Watertight insertion of heavy sliding doors in exterior walls

The joints around heavy terrace doors are considered a weak point in rain-exposed façades, as it is vulnerable to defects in design and construction. The insertion process of heavy sliding doors is a notable challenge. Design recommendations from manufacturers as well as national advisory agencies are currently lacking. This paper presents a full-scale laboratory study on the water tightness of heavy sliding doors with joints waterproofed according to five different solutions. The door assembly is mounted in a pressurized cabinet with water spray nozzles to simulate wind-driven rain. The interior side of the joint around the door is monitored for moisture leaks at steadily increasing pressure levels. It was found that leaks most often occur in the corners of the frame. Sealant mounted before the door itself was hoisted in place tended to be twisted or distorted as the door was adjusted in the frame, spoiling the waterproofing. A common feature of the most watertight solutions was that the sealant was mounted after the door itself was fastened to the frame. The sealant should be continuous, flexible, mounted in a single plane, and preferably be accessible during the assembly process. Waterproofing recommendations for the design and insertion of sliding doors should account for practical challenges brought on by the heavy weight.