SELECT has three different types of continuous gear hinges. Concealed (full mortise) hinges are applied to jamb and door edge, half surface hinges are applied to jamb and door face and full surface hinges are applied to door and frame face. Models can be viewed on this site or in our SELECT catalog.

The SELECT hinge is designed with a geared joint instead of a pin, so each rotating surface turns only half the distance as a pin hinge for the same degree of opening. Each of the gear leaves operate in rolling contact with each other. The continuous geared concept decreases vertical wear, lateral wear and stresses, essentially eliminating door sag.

The hinges may be ordered in all of the standard door heights such as 79”, 83”, 85”, 95”, 120” as well as customizations up to 168” long. Unless otherwise requested, the hinge is supplied 1” shorter than the nominal door opening dimension to allow for variations, such as carpeting and thresholds.

SELECT hinges can be cut to fit most openings. Once cut, most hinges become handed. Place the six-hole pattern at top of the door and frame.

Each hinge is pre-lubricated with a permanent dry-graphite coating on all moving surfaces. This lubricant will last the lifetime of the hinge, requiring zero maintenance.

As the market leader, SELECT was the first to:

• Offer hinges completely anodized after machining, providing longer life.
• Offer individually packaged hinges, and include fasteners inside the package.
• Develop a patented 3-hour fire rating, without fire pins or studs.
• Consistently template hole patterns, saving installation time and cost.
• Pair-match geared leaves (with serial numbers) during machining and anodizing, providing an accurate fit that distributes the door load over the bearings.
• Apply lifetime lubricant on all hinges to increase performance and reduce future maintenance.
• To introduce the 85” hinge length as standard, otherwise 95” hinge was required to be cut.
• “Geared to ship in 48 hours.”

Customers experience quick response time on quoting, order processing and product shipment. 98.6% of orders are shipped in 48 hours, with 59.5% of the orders shipped in 24 hours. SELECT challenges any customer to compare our product and service with any other brand of continuous hinge.

Members of the SELECT team will be happy to assist you with geared continuous hinge inquiries.

SELECT hinges are made from an extruded aluminum alloy that is treated for toughness and durability. The hinge utilizes the entire height of the framing system and door along the entire length of the door edge. Our SL11-HD concealed, geared continuous hinge has surpassed more than 25,000,000 cycles in ANSI-approved, physical endurance testing at Architectural Testing, Inc. in St. Paul, Minn. That's 10 times beyond Grade 1 cycle count. From independent testing facilities and in-house cycle testing, SELECT hinges have outperformed other hinges.

SELECT hinges exceed the ANSI/BHMA 156.26 2000 Grade 2 standard for Continuous Hinges. The SELECT hinge test passed requirements for 150lb (68kg) door at 1,500,000 cycles with 0.30 inches (0.76mm) or less in vertical wear and 300lb (135kg) door at 500,000 cycles with 0.30 inches (0.76mm) or less in vertical wear. Included with vertical wear and cycle requirements, the SELECT hinge passed Grade 2 abuse test requirements. Grade two abuse test (two blows of 60 lb / ft + two blows of 90 lb / ft + 2 blows of 120 lb / ft) completes the ANSI/BHMA 156.26 2000 Grade 2 standard.

The geared construction allows smooth rotation of the continual axis. The continuous joint provides strength along the full height of the door. The SELECT geared hinge construction maintains alignment through a true centerline.

A pin & barrel (butt) mortised hinge installation forces a single hinge to absorb virtually the entire load. The door and frame cut-outs are fabricated separately, altering proper load distribution. Until the most severely stressed hinge shifts its position under this heavy loading, the other hinges do little to carry their share of the load. After this settling, however, the hinge pins will no longer operate in a single centerline.

The loss of a true centerline further increases the stresses placed upon the knuckles and pins, fasteners and reinforcing plates. Installations thought impossible for proper door operation (as on bowed frames equipped with doors warped in an opposing plane) can be salvaged by a SELECT geared continuous hinge.

The thermoplastic resin used in SELECT hinge bearings is a time-proven bearing material with a low coefficient of friction. The thermoplastic bearing has excellent lubricity, maintains stability in moist environments and has chemical resistance to most oils and greases.

Another advantage of these solid bearing blocks is complete surface contact and load sharing between each bearing used in a SELECT hinge. In addition to bearings, the continuous grip design of knuckle-free construction displaces kickback energy and load weight.

Stresses imposed upon a ball bearing can easily exceed its design limits. Indicators are knuckle or pin bending, misaligned hinge forced out of line by warping frames or doors, or concentrated loads imposed by poor cut out locations. Ball bearings are vulnerable when this weight and stress is forced on a single ball, producing a flattening effect on the bearing ball’s surface or cracking the bearing. Failure is more common where corrosive action accelerates the above conditions, such as on exterior doors.

Standard-duty hinges have 16 to 23 bearings (depending on length), spaced at 5-1/8” intervals. Heavy-duty hinges have 32 to 47 bearings (depending on length), spaced at 2-9/16” intervals.

SELECT has earned a reputation for producing a superior product capable of handling a variety of site conditions. SELECT designed these bearing slot intervals to provide optimal support given the conditions under which a hinge operates.

SELECT’s factory-spaced bearing locations under precision manufacturing promote uniform vertical loading on each bearing.

Stresses such as abuse and environment, as well as door weight and cycle frequency, determine the number of bearings required to evenly distribute the full load of the door over each bearing. This, in effect, prevents premature failure of any one bearing.

SELECT hinges are designed for use in high, medium or low frequency applications with doors weighing up to 1,000 lb. Site conditions or the environment can adversely affect the hinge application.

Frequency of use, door weight, abuses and environment should be factored. These conditions are directly correlated with the longevity of the hinge and its performance.

SELECT hinges have endured a number of school and other commercial applications under high frequency, high impact conditions, under loads much heavier than promoted as normal conditions and continue operating. Typically, heavy-duty (HD) hinges are specified in high traffic applications or for door weight exceeding 200 lb.

The SELECT hinge does not require frame reinforcements, unless the frame or door is less than 16 gauge. A SELECT hinge applied to the full length of the door and frame reinforces the entire system. Frame reinforcements are placed behind the top cut-outs to support the fasteners used with knuckle hinges. These steel plates do not distribute the load.

No. The performance of the geared structure is unaffected by foreign material. The SELECT hinge has been tried in time by objects placed in gears or driven through the joint. The construction is highly resilient and continues operation after defacing or damaging. The full-length gear design and continuous joint is impervious to localized damage.

No. A SELECT hinge will move 180 degrees as required, except SL62 (self-closing toilet partition hinges).

SELECT hinges are designed for new construction or retrofit door applications.

There are several different types. SELECT provides 12-24 1/2" thread forming 410 screws, phillips undercut flathead screws or self-drilling/thread-forming screws, wood screws, steel Rivnuts, thru bolts and sexnuts are available upon request.

No, these are special fasteners. All of the fasteners are made of corrosion resistant materials. The thread-forming screws are made of 410 stainless steel with an undercut head that allows a greater length of thread on the screw. The thru bolt is a 410 stainless steel and the sexnut is an aluminum alloy. The steel Rivnuts® offered by SELECT can be used in fire-rated openings.

SELECT will only charge for standard screws when they are ordered without hinges. Screws come packaged with each hinge. SELECT provides thread-forming screws, unless otherwise requested.

Self-drilling & thread-forming screws are available at no extra cost, as well as wood screws. Steel Rivnuts® or torx security screws are for specialized applications and will have an added charge.

The thread-forming screws require a pre-drilled hole of a specified size to allow for the correct percentage of thread required for the most effective holding strength. Drill using a #13 (.185”) or 3/16” (.188”) drill bit for metal. For wood, use a 5/32” (.156”) drill bit.

Self-drilling & thread-forming screws drill and thread the hole with one operation.

Both applications require the use of a center punch before drilling.

Depending on the door and frame, SELECT hinge models are designed for most standard applications. Retrofits may require different hinge models than new openings. Contact SELECT’s customer relations department for more details. Information is also available in SELECT's catalog and on SELECT's web site.

No. The frame manufacturer can eliminate the mortising cutouts and hinge-reinforcing plates. The frame for a geared continuous hinge is actually less expensive to make. A frame manufacturer may offer frames either with or without pre-drilled holes. SELECT can provide template patterns to the supplier for matching fastener locations.

If the carpenter is aware the SELECT hinge will be used on the application, additional clearance should be allowed while setting the frame. If necessary, wood doors can be cut back on-site and in less time than setting mortised hinges.

It is the continuous metal strip on the frame leaf and/or door leaf formed during the extrusion process. The flange provides alignment and locates depth of door and frame. The flange enables the hinge to be straight and square to the frame and door. The flange decreases the amount of preparation time spent measuring alignment, inset or flush mount.

No. Multiple door and frame cut-outs and measurements are known to be difficult and time-consuming in new construction or retrofit applications. A SELECT hinge omits the need for cut-outs on the frame or door.

Prior knowledge of clearance for the opening is important in selecting the correct hinge. Clearance information such as square or beveled-edged doors, frame opening, and total clearance required (lockside clearance or possible irregularities) should be considered.

No. All standard length SELECT hinges are symmetrical from end to end and may be simply inverted for use on either side of the frame. Customizing a hinge, adding electrical preparations or cutting to length will make most SELECT hinges handed.

A non-handed hinge can be hung on either side of door and frame. Also, customers have specified strike bolt preparation on both sides of the frame and used a SELECT hinge to cover the unused hole. This method allows less frame inventory and doors to be reversed at any time, without a frame change.

Wood doors can be ordered with the strike bolt bore on both edges of the door. This allows the installer to bore for the mortise lock after the hand has been determined at the site. This system can provide a new dimension of flexibility that avoids costly errors.

The SELECT hinge design is tamper proof and the door can only be removed from the secure side.

Doors can be detached by removing the door leaf screws on concealed hinges. Doors attached with full and half surface hinges can be removed by loosening set screws on door cover and thru bolts from the inside.

Yes. The SELECT hinge may be used in any hardware application and is a first choice where weatherproofing is essential. The anodized aluminum construction and geared leaf provide security and resistance to corrosion.

Yes. Electric modifications are available on concealed and half surface hinges. The customer must specify locations and handing. SELECT recommends consulting the company catalog, engineering or customer relations departments when ordering electrical modifications for availability and customization.

EPT - (Electric Power Transfer) A section is removed from each geared leaf to clear the power transfer unit mounted in the door and frame.

CTW - (Concealed Through-Wire) Allows continuous power through the hinge and is concealed in the hinge. Operates with 12-24 volts AC/DC @ 3-6 amps per conductor. Can be supplied with 4, 5, 8 or 10 conductors (12 with SELECT engineer approval).

EC – (Exposed Electric Contacts) Used for power transfer, but it is not continuous. It must have two contacts to transfer power. Wire is not furnished with this prep. ¼-20 studs will accommodate any gauge wire. 50 V AC/DC @ 1 amp.

EMS - (Exposed Electric Monitor Switch) Requires only one monitoring switch per hinge. Operates on 120V AC @ 250 MA 30 W maximum.

EMS/CTW – (Electric Monitor Switch & Concealed Through-Wire) Combination of exposed monitor switch and concealed electric through-wiring. Through-wires available as 4, 5, 8 or 10 conductors (12 with SELECT engineer approval) for modification.

CMG – (Concealed Magnetic Monitor Switch) Monitors the door status. 22 gauge wire, 14” leads, 28 volts DC. Handing required.

No, field cutting is acceptable and does not void the UL rating.

SELECT has a patented process, with UL listing, to provide a positive pressure 3-hour fire rating. SELECT’s patented process eliminates pins or studs and is approved for positive and negative pressure. The patented 3-hour process requires no additional installation effort in the field.

All SELECT hinges are 1-½ hour fire-rated for positive and negative pressure, except toilet partition hinges. Hinges modified by SELECT retain their fire rating.

Fire-rated listing applies to a minimum of 16 gauge hollow metal or steel covered composite and wood core-type fire doors installed in masonry or drywall.

The 1-½ hour fire rating has no upcharge. The charge for three-hour fire rating is $12 net add.

No, the SELECT hinge has an anodized finish to protect it from corrosion. The anodized aluminum has an oxide film that penetrates the metal, leaving an extremely hard surface resistant to corrosion.

Unfinished metal risks corrosion. Metal frames and doors present no problem due to anodization or use of primer or paint.

Clear (204RI) with a minimum .4 mil thickness and Dark Bronze (215RI) with a minimum .7 mil thickness. Contact SELECT to inquire about other custom finishes such as black, champagne or bright gold (polished brass). Custom paint colors are also available.

Anodizing is an electro chemical process. Extruded aluminum products are immersed in a solution under controlled conditions. An electrical current passes through the solution to produce an aluminum oxide film on the products being anodized. The oxide film penetrates the aluminum pores, leaving an extremely hard surface resistant to corrosion. The oxide film will grow to a specific thickness at a determined voltage. The thickness of the oxide film generates colors. This voltage controlled growth means the integral color is voltage controlled as well. Anodizing is stated to be an environmentally friendly metal finishing process. For more information on anodizing, visit the Aluminum Anodizers Council web site at www.anodizing.org.

Yes, but not from stock. SELECT uses Kynar 500, a two coat resin-based system. Kynar 500 resin-based coatings have outperformed other coating systems in Florida exposure (45 degree South) tests for 10 to 17 years.

A paint code and/or paint sample is requested to provide the best match for the paint color. The gear cap as well as the leaves may be painted easily (pre-assembly). Additional lead time is required.