Door hinges are the hardware item nobody thinks about until one fails — and in a commercial washroom, a worn hinge means a door that won't stay open for cleaning or won't swing closed on its own, which becomes a complaint fast. Metlam's gravity hinges are built specifically to solve this with a cammed, self-adjusting action rather than a basic pivot.
How a gravity hinge works
A gravity hinge uses an angled cam on the hinge pin so the door's own weight does the work: set correctly, the door will swing to a fully open or fully closed position and stay there, rather than drifting half-open. This is why they're the standard choice for toilet partition doors over plain butt hinges — no closer mechanism to maintain, no spring to fatigue.
The options
- 106C Gravity Hinge (concealed fix, LH/RH) — the standard specification hinge. Available in 106C_ANMB (antimicrobial finish, $24.08) and 106C_DESIGNER (Designer Black, $26.93). This is the hinge supplied as standard in the Essential concealed-fix hardware kit.
- Moda Gravity Hinge — the hinge paired with Metlam's Moda ambulant-compliant lock series. Available in MODA_GRAVITY_SCP (satin chrome plate, $26.61) and MODA_GRAVITY_ANMB (antimicrobial, $27.74).
- Spring-hinge kits — rather than selling a standalone spring hinge, Metlam builds spring-hinge action into specific Moda Advantage kit configurations (see our Ready-to-Go Kits guide) for installers who want a lighter, faster door swing than a pure gravity hinge gives.
Each cubicle door typically needs three hinges (two load-bearing, one at mid-height for stability on taller doors), so always order in sets of three per door and confirm LH/RH orientation before ordering — a gravity hinge is handed and won't self-adjust correctly installed on the wrong side.
Matching hinges to your lock series
If you've specified a Moda lock and indicator set, use the Moda gravity hinge for a consistent finish and guaranteed compatible fixing centres. If you're using a standard 100–700 series lock, the 106C hinge is the safe default — it's the hinge Metlam itself bundles into the Essential kit.
Frequently asked questions
How many hinges does a toilet cubicle door need?
Three is standard for a full-height commercial cubicle door: two primary hinges plus a mid rail hinge for extra support and to stop the door warping over time.
What does antimicrobial finish add to a hinge?
An antimicrobial coating inhibits bacterial growth on the hinge's touch surfaces — worthwhile in healthcare, aged care, education and food-service washrooms. It doesn't change the mechanical action. See our guide on where antimicrobial hardware is worth the upgrade.
Can I replace just one failed hinge, or should I replace all three?
You can replace a single hinge, but if one has failed from age or heavy use, the other two on the same door are usually close behind — replacing all three at once avoids a second callout.
Do gravity hinges need maintenance?
Very little — no springs or closers to service. The main failure mode is wear in the cam over very high-cycle years of use, at which point the door will start drifting rather than swinging fully open or closed, which is the signal to replace it.