M2210 – Fitting Door Rail

The door rail spans across the width of your polytunnel on the end hoops and they are used so that the structure is more robust. Door rail vertical braces are used to stop the door rail from sagging (fig 10a).  The door rail is supplied in 2 pieces, one is 2.8m long and is flattened at one end and plain on the oppsite end (50/280FP). The second piece is 1.2m long and is flat on one end and swaged at the opposite. Connect the two tubes together by locating the swaged end in the plain end. Secure the two pieces together with a self-drilling screws (SDS55) 4cm from the joint, ensuring that both flattened ends are inline (fig 10b).

Fit a Q clip (Q50) to one side of the hoop approximately head height. A Q clip can be pushed onto the hoop. If the Q clip is stiff use a hammer to tap onto the tube. Once the Q clip is on the hoop use a pair of pipe grips to tighten the prongs together. Locate the flat end of the assembled door rail to the Q clip, push a bolt through the hole and loosely secure in place.  Position another Q clip (Q50) on the opposite side of the hoop and locate the flat end to the Q clip and push a bolt through the hole and loosely secure in place. We need to ensure that the door rail is level. Place a spirit level on the door rail and adjust accordingly. Once the door rail is level, tighten the nut and bolts through the Q clip on both Q clips. Repeat this process to fit the door rail on the opposite side of the polytunnel.

Door rail diagonal braces span from the door rail to the central ridge. There is one diagonal brace per end. Door rail diagonal braces are 61cm long and are flat at both ends with a 90˚ angle to each other (35/61FF90). Fit a Q clip (Q35) to the central ridge. Fit another Q clip (Q50) to the door rail. Locate one end to the Q clip on the central ridge and loosely secure in place with a bolt and nut. Locate the opposite end to the Q clip on the door rail and firmly tighten. Adjust the Q clip on the ridge so that the door rail is level and the vertical brace is not pushing the door rail down nor pulling it up up. Once level firmly tighten the Q clip (fig 10c).

Next the door rail vertical braces will be fitted. Door rail vertical braces are 61cm long and are flat at both ends (35/61FF). From the ridge clamp measure 40cm along the hoop and fit a Q clip (Q50). Locate the flat end of the vertical brace to the Q clip, push a bolt through the hole and firmly tighten. Repeat on the opposite side. Now fit a Q clip to the door rail. Locate the flat end of the vertical brace to this Q clip, push a bolt through the hole and loosely secure in place (fig 10d). You may need to lift the door rail up to do this. Ensure that the door rail vertical braces are not pushing the door rail down nor pulling it up. Once you are happy with the level, tighten both Q clips. Repeat this process on the opposite end of your polytunnel.