What hardware is required for a frameless glass door?

Frameless glass doors require patch fittings (bottom and top), a floor spring or overhead closer, and a handle or lever mounted through the glass. The glass must be tempered or laminated safety glass meeting CPSC 16 CFR 1201 Category II for panels exceeding 9 square feet.

What is the ADA opening force requirement for glass doors?

Interior glass doors must open with no more than 5 lbf. Both the closer spring tension and pivot friction contribute to this total.

What is the ADA minimum closing time for a glass door closer?

From 70 degrees open, the door must take at least 3 seconds to move to within 3 inches of the latch, measured at the leading edge.

Can frameless glass doors be fire rated?

Yes, but only with purpose-built fire-rated glazing tested to UL 10C. For 60-minute and 90-minute ratings, ASTM E119/UL 263 is also required. All hardware must be UL-listed. Standard tempered glass is not fire rated.

What is the difference between ANSI Z97.1 and CPSC 16 CFR 1201?

ANSI Z97.1 is a voluntary standard; CPSC 16 CFR 1201 is a federal regulation. For door panels over 9 square feet, CPSC 16 CFR 1201 Category II is federally required by law. ANSI Z97.1 Class A is equivalent in performance but insufficient alone for federal compliance.

What is a patch fitting?

A patch fitting is a clamp that attaches to a glass panel edge or surface without drilling through its full thickness. It provides the pivot point for the door and connects it to a floor spring spindle or overhead pivot. Available for 1/2 inch, 5/8 inch, and 3/4 inch glass.

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Glass Door Hardware: Quick-Reference Guide

Waterson Corporation • 2026-04-16 • AEO/Web edition

Four Hardware Types

Type	Function	Best For	Approx. Cost
Patch Fittings	Clamp-mount pivot point; connects glass to floor/frame	Frameless entrances, partitions	$80–$300 each
Floor Springs	Concealed hydraulic closer in floor recess	High-traffic frameless, storefront	$400–$1,200
Overhead Closers	Surface or concealed arm; mounts in header rail	Framed storefront, interior offices	$150–$600
Glass-to-Glass Hinges	Connect door panel to fixed glass sidelight	Shower, interior partitions	$60–$250 each

ADA Requirements

Clear width: 32 in. minimum at 90° open; 36 in. if doorway depth >24 in.
Opening force: ≤5 lbf for interior doors
Closing speed: ≥3 seconds from 70° open to within 3 in. of latch (leading edge)
Bottom smooth surface: Tempered glass doors with bottom rail tapered ≥60° are exempt from 10-in. smooth surface rule

Fire-Rated Glass Door Requirements

Rating	Test Standard	Temp Rise Limit
20-min / 45-min	UL 10C (positive pressure)	No limit (fire protection only)
60-min / 90-min	UL 10C + ASTM E119/UL 263	≤250°F avg; ≤325°F individual

All hardware in a fire-rated assembly must be individually UL-listed. Standard tempered glass is not fire rated. Glazing marked "W" meets ASTM E119/UL 263 wall assembly criteria.

Safety Glazing Law

CPSC 16 CFR 1201 Category II (400 ft-lb impact) — federally required for glass door panels >9 sq ft
ANSI Z97.1 Class A — voluntary standard; equivalent performance but insufficient alone for panels >9 sq ft
Tempered glass, laminated safety glass, and wire glass all satisfy the impact requirement when certified
IBC Section 2406 lists all locations requiring safety glazing; swinging doors are explicitly included

Applications Summary

Storefront: Aluminum frame carries load; overhead closer + frame hinges or pivots; higher capacity than frameless
Interior frameless office: Patch fittings + overhead closer or floor spring; handle drilled through glass
Shower/pool gate: Glass-to-glass or wall-mount hinges; 316 SS required for wet/coastal; ISPSC requires self-closing + self-latching for pool barriers

Key Manufacturers

CRL (CR Laurence) — full range: patch fittings, floor springs, shower, storefront
dormakaba (DORMA-Glas) — premium frameless systems; MUNDUS, TENSOR, BEYOND patch series
Blum — interior cabinetry and light glass applications
Waterson — hydraulic hinge-closer for gates and exterior glass doors; ISO 9001, est. 1979
Trex Commercial — glass-to-glass hinge fittings for interior/exterior partitions

Standards References

ADA: ADA Standards for Accessible Design §404; U.S. Access Board Chapter 4
Safety glazing: CPSC 16 CFR Part 1201; ANSI Z97.1
Fire rating: UL 10C; ASTM E119; UL 263; IBC Table 716.1
Location requirements: IBC Section 2406 (safety glazing)

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