Tag Archives: ktv doors

KTV Doors: Soundproofing, Safety, and Style in One Package

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Why KTV doors are different

KTV rooms need more than a pretty entrance. Doors must block loud music, protect people during emergencies, and survive heavy use. I design KTV door packages as systems: leaf, frame, seals, hardware, glazing, and installation details that work together.

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Acoustic performance that actually works

Target STC. For private rooms near corridors, aim for STC 40–45. For rooms beside residences or VIP lounges, push to STC 48–50.
Core and skins. Pair a high-mass core (mineral board or engineered composite) with steel or hardwood skins. Staggered layers reduce coincidence peaks.
Seals. Use continuous perimeter acoustic seals and a drop seal at the bottom. Avoid undercuts; air gaps kill isolation.
Frames. Double-rebate steel frames limit leakage. Pack the frame-to-wall gap with mineral wool and acoustic mastic.
Glazing. If you need a window, use laminated acoustic glass (e.g., 10.8–12.8 mm) in a listed vision kit.
Mechanical noise. Choose closers with adjustable sweep and backcheck. Door operators should not rattle the leaf.

My take: one weak detail—an unsealed threshold or a leaky frame—can cost you 5–10 dB. Treat the perimeter like the leaf.

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Fire safety and egress you can pass on first inspection

Ratings.

• U.S.: UL 10C / NFPA 252 for 20–60 minutes, smoke control to UL 1784 (“S” label).

• EU/UK: EN 1634-1 for fire, EN 1634-3 for smoke, classify to EN 13501-2 (e.g., EI₁ 30–60, Sa/S200).

• Africa: Many AHJs reference BS/EN; confirm early.

Hardware and operation.
Use latching hardware; panic devices where occupant load requires. Magnetic hold-opens must release on alarm. Hinges should be stainless, ball-bearing types. Self-closing is non-negotiable.

Smoke control.
Specify smoke gaskets and listed drop seals on corridor doors. KTV corridors accumulate haze fast; smoke tightness keeps egress tenable.

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Materials and finishes that survive nightlife

Steel doors handle impact, moisture, and cleaning chemicals. Stainless frames resist corrosion in coastal cities. Timber-faced doors with HPL or veneer deliver warmth inside VIP rooms—only if the finish appears in the fire/acoustic listing.
Choose textured powder coats or HPL laminates with >2000 Taber cycles for scuff resistance. Add kick plates sized within the listing limits.

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Privacy, brand, and user experience

Use narrow, high-STC vision panels for staff sightlines. Frosted or one-way interlayers protect privacy. Integrate LED edge lighting or signage without piercing the listed leaf. Door pulls should be soft-touch and robust; patrons open doors hundreds of times a night.

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Installation details that make or break performance

Set frames plumb and square; anchor to structure, not only drywall. Backfill the gap continuously with mineral wool and acoustical/fire mastic. Verify clearances: top/sides ~3 mm; bottom sealed by a listed drop seal or threshold. Never trim the leaf on site; you’ll void the label and the STC.

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Project snapshots

United States — Los Angeles, multi-room KTV in Koreatown
Corridor noise disturbed a neighboring hotel. We supplied STC 45, UL 60-minute steel doors with double-rebate frames and “S” smoke seals. After commissioning, corridor SPL dropped by ~9 dBA, and the AHJ cleared egress on the first visit.

Europe — London, Shoreditch late-night venue
Tight plan and mixed occupancies needed EI₁ 30 S200 doorsets with acoustic glazing. CNC-prepped hardware prevented site cutting. The operator noted fewer noise complaints and faster close-out.

Africa — Nairobi, CBD karaoke bar
High humidity and heavy traffic pushed us to stainless frames with powder-coated steel leaves, STC 43, 60-minute rating. We trained the local team on seal maintenance; the doors still meet gap tolerances two years on.

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Spec starter (drop into your drawings)

• Doorsets: Factory-listed acoustic + fire doors; STC ≥ 43; UL 10C 45–60 min or EN 1634-1 EI₁ 30–60.

• Frames: Double-rebate steel; continuous perimeter seals; mineral-wool backfill + acoustic/fire mastic.

• Seals: Listed perimeter gaskets; automatic drop seal; smoke to UL 1784 or EN 1634-3 Sa/S200.

• Glazing: Laminated acoustic glass in listed vision kit; area within listing limits.

• Hardware: Ball-bearing hinges; positive latching; closers with adjustable sweep/backcheck; panic devices where required; hold-opens release on alarm.

• Execution: Install per manufacturer listing; no field trimming; verify gaps; document acoustic and life-safety commissioning.