installation guide

Please retain these installation instructions for future use!

The manufacturer accepts no liability for damage or injury resulting from failure to follow these installation instructions and/or failure to take appropriate care in transport, installation or use of the product. Because we strive to continuously improve our products, it is possible that certain product details may deviate from the description in this manual. The manufacturer has prepared this manual with the utmost care; however it can accept no liability for any errors that may occur in the manual nor the consequences of these errors. This manual may be periodically reviewed and updated as required. 

All rights reserved. 

No part of this manual may be reproduced in any way whatsoever. 

1. Introduction

This manual describes how to install and use your new Glass Floor Systems hinged glass floor system. Please read these instructions carefully for the best results and to ensure you can use the hatch safely. Always perform the installation steps in the correct order and if in doubt, seek professional guidance. Glass Floor Systems Ltd is not responsible for the consequences of any product fault that may arise from incorrect installation. 

Some instructions may only be relevant to your specific type of door hatch (manual, lockable or electric etc. )

2. Safety precautions and warnings

Important : read the safety precautions and warnings before installing the glass door hatch. 

§ Follow the instructions and guidelines as they are described in this manual. Never change the order of the installation steps and please contact Glass Floor Systems Ltd if there is any doubt about your installation. 

§ At least two competent tradespersons should be used to install any Glass Floor Systems Ltd glass hatch and given the weight of the item, depending on its size, multiple other persons may be required to manoeuvre the unit safely into position. 

§ Check the packaging on delivery for any signs of damage and the contents as soon as possible and contact Glass Floor Systems Ltd immediately in writing in case of any damaged or incomplete delivery with pictures. 

§ Open with care! Do not use a knife to cut packaging as this risks damage to glass and paintwork. 

§ The door should be stored inside only and in dry conditions and installed only into a dry, well ventilated area. Any dampness or heavy condensation etc will lead to oxidization of the steel and electroplated components and may lead to failure of the electrics-  you should treat the root cause of dampness prior to installation. 

§ Cordon off the work area to ensure the safety of others.

§ Plan your path to the installation area to ensure the unit fits through all doors and around all corners as required. 

§ Always wear appropriate PPE when installing (gloves, hard hats, safety boots etc)

§ Open the packaging carefully to avoid damaging the glass or paintwork.

§ The glass door will be supplied as a fully assembled complete unit. For your own safety and to preserve the quality of the hatch, we recommend that you do not remove the actuators at any point prior to installation. If you do so regardless, you will void all warranties and liability for the product. 

§ Our glass door hatches are not designed for access to habitable rooms. Should you wish to use the door to access a habitable room, ensure your local building control authority approve the design beforehand if required and ensure a secondary means of escape is provided. 

§ The glass door should generally be installed flush with the finished floor level to avoid any trip ledges and parallel / level in opposite planes to avoid any twist in the frame. Failure to do so may stop the door staying open or closing symmetrically or cause failure of the actuators. 

§ To avoid scratching the glass, always remove any outdoor shoes before walking over the unit. 

§ Avoid placing any concentrated loads on the glass, such as chair or table legs. 

§ Should the door sit proud of the frame once closed, apply gentle pressure to settle the door or engage the lock. Open and reclose if necessary. 

§ Do not attempt to adjust the gas struts or electric actuators without fully reading the replacement instructions. Each glass floor is set up individually in our workshop to operate optimally in both directions. 

§ CAUTION! Make sure you do not crush fingers or limbs between the hatch inner/outer frame or the gap at the hinges.

§ CAUTION! Always ensure the that when the hatch is in the open position that it cannot accidentally be knocked or closed unintentionally. 

§ CAUTION! To prevent the risk of falling, we recommend closing the hatch immediately after use. The hatch should be locked when not in use either manually at the hatch or at the electric wall switch override. 

§ CAUTION! The manual system is designed so the user is always guiding the door in both opening and closing directions. Never let go of the hatch / drop to close.  

§ CAUTION! Never operate the electric system out of the line of sight of the hatch. Pay attention to where the wall switch will be located and avoid any obstructions, such as large furniture which may obscure your view. 

§ CAUTION! Always operate any manual door with all the lifting handles provided. Do not ever just use one handle to lift a two-handle door as this would apply uneven pressure and potentially twist the frame. 

§ CAUTION! Always stand clear of the door when closing at all times to avoid injury. Keep feet away from the edge and hands and limbs away from the gaps. Be aware of children or pets. 

3. Installation guide

§ The installation area should be prepared by the appropriate tradesperson and sufficiently strong enough to bear the weight of the hinged glass floor unit, including the associated foot traffic depending on the size of the unit, typically 150kg/sqm. 

§ Check the stability of the bearing surfaces or structural supports where necessary. Always consult a structural engineer if in doubt. 

§ All fixing surfaces should be flat, perfectly level and free of dirt or other obstruction prior to commencing installation. Recheck your sizes if necessary to avoid any mistakes. 

§ If your installation surface is not level, the unit may appear to lift in one corner and create a trip ledge- if this occurs, rectify the floor level or pack the affected corner until the internal and external frames are flush. 

§ The glass door will be supplied as a fully assembled complete unit. For your own safety and to preserve the quality of the hatch, we recommend that you do not remove the actuators at any point prior to installation. If you do so regardless, you will void all warranties and liability for the product. 

§ Where the internal frame is banded, leave this banding in place until fully installed.

§ When approaching the installation area, do not ever tilt the hatch more than 45degrees. Do not turn the hatch upside down at any point. 

§ The type of fixing used will vary depending on the installation surfaces available. The installer should determine the appropriate type and size of fixing. 

§ The door will mostly hold under its own weight and should be secured into the perimeter to pin in place once fully level. Before fixing all screws, check the alignment of all gaps between inner and outer frames and ensure the outer frame is not placed under any stress or tension from the fixing surfaces. Do not over tighten fixings and distort the frame. 

§ Once the door is fixed, remove the glass banding and check the operation of the unit with caution. 

§ For electric systems, only a qualified electrician should complete the wiring installation. 

§ The electric control box should be mounted in such a position that it can be accessed if required in the event of a power failure or unit fault. 

4. Maintenance and cleaning

§ The glass hatch should be subject to a regular cleaning and maintenance program to keep it functioning and also looking at its best for many years to come. 

§ Clean both the inside and outside of the hatch metalwork with only lukewarm water, household soap and a soft sponge. Always ensure the cleaned areas have been fully dried with a separate cloth. 

§ The glass panel can be cleaned with any proprietary glazing cleaner, again ensuring that it is fully dried before any further use and to avoid any slippages. 

§ Repair any damage to the paintwork finish as soon as possible in the appropriate RAL colour.

§ Apply penetrating oil to the hinges as necessary. 

§ Undertake inspection of the whole unit to check and tighten all fixings at least twice per year. 

5. Adjustments and replacements

§ If glass becomes scratched, seek the advice of a glazing repair specialist who could potentially buff out any hairline damages. 

§ To consider replacing the glass in case of any damages, please contact your supplier for further guidance. 

§ To adjust gas struts or when replacing gas struts, please follow the below manufacturer guidance. For electric struts, this should only be completed by a specialist, please contact us for assistance. 

· Fit the gas struts with the cylinder uppermost; this prevents oil escaping while venting and keeps the internal seals lubricated.

§ Using the appropriately sized allen key, undo the grub screw anti-clockwise a quarter turn and vent gas for 1 second, retightening the grub screw. Do not over tighten the grub screw.

§ Repeat the above process on the second (if applicable) gas strut, venting an equal amount. 

§ Gas cannot be put back in. Be very cautious not to over-vent. 

§ Only release pressure in short bursts to avoid over-venting. Each one second burst will lower force by approximately 20-50N. 

§ Test the door by attempting to close and re-open the unit and repeat the process of venting small amounts if the struts are still too powerful.

§ Once the desired pressure is achieved, gently brush the grub screw with washing up liquid- if gas can be seen bubble through, the grub screw requires further tightening. 

§ CAUTION! Gas struts are filled with high pressure nitrogen, they should be protected from damage. Never open, modify, drill or weld the struts nor subject them to excessive heat.