What Are Your Options for Secure Commercial Doors?
Selecting doors for a business or institution can be difficult. If you’re considering a secure commercial installment, there are a few factors to take into account. Doors for commercial use should be secure, durable and look professional. Find out more about doors specifically manufactured for commercial use. We have provided helpful information about applications and the advantages of wooden and metal doors.
Compare your two best options for commercial use: wood doors and metal doors. Here’s what you need to know…
Wood Doors for Commercial Buildings
Wood is a natural choice for many offices and facilities because of its elegant look, efficiency, durability, versatility, and ability to reduce noise and resist flames. This versatile material is often the recommended choice for interior doorways.
Commercial wood doors are made with multiple layers. High-quality doors have what’s called a solid core made from solid lumber. Other solid core models have a center layer made from wood byproducts or mineral core that is then covered by a solid wood layer. In most models, the solid core or solid wood layer is covered with thin sheets of laminate or veneer that come in a wide range of wood finishes.
The core is dense (usually about 1.5 inches) and grants greater levels or resistance, insulation, and soundproofing. The various layers of pre-finished doors are adhered together using a combination of glue, resin, heat, and pressure for long-lasting durability. Doors and frames are generally sold together. The door may come with pre-drilled holes for hardware application or ready to be drilled at the height and to install the hardware of your choice.
Why Choose Wood?
Here are some of the main advantages to consider.
Natural Efficiency
Wooden doors are helpful in terms of energy efficiency. With a solid core, wood has a significant extra layer of insulation. In the winter, it can help block cold air coming in from an entryway or hallway. Then, in the summer, a closed interior door helps keep cool, air-conditioned temperatures inside the room.
Noise Reduction
Finished wood doors help the acoustics in offices, schools and hospitals. Wood material naturally absorbs sound rather than letting it bounce off hard surfaces or pass between rooms. This type of door makes the building quieter and blocks a lot of the noise coming from entryways, hallways, and stairwells.
Fire Resistance
Wood is a strong choice for a low-cost, yet effective fire-rated door. This means that it will act as a barrier in case of a fire, decreasing the speed at which the flames and smoke spread throughout the building. Quality fire doors are important safety measures for protecting people and the structure.
Long-Lasting
Wood doors and frames made by reputable manufactures should not chip, dent or wear easily. They can stand up to heavy traffic for many years.
Solid wood doors can and should be refinished. Over time, wood tends to dry out and age. Refinishing the door will help it to last longer and resist damage from regular wear and tear. By refinishing the wood, you can restore the door to its original beauty or give it a fresh new look. Plus, it helps protect the material for years to come.
Wide Selection
Door design has come a long way. There is a vast selection of types, sizes and styles readily available on the market. Wood is an especially customizable material. Customers can select the color, finish, and texture that they prefer. The doors can be cut to fit unusual measurements and install virtually any type of hardware.
Metal Doors for Commercial Buildings
Doors made of metal materials can be used for a variety of commercial applications, including office buildings, educational facilities, healthcare facilities, retail spaces, hotels and more. Steel and aluminum provide different levels of security and durability and are recommended for exterior doorways and high-security applications.
Why Choose Metal?
These are the main benefits of metal doors as they relate to your commercial facility’s security and accessibility requirements.
Structural Security
Hollow metal doors are superior security investments. For this reason, modern facilities rely on them to cover most major access points. Though a hallow door may not sound like the most secure option, it is actually designed to protect nearly any kind of building. Financial institutions, retail establishments, schools, governmental buildings and manufacturing plants have hollow metal doors to secure entry points.
Made of aluminum, steel or stainless steel, these doors are strengthened by the buffer space between panels. The hollow core works to absorb and disperse the force of outside impact. The multi-layer design helps to decrease the risk of denting or cracking and protect surrounding structures. It also makes it more difficult to force the door open by diminishing the amount of force transferred to the edges of the door and frame.
Not only do metal doors provide long-term security, but they can also be specially fabricated to repel the impact of firearms. Because of their efficient fire-resistant qualities, special metal doors come certified to meet high fire ratings.
Design Flexibility
Every building is different in terms of structural needs. Hollow metal doors and adjoining frames can be installed virtually anywhere, including:
- Hospitals and healthcare centers,
- Educational buildings,
- Industrial facilities,
- Offices,
- Retail stores and restaurants,
- Convention centers.
Design flexibility makes metal doors a valid option for many institutions. These doors are available in a wide selection of sizes and hardware options. They are relatively easy to construct and customize, when necessary. For large commercial construction projects, this type of door is ideal because it can be installed quickly at numerous access points.
Long-Lasting Durability
Metal doors are frequently chosen due to their incredible durability. They are resistant to environmental factors, like humidity, strong winds, water, and fluctuating temperatures. Delamination and warping are not a problem for hollow metal products. These doors are designed and made to stand up to daily wear and tear, as well as high-traffic use and heavy-duty applications. They will last for many years and are also incredibly easy to maintain for year-round use.
Compliance with Safety & Accessibility Guidelines
Where solid metal doors can be heavy and tough to push open, modern metal doors with hollow construction design are easy to use. Their lightweight characteristics make these doors a preferred choice for handicap accessible entry. When fitted with a panic bar, they can be made to comply with fire safety and accessibility regulations for use on emergency exits. Certain models can also function with delayed egress and controlled egress hardware without special modifications.
Insulation
Insulation is incredibly important for keeping energy consumption down. A hollow metal product is designed with internal space to help insulate an entryway. The layered design creates a buffer against harsh winds and extreme hot and cold. Many facilities utilize hollow metal doors to ensure a comfortable interior environment and increase protection for valuables in the building which are sensitive to temperature changes.
Aesthetics
Hollow metal doors enable stylistic cohesion for any kind of building. You can find metal doors and frames in an extensive range of styles and colors. New finishes can even simulate the look and texture of other building materials. Maintenance is easy for any building manager requiring only a damp cloth to clean the surfaces occasionally and regular hardware servicing.
Easy on the Budget
While hollow metal doors and frames are an investment, they are a relatively low-cost solution. Installation labor charges are minimized by the wide range of standard fitting options. Long-term expenses and servicing are limited thanks to their tendency to require low maintenance and be highly durable.
How do Interior Commercial Doors Differ from Exterior Doors?
Exterior doors for commercial applications must stand up to an entirely different set of factors. These include extreme temperatures, moisture and weather, UV exposure, heavy traffic, and tougher wear and tear. Additionally, for insulation and security reasons, metal doors are best for outside entry points.
Interior doors, on the other hand, don’t have such a tough life. Inside a commercial building, doors aren’t insulated around the frame and provide less insulation from temperature differences. They are narrower and don’t need to handle the weather or have moisture. Plus, interior doors don’t have to meet the same standards of security as exterior entry points.
Commercial Hardware Resources
Look for doors that are recommended by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) or the Window & Door Manufacturers Association (WDMA).
Check out these other pages for information about commercial hardware:
- Commercial Lock Grades
- Door Locks for Emergency Exits
- Panic Bars
- Keyless Locks for Commercial Applications
- Selecting an Access Control System
- Accessibility Compliance for Commercial Doors
Commercial Locksmith Services – GV Lock
We are your local door and hardware experts. Contact Great Valley Lockshop for consultation, supply, installation, maintenance and repair services. Call us today at (610) 644-5334 or request a quote.
