When choosing an elevator for a construction project, deciding between elevator door types is an important factor that affects both aesthetics and efficiency. The two popular elevator door types today are center-opening doors and single-sided sliding doors, each with its own advantages and applications, suitable for different requirements of each project. In this article, we will compare center-opening elevators and single-sided sliding elevators in detail, helping you better understand the differences, advantages and disadvantages of each type of door and choose the optimal solution for your project.

ELEVATOR WITH CENTER-OPENING DOOR (CO)

What is a center-opening (CO) elevator?

Center Opening Elevator (CO) is a type of elevator designed with a special door opening and closing mechanism, in which the elevator door will open from the center and separate to both sides evenly. This is one of the most modern and popular elevator door types today, thanks to its convenience, aesthetics and ability to optimize space.

This type of door works by using a motor and a transmission system to control two sliding doors at the same time, ensuring that opening and closing is quick, smooth and safe. With a center-opening design, CO doors are often highly appreciated in buildings that require high traffic such as shopping malls, office buildings or hotels, because it allows users to move in and out more easily and quickly.

In addition to its high aesthetic value and modern design, the center-opening door is also designed to save space and ensure maximum safety thanks to anti-jamming sensors. This not only enhances the user experience but also increases safety and efficiency in operation.

However, this type of door comes with a notable drawback, which is that the elevator shaft area must be large enough to accommodate the wide opening. This means that this type of elevator is generally not suitable for renovation or new construction projects with limited elevator shaft space.

SEE MORE PRODUCTS:

Structure of elevator with center-opening door (CO)

Center Opening (CO) elevators consist of key components designed to ensure smooth, safe and aesthetically pleasing operation. The basic components are as follows:

Elevator door

Elevator doors are one of the important parts that ensure safety and convenience during elevator use. This is the component that directly performs the task of closing and opening from the center, sliding smoothly and precisely to both sides. Normally, doors are made from durable and high-quality materials such as stainless steel, tempered glass or aluminum alloy. These materials not only ensure good load-bearing capacity but also provide outstanding durability, helping the door maintain stability throughout a long period of use. In addition, the design of the door is also focused on meeting aesthetic requirements, suitable for many architectural spaces from homes, offices, to shopping centers. The use of high-quality materials also helps the door resist environmental impacts, minimize wear or damage, and ensure optimal performance for the elevator system.

Door Operator

As one of the core components responsible for providing power to operate the entire elevator door system. This part ensures that the door can perform smooth, quiet opening and closing operations, while maintaining high precision in each movement. Thanks to its optimal design and advanced technology, the door control motor operates effectively without causing loud noise, creating a quiet, comfortable environment for elevator users . In addition, this motor system is also integrated with smart features such as flexible speed adjustment, suitable for all operating situations, from slow opening and closing in safe conditions to faster operations when performance is needed. With an indispensable role in maintaining the efficiency of the elevator, the door control motor is made from high-quality materials, helping to prolong its life and minimize maintenance costs throughout its use.

Transmission system

The elevator drive system is an important mechanical structure, consisting of gears, belts, and sliders, which connects the motor to the door to ensure smooth and efficient operation. This system helps the movement of the two doors to always be even and synchronized, creating harmony during the opening and closing process. The gears and belts are precisely designed to transmit force from the motor to the door smoothly, while the sliders play a supporting role, helping the door move stably on a predetermined trajectory. Thanks to the smooth coordination of these parts, the drive system not only ensures high performance but also helps to minimize noise and vibration during operation. With a durable design and long-term working ability, the drive system is a key factor, contributing to the overall stability and safety of the elevator.

SEE MORE PRODUCTS:

Guide Rails

Guide rails are installed in parallel on both sides of the door. This part has the function of orienting the movement of the door, helping them slide along the rail accurately and synchronously. Guide rails are usually made from high-quality materials such as stainless steel or aluminum alloy to ensure durability and long-term bearing capacity. Thanks to their sturdy design and meticulous machining, guide rails help maintain stable operation of the door, minimizing vibration or deviation during operation. This not only increases the life of the door system but also ensures safety and provides a smooth, convenient user experience.

Sensors

Sensors play a role in ensuring the safety of elevator users , especially during the opening and closing of the door. This is an indispensable component integrated into the door system, with the function of detecting and handling obstacles in time. When the sensor detects an obstacle, such as a hand, an object, or any object within the door's operating area, the system will immediately stop or reverse the movement of the door. This helps prevent the risk of collision or jamming, providing absolute safety during operation. Modern sensors are often designed with high sensitivity and stable operation, not only enhancing safety features but also contributing to a convenient and comfortable user experience.

Safety Lock

The safety lock plays a key role in ensuring stable operation and protecting elevator users. This is a device responsible for preventing the elevator door from opening when the cabin has not stopped at the correct position at the floor. This mechanism helps to minimize the risk of potential accidents, such as the door opening while the elevator is moving or not synchronized with the floor. The safety lock is designed with high precision, operating based on a mechanical or electronic mechanism to ensure that only when the cabin has reached the correct and safe position, the door can be opened. The integration of the lock not only enhances security but also brings a sense of security to users in all situations.

Door Frame

Plays the role of holding the door in place and accurately positioning it during operation. Installed firmly at the entrance, the door frame not only creates stability but also supports other parts in synchronous and efficient operation. Normally, the door frame is made from high-strength materials such as stainless steel, aluminum alloy or other good bearing materials. These properties help the door frame withstand mechanical pressure, temperature, humidity, as well as impacts from the surrounding environment. In addition, the meticulous design of the door frame also contributes to enhancing the aesthetics and suitability with the installation space, bringing harmony to the overall elevator system .

SEE MORE PRODUCTS:

Door Damper

Its function is to reduce the impact force when the door closes, contributing to protecting the components of the door and the elevator system. When the elevator door closes, the shock absorber acts as a shock absorber mechanism, helping to regulate and reduce the strong impact of the door on the door frame or other parts, thereby limiting wear and damage. In this way, the shock absorber helps increase the durability and lifespan of the elevator door, while ensuring the door closing process is smooth, quiet and safe. Made from durable and impact-resistant materials, the shock absorber not only helps reduce noise during operation but also plays an important role in maintaining the stability and efficiency of the elevator door system.

SINGLE-SIDE SLIDING DOOR ELEVATOR (SO)

What is a single side sliding door elevator (SO)?

Single-side sliding door elevators (SO) are elevators with doors designed to open by sliding to one side, instead of opening in or out like a conventional door. When the elevator is operating, the door will slide to one side, saving space and avoiding obstruction when the door opens. This mechanism is especially suitable for buildings with limited space, because the door does not take up additional space when opened. Single-side sliding door elevators (SO) are often used in small buildings or areas with limited space, where using conventional opening doors would be ineffective. With a simple design and space-saving features, this type of door is popular in high-rise buildings, hospitals, and buildings that require maximum convenience and space saving.

However, this type of elevator has the disadvantage that although it has a large area and can reduce the width of the elevator shaft, the length of the elevator shaft is added to the size of a door. The operation of the door is not as stable as the CO door and the implementation cost is higher than the CO door.

Structure of one-sided sliding door elevator (SO)

Similar to the center-opening door elevator, the single-sided sliding door elevator is also designed to integrate an efficient operating mechanism between the two doors, including the floor door and the cabin door. This door system operates through a door pulling motor combined with a transmission belt, creating a one-sided sliding motion. When the elevator stops at the floor, the floor stop signal will be transmitted to the control system, and the electric relay will automatically close the circuit, activating the motor. The motor will then pull the elevator door through the pulley system, helping to perform the opening or closing process accurately and smoothly. This process helps ensure flexible, stable and space-saving operation for the elevator, especially suitable for buildings with limited area. The use of a one-sided sliding door pulling mechanism not only brings aesthetics but also helps to reduce noise and increase the operating efficiency of the elevator.

COMPARISON OF ELEVATORS WITH SLIDING DOORS ON ONE SIDE (SO) AND ELEVATORS WITH DOORS OPENING FROM THE CENTER (CO)

Here is a summary between single side sliding door elevators and center opening door elevators:

SHOULD YOU CHOOSE A ONE-SIDE SLIDING DOOR (SO) OR A CENTRAL OPENING DOOR (CO) ELEVATOR?

Choosing between two types of elevator doors – center-opening doors and single-sided sliding doors – for your project is actually quite simple and easy. You just need to provide the parameters of the elevator shaft and specific conditions of use to be able to choose the most suitable door type. In projects such as office buildings, shopping centers, houses, villas or high-rise buildings, center-opening elevator doors are often the preferred choice. This type of door not only brings high aesthetics but also helps save space effectively, suitable for the requirements of use in office or residential environments. On the contrary, in areas such as warehouses, factories, processing zones or hospitals, single-sided sliding elevator doors are often preferred. The reason is that this type of door has the ability to open to the maximum, making it easier to transport bulky goods or support patients to move in and out of the elevator more conveniently.

To choose the most suitable elevator for your project, in addition to finding information through document sources, you should also consult with reputable and professional elevator units . These units will provide you with accurate consulting solutions, helping you choose the elevator that is suitable for the area of ​​the project, ensuring cost optimization and effectively solving problems arising during the construction and installation process. They will assist you in evaluating related factors such as load, number of floors, space requirements and other conditions of use, helping to ensure the elevator operates efficiently and safely.

SEE MORE PRODUCTS: