Product pages may mention pocket stacking in passing. This article is about pocket construction and serviceability: room for panels, keeping water out of the pocket, and getting back in after the drywall is closed.
What a pocketing wall is asking for
A pocketing operable wall stacks panels into a side or end pocket so the clear opening can feel uninterrupted. The pocket is part of the building: framing, finishes, waterproofing, and sometimes MEP clearances. If the pocket is drawn as empty space only, the field invents depth and gets stuck panels or wet interiors.
Space and stacking clearances
- Confirm panel thickness, quantity, and stacking side from the manufacturer layout for that opening mark
- Provide pocket depth and width per manufacturer minimums for that configuration (do not invent clear widths here)
- Keep furniture, host stands, and POS out of the stack envelope on restaurant plans
- Coordinate door swings and egress paths with the stacked condition, not only the open condition
Related operating tradeoffs live on folding vs multi-slide for restaurants.
Waterproofing the pocket
Pockets sit where exterior weather and interior finishes meet. Treat them like a miniature room that must shed water:
- Show continuous waterproofing / pan strategy at the pocket floor and jambs on enlarged details
- Keep interior finishes from damming weep paths
- Coordinate exterior cladding so water does not drain into the pocket cavity
- Seal penetrations for track supports and any electrical if automatic operators are used
Maintenance access
After opening day, someone must clean tracks, adjust rollers, and replace weather seals. Design access:
- Removable pocket panel or access door sized for service, not only for install day
- Lighting in or adjacent to the pocket if it is deep
- Clear path for a tech without dismantling millwork
- Owner turnover notes for who services the hardware under warranty vs after warranty
Pocket coordination checklist
TEMPLATE ONLY. Not a product sales sheet. Not invented clear widths.
| Item | Ready? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer stacking layout | Y / N | Opening mark specific |
| Pocket depth / width per docs | Y / N | From manufacturer, not assumed |
| Waterproofing enlarged detail | Y / N | Floor / jambs / cladding lap |
| Service access designed | Y / N | Removable panel / door |
| Furniture / POS clear of stack | Y / N | FF&E plan check |
| Shop drawings Approved / AAN | Y / N | Before fab release |
How to ask for the right scope
Send elevations, the opening schedule, and an enlarged pocket plan/section (even if schematic). Ask bidders to confirm pocket dimensions against the manufacturer layout. Mark material-only or furnish-and-install.
ACG works from West Palm Beach, Naples, and Tampa. Call (772) 486-7711. FL CGC #1531993.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a pocket just empty wall space?
No. It is a designed cavity with stacking clearances, waterproofing, finishes, and service access. Empty space on a plan is not a pocket detail.
Who owns pocket waterproofing?
Assign it early. Architect owns design intent. Waterproofing and finish trades often build the cavity. Glazing sub owns the operable system per approved shops. Exact contract assignment is project-specific [UNCERTAIN]
Can I invent pocket depth from panel count?
Do not. Use manufacturer layout minimums for the exact configuration. This article does not publish invented clear widths.
What should I send with the RFQ?
Elevations, opening schedule, pocket plan/section intent, and material-only vs furnish-and-install.