Low Headroom Installation Headroom problems with a standard front mount torsion spring assembly can be a frustrating nightmare or even a complete impossibility for any installer in the field.

The biggest and most common problem, which seems to be universal, is the classic “ my installer gets to the job site, only to discover a furnace duct, beam or some other object directly in the way”. In this common situation everyone loses, the homeowner, the installer and especially the door company.

The following is a symposium of low headroom technology and how it relates to the door fabricator, door dealer and final customer, the homeowner.

Hard Cold Facts

Double track front mount: This system requires a door fabricator to stock a large inventory of various size track, for different door heights as well as outside bottom brackets, low headroom top brackets, splice plates, sheaves and a different spring from the standard lift. These components must be picked and assembled before a door package can be sent to the customer. Typically this system requires an 8” to 10” of headspace for the door and the operator.

Drawbacks:
1/ this system is dangerous due to the fact children could become entrapped in the outside cable, as the door is raised
2/ This system is completely useless to an installer in the field facing a problem situation.
3/ Pricing varies greatly and increases dramatically with the door height and commercial track.
4/ Installation is difficult and complex. Plus - The system does utilize a 15” curve radius, which is the only way to go for optimum smooth operation.

Bracket Devices: Quick Flex, O&E and S&I are three of the most popular brackets on the market today. Clearly this concept of modifying a standard lift to low headroom installation is more economical, addresses safety standards and generally is far more desirable to installers who typically must solve complex problems with limited resources and most often under difficult circumstances, while trying to please everyone quickly and efficiently. (sound familiar) Generally these devices require 10” of headroom or more for door and operator and may require strategic placement of the bracket and a steel clip that must be drilled and bolted to the track. In all cases, these units initiate a quick turn action that forces the top section around the curve in an unnatural motion, creating excessive strain. By nature of their design, they also pass quite high through the horizontal curve radius differential. (a point in space, which the highest point of the top section passes through)

Super Sneaky Top Bracket

When I set out to design this bracket, I made a list, with the help of several other professional installers outlining what the capabilities of such a device should encompass.

1/ Fit a standard lift door & operator into 6” of headroom, with the capability to go lower in special circumstances without major modification.

2/ Utilize a 15” curve radius horizontal for maximum smooth operation while still working on a 12” curve radius.

3/ Be able to work on steel insulated, steel non insulated, wood doors, while providing strength to the corner and steel mounting position for a strut for both residential and industrial.

4/ Absolutely must be incredibly simple with no springs or adjustments to go wrong, be self-positioning and installer friendly. They also need to solve complex problems in the field and be profitable.

By using this configuration there is no guesswork of where to mount the operating bracket, plus you can easily customize this to suit the job and your customer. Want more strength? Simply use a longer piece of punched angle.

Final Notes: Our formula - subtract the curve radius from the door height and cut the vertical seems to be reasonably accurate. Example; door height is 84” -15” curve radius =69” horizontal.

Since there are a multitude of hardware manufacturers, you may need to tweak your vertical track height for optimum performance. (Please make sure you inform me of any findings so I can pass this on to others.) We an always interested in feed back from all our customers, especially any means for improvement. If you can come up with anything, don’t hesitate to contact me. I’ll definitely make it worth your while. Email: robert@supersneaky.com

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