How to find the right Commercial Doors AI guide
Written by an AI model from its trained knowledge.
What the AI looks for in Commercial Doors
- Duty level and gauge (hollow metal)
- ANSI/SDI A250.8 levels: Level 1 standard duty (typically 20 gauge), Level 2 heavy duty (18 gauge), Level 3 extra heavy duty (16 gauge), Level 4 maximum duty (14 gauge) Lower gauge numbers mean thicker steel. Pick Level 2 for offices, Level 3 for exterior, school and high-traffic openings, and Level 4 for abuse-prone openings.
- Fire rating and label
- Match the rating the opening requires (commonly 20, 45, 60 or 90 minutes, or 3 hours), with a permanent UL or Intertek label installed and maintained per NFPA 80 A rated opening needs a labeled door, a labeled frame and rated hardware. An unlabeled or field-altered door fails inspection.
- Nominal size and handing
- Order by nominal size (for example 3070 = 3'0" x 7'0", 1-3/4" thick standard) and specify handing (LH, RH, LHR, RHR) from the outside of the opening Commercial doors are machined for a specific frame and swing. A wrong size or handing usually cannot be fixed in the field.
- Hardware preparation
- Specify the lock prep (cylindrical 161 bore, mortise, or exit device), the hinge prep (commonly 4-1/2" butt hinges, with quantity and placement), and any closer reinforcement The door must be machined and reinforced for the exact hardware. Drilling it later voids fire labels and weakens the door.
- Core and frame type
- Honeycomb core for interior doors. Polystyrene or polyurethane insulated core for exterior doors. Steel-stiffened core for heavy abuse or security. Frames are knock-down for existing drywall or welded for new masonry and high traffic. The core sets insulation, sound and dent resistance. The frame type has to suit the wall construction and the expected durability.
- Material for storefronts
- Aluminum entrances come as narrow, medium or wide stile. Medium or wide stile is needed for heavier traffic and for panic or exit hardware. Narrow stiles leave little room for locks and exit devices and wear faster on busy entrances.
Brands that matter
- Steelcraft: Allegion hollow metal doors and frames, widely specified for commercial openings.
- Ceco Door: ASSA ABLOY hollow metal doors and frames, common in commercial construction.
- Curries: ASSA ABLOY hollow metal line, frequently used for custom and fire-rated openings.
- Republic Doors and Frames: Hollow metal doors and frames, broadly available through distributors.
- Mesker: Hollow metal doors and frames with stock sizes suited to quicker lead times.
- Pioneer Industries: Hollow metal doors and frames, including high-security and specialty openings.
- Kawneer: Aluminum storefront entrances for retail and office frontages.
- Mohawk Flush Doors: Wood flush commercial doors, including fire-rated options.
What to avoid
- Residential steel or fiberglass entry doors used in commercial openings that require ANSI/SDI duty levels or fire ratings
- Fire-rated doors without an intact label, or rated doors drilled or cut in the field without authorization
- Ordering a door without confirming size, handing, hinge locations and lock prep against the existing frame
- Narrow-stile aluminum doors on high-traffic entrances or openings that need panic hardware
- 20 gauge doors on exterior or abuse-prone openings
Questions
Can I buy just the door to replace one in an existing frame?
Yes, but measure the frame opening and the hinge locations, and confirm the hinge size, lock prep and handing. On a rated opening, the replacement must carry the same or higher label.
Do I need a fire-rated door?
It depends on the wall. Doors in fire-rated corridors, stairwells and separation walls usually do, so check the building plans or ask the local code official.
Commercial Entry Doors
Commercial entry doors follow the same choices as commercial doors in general: duty level and gauge, nominal size and handing, hardware prep and core type. Exterior openings generally call for an insulated core and Level 3 heavy-gauge hollow metal, or medium- to wide-stile aluminum for storefronts.