Total Door

09 Jul 2020

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Upcoming Webinar & Training Sessions

Total Door July 9, 2020

Jack Robbins Webinar

On July 23, 2 p.m. EDT, our own Jack Robbins will be conducting a webinar “Smoke Containment Strategies for Elevator Hoistways and Lobbies” as part of AEC Daily’s Continuing Education series. We invite you to attend and to invite anyone you know who might be interested.

Here is the webinar description: The spread of smoke in mid- and high-rise building fires is recognized as a major threat to the safety of the building occupants and responding fire personnel and the effectiveness of firefighting operations. This course explains how smoke migrates in a multi-story building fire and discusses how building codes have evolved to address this danger and why they mandate smoke containment in specific areas of a structure.

Product applications and assemblies designed to meet building code requirements and limit vertical smoke migration via elevator hoistways and lobbies are examined.

Register for Webinar

There is a combination sales training and installation class coming up the end of this month, July 28 – 30. Also, our next installation seminars will be Aug. 24 & 25, and Aug. 31 & Sept. 1. To accommodate safe physical distancing, the installment classes are now broken into two sessions of six people each.

Sign up for classes

09 Jul 2020

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Know Your Code 3006.2.1

Total Door July 9, 2020

Know Your Code: 3006.2.1

In conjunction with the launch of the new SafeFrame integrated system, we have created a new Know Your Code one sheet for 2018 IBC 3006.2.1. This code covers the need to protect the opening between the elevator shaft and a fire resistance-rated corridor with a method that meets both fire protection and smoke containment.

You can find it on our website, in the Know Your Code section or download it below.

Download Know Your Code 3006.2.1

09 Jul 2020

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Introducing Total Door Systems SafeFrame

Total Door July 9, 2020

SafeFrame Header

Total Door Systems SafeFrame™ provides a complete integrated smoke containment system that exceeds the testing and rating requirements for elevator hoistways and and eliminates the need for elevator lobbies. Streamlined in design, SafeFrame eliminates the need for frame construction and is perfectly matched to the elevator door to create a complete door and frame system.

There is no special wall construction or building of lobbies needed. We ship the SafeFrame with the door, so it arrives as one complete system, all in one delivery. This minimizes trips for installation and job site surveys.

The idea for our SafeFrame product grew out of frustrations installers told us about during some of our installation classes. They told us how it is a difficult application to build the wall and install the frame that goes with the door. They wanted to know what we could do to allow them to install a complete system, eliminating as much labor coordination and headache as possible.

We put our engineers and designers to work on a solution. That is how the SafeFrame fully integrated system with our doors came into being. It gives us a product that solves a problem in the industry, eliminating the need for constructing a wall. All they have to do is surface mount the frame right into the wall and install the door. The entire system has already been tested and the label allows for easy field verification of code compliance.

Read our SafeFrame one sheet. You can find the SafeFrame one sheet in the marketing materials folder of the Distributor portal.

Download SafeFrame One Sheet

11 Jun 2020

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Safe Training & Field Support

Total Door June 11, 2020

John Pierre Headshot

Our installation training with John Pierre will also resume this month, but with some extra precautions to ensure the safety of everyone involved.

The biggest change is that, in order to maintain proper 6-foot physical distancing during the training sessions in our Waterford facility, the classes will be limited to six people at a time instead of our standard 12 people per class. And to make up for the shortfall on the amount of people, we are going to double our seminars for the rest of the year.

We are finalizing our schedule for the remainder of 2020, beginning with June and looking at a possible class in July (a month we usually take off for summer vacations). You can see the full schedule of our installation classes and register for the one that best fits your schedule on our website.

Register for Class

It is still important to make sure everyone is factory trained and certified to install our doors. This is hands-on training. We actually hang the door and look at the specs. We look at how it all interacts with each other. We do this with every application of door we have so the installer leaves feeling comfortable knowing they can handle anything in the field.

Of course, we will still offer Facetime assistance when you are at an installation site and run into an issue. Connecting with John via Facetime, he can look at your issue and walk you through steps to figure out the problem and make sure everything is installed correctly.

11 Jun 2020

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Welcome Jeff Blackford & The Eisen Group

Total Door June 11, 2020

Jeff Blackford & The Eisen Group

Here is some good news! We are happy to announce that, as of June 1, 2020, we have a new Michigan Sales Representative! Jeff Blackford and The Eisen Group have joined our team, representing us here in Michigan.

The Eisen Group is a manufacturer’s representative agency for architectural building products and commercial fenestrations products, with a focus on commercial markets. Established in 1938 by Robert A. Eisen, their corporate office is located in Wixom, Michigan. They also have remote offices in West Michigan and Ohio.

Jeff and the Eisen Group offer specification consulting for architectural firms for Division 8 & 10 products that they represent. Once those products are installed, they follow through with an installation inspection and train the owners on the care and maintenance of those products. They primarily sell through contract hardware and commercial glazing contractor channels in Michigan and Ohio.

We are happy to have Jeff and the Eisen Group join us, because they have a strong reputation for providing customers with reliable, technologically advanced, energy efficient, high performance products that meet or exceed established codes and standards in the industry. In other words, Total Door Systems is a perfect fit for how they already do business.

Please join us in welcoming them to the family.

11 Jun 2020

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The Work Safe Playbook

Total Door June 11, 2020

Safety Area

When we started to think about what our new normal would be, we asked our risk mitigation and safety team to do a thorough review of our plant and procedures. After their review, they put together a comprehensive set of policies and physical changes that would need to be made to protect our team, our customers, and our visitors. We are proud of the incredible work that they did to produce our Work Safe Playbook.

The Playbook was distributed to everyone before we returned to work on May 18. It was put together using all the latest WHO, CDC and OSHA guidelines available, along with insights from government, business and other manufacturers. It includes guidelines for health and safety procedures, cross-functional teamwork, operating discipline and training.

The Playbook was distributed for both personal use and to communicate our expectations. Everyone is expected to read, understand and abide by the policies, guidelines and practices within it. As changes occur, the Playbook will be updated. Each individual is responsible for making sure their copy of the Playbook is up to date.

We’re sharing our Playbook with you and invite you to share with us the insights and practices you have put to use during the past weeks.

Playbook Highlights:

The Playbook outlines some of the physical changes created before we returned to work. We installed additional hand sanitizing dispensers throughout the work environment and instituted a schedule to frequently clean often-touched surfaces.

New signs are placed throughout the building, reminding everyone of the proper preventative measures we all must take.

To promote physical distancing, 6-foot intervals have been marked off on the floor and we have identified personnel limits for each area to minimize crowding.

We managed shift changes and staggered breaks to promote physical distancing and to allow us to thoroughly disinfect common areas in between usages.

On-site health screening and protocols were put into place, including requiring a temperature check and answering a safety questionnaire before each entrance into our facility.

Information and training regarding physical distancing, personal hygiene and self-health assessments were also included.

We are leading Playbook discussions and every discussion at Total Door Systems with our Rules of Engagement. This is particularly vital for ensuring dignity and respect for everyone on our team during hard conversations. We can do hard things, and do them easier, when we are all working together.

If you’d like a copy of the entire Playbook, email Candace Kitchen at candace@totaldoor.com.

19 Mar 2020

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Selling Solutions vs. Products – Peter Elliott, Elliott & Associates

Total Door March 19, 2020

Peter Elliot speaking at Total Door Sales Meeting

From time to time, we’d like to share stories and tips from our sales reps in the field. For this month’s issue we talked to Peter Elliott of Elliott & Associates in Golden, Colorado. Peter has been a Total Door sales rep since September 2014. Besides running his own agency, he is also a member of your Total Door Systems Rep Advisory Council. Here’s what he had to say:

I think as sales reps, we tend to get very focused on our products. Rightfully so, but if you want to sell more product, I would say to be more solution oriented, regardless of product.

When you’re talking to an architect or design professional, we often want to rush in and show them our product and how knowledgeable we are. But, they’re often worried much more about an overall solution, versus a product. They often don’t care if the end result is a door or a curtain or whatever. Their goal is to ensure code compliance, show their clients that they’re spending their money wisely and if they can achieve aesthetics, too – that’s great. So, if you can supply them with a solution first and it happens to also include your product, they’re going to be more apt to embrace that because it fits into their overall solution.

That’s my tip for selling product overall. For Total Door, specifically, I always try to emphasize the design aspects. So, for instance, in the case of cross corridors or corridor separation, the code’s going to tell you that you need a door here that has these specifics and ties into the life safety and security systems, etc. So, if the code’s telling you that you must do this, wouldn’t you prefer to have something that is more acceptable from a design aspect and more integrated into your overall design concept?

So, for Total Door, you can lead with design and help the architect or designer to arrive at the point where they’re thinking, yeah I have to put a door there, but wouldn’t it be great if it looks just like a wall instead of a door? So, it’s presenting a combination of solutions: it’s code, it’s design intent, it’s presenting the design as a code compliant architecturally correct solution. To me, that’s the essence of Total Door.

If you have a story or tip you’d like to share, let us know, we’d love to talk to you.

19 Mar 2020

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DoorBuilder Tool Tip #2: Performing Searches

Total Door March 19, 2020

Total Door DoorBuilder Tool Tip

Our DoorBuilder tool is the fastest, easiest way to configure Total Door Systems and deliver a quote. And we’re sharing tips to make using this tool even easier.

Last month, we talked about how you can add or subtract the columns you want to review on your quotes page. In this month’s newsletter, we have some tips to help you find different items you want to review within the DoorBuilder tool.

One way to find things is to search by keywords in the search bar on the upper right side of the page, with the magnifying glass in it. Just enter your keyword, which could be a project name or a quote number, for instance, and then hit the return button.

DoorBuilder Tool Tip 2 - Search

If you want to do a search by distributor, just click on the filter icon in the upper left, next to where it says current filter. Then select which distributor you’re searching for from the dropdown menu on the right.

DoorBuilder Tool Tip #2 - Filter Function

Login to DoorBuilder

19 Mar 2020

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Giving you Installation & Service Support

Total Door March 19, 2020

total door installation

We all know that repeat business is the best kind of business. One of the keys to having happy customers who come back for more is making sure their Total Door Systems are installed properly. We have your back – by giving you total installation support, including how to videos for installation and replacement parts.

On our website, you’ll find an installation video series that provides your installers quick visual guidance on how to install Total Door’s integrated door systems.

We also have service videos that cover step-by-step instructions on how to replace or service our components, including cylinder installation, latch 2 installation, grip install and a locking channel video.

Your service techs can watch the videos, download technical sheets or call our dedicated staff, who will answer any questions you may have about the process. They are available each weekday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern time.

View Videos

19 Mar 2020

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#KnowYourCode in Virtual Reality

Total Door March 19, 2020

virtual reality smoke containment

As you know, we take fire safety and life safety codes very seriously. Total Door Systems is the only integrated assembly that exceeds the testing and rating requirements for elevator, hoistway, and elevator lobby codes. To demonstrate this, we showed a group of architects at ARC/US last November a virtual reality hotel fire emergency simulation.

It all relates back to making sure we meet the standards for code UL 1784 and making sure you #KnowYourCode when it comes to the testing of air leakage through door assemblies and other opening protectives installed in wall openings where air leakage is intended to be controlled.

In this virtual reality demonstration, the person is transported into a hotel hallway near the elevator door. As a fire burned on another floor, smoke moves through the elevator shaft and starts pouring into the hallway. Soon you can’t see through all the smoke.

Then, we show the scene again, but now the elevator door had a Total Door System fire door. Once the smoke starts to enter the hallway through the elevator shaft, our fire door closes and shuts off the flow of smoke. It was a very real difference the architects saw in this virtual reality simulation.

It is a good demonstration that Total Door Systems meet all life safety and compartmentalization requirements without sacrificing the architect’s vision. Our doors meet all fire codes and ADA guidelines, are BHMA-certified, and are sustainably manufactured with a UL EPD.

We recorded a video of someone experiencing this demonstration. It will give you a glimpse into what happens.

Click to view

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