in special construction doors, you might give them a try: https://www.kriegerproducts.com/acoustical/models/
David G. Axt, CCS, CSI ,SCIP
Senior Member
Username: david_axt

Post Number: 1873
Registered: 03-2002


Posted on Friday, April 23, 2021 - 01:20 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Thanks Nathan. I will check out the McKeon door you indicated. The architect with check with the acoustical engineer to see if we can use the STC rating of that door.

Here is a link to the previous product CDL (Clark Door Limited):
https://www.cdldoors.com/soundproof-horizontal-sliding-door/
David G. Axt, CCS, CSI, SCIP
Specifications Consultant
Axt Consulting LLC
John Bunzick
Senior Member
Username: bunzick

Post Number: 1843
Registered: 03-2002
Posted on Friday, April 23, 2021 - 02:10 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

I did a few projects with back stage doors, but the door was nowhere near that tall. I've included sound control doors on many projects, and I don't think you're going to get very close to these requirements at all. "Conventional" swinging sound control doors with acoustic seals only get up to the low STC 50s range. Going from STC 50 to 56 is actually a very large increase from a practical perspective. In any case, I don't think you will find swinging doors that large that have been tested (and would likely work very well at that size) - even if the client was okay with swinging doors.

Two reasonably high performing roll-up doors, one on each side of the partition, would not get you there either, given that STC ratings cannot be added together because the rating is logarithmic. I forget the math, but two back-to-back STC 35 doors are probably not going to get you beyond something in the STC 40s range.

So, my humble opinion is that this can't be done for a reasonable cost. I suspect that the acoustician has over-asked on this. I don't know the project type, but would be curious why so much noise is generated in the adjacent space that such a high STC is needed. Projects that I was involved with worked hard on the space programming to avoid that scenario. Also, what about the partition? A fully grouted single wythe 10" CMU wall would have only a somewhat higher STC rating.

Also, that size opening for sets is seems big to me. Perhaps that's normal in a full professional theater, but it's four feet higher than the high-end high schools that I've worked on that had pretty impressive theater programs.

Oh, and properly installing such a door to meet this rating, and keeping it that way over time, is going to be very challenging.
Steven Bruneel, AIA, CSI-CDT, LEED-AP, EDAC
Senior Member
Username: redseca2

Post Number: 696
Registered: 12-2006


Posted on Friday, April 23, 2021 - 04:11 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

I would also consider Michael's suggestion, two doors. A completely standard fire-rated coiling door that would be used day to day to separate the spaces, and a separate, completely standard acoustical partition that is only deployed when the STC rating is mandatory. They could each be installed to the face of wall, one on the stage side and one on the workshop side.
Ed Storer
Senior Member
Username: ed_storer

Post Number: 88
Registered: 05-2009
Posted on Friday, April 23, 2021 - 09:00 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

David,

Have you inquired with the owner's stage/acoustical consultant about a recommendation for this? They probably know of one that costs about $125K - and the Owner may buy it. That way, it's not your problem.

I think a better approach would be an operable panel partition. This should not be a door subject to frequent operation, and it's easy to get 50+ SCT out of an operable panel partition.

You can probably get suitable performance out of a pair of overhead coiling doors, but it would be something of a "kluge" with twice the maintenance.

If the stage/acoustical consultant is "blowing smoke" by requesting unreasonable criteria, put it back on the consultant to name the product and don't bother trying to "value engineer" it yourself. Specify the recommended product, but make sure you have it in writing.
Ed Storer, CSI Member Emeritus
Phil Kabza
Senior Member
Username: phil_kabza

Post Number: 686
Registered: 12-2002


Posted on Saturday, April 24, 2021 - 02:18 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

I would think the STC is being directed at exterior sound finding its way into and interfering with a performance - more so than for the purpose of sound leakage from backstage into surrounding corridors. In that case, good house management could control what is taking place outside of the backstage area and result in a more achievable sound rating.
Phil Kabza FCSI CCS AIA
SpecGuy Specifications Consultants
www.SpecGuy.com
phil@specguy.com
Phil Babinec
Advanced Member
Username: phil_babinec

Post Number: 5
Registered: 07-2011
Posted on Tuesday, April 27, 2021 - 11:51 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Similar to as discussed - at Cincinnati Shakespeare we provided a 15'-0" W by 22'-6"H a custom acoustic barn door with separate fire rateed coiling door. Opening was 12'-0" W by 21'-0" H. We had a 18-inch custom "seal". Details were developed with Acoustic Engineer. Hindsite we would have motorized it or made it 2 doors with an acoustic seal.

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