Commercial Locksmith

No, not every door in a public or commercial building needs to be fire-rated. Only the doors along the fire exit route must be fire-rated and certified. The International Building Code (IBC) mandates that most commercial buildings have fire-rated doors as a necessary component of a passive fire control system.

Never force open a fire door. To serve their design purpose, they must always be kept closed or equipped to close automatically in case of a fire. It’s actually against the law and subject to fines if a wedge or object is used to keep a fire door open and interferes with the function of the door's closing mechanism. When this type of door is closed, it helps shield occupants from smoke and flames for at least 30 minutes during a fire. A fire door becomes worthless if it is wedged open, posing serious risks and hazards.

Fire-resistant doors are created specifically to contain and slow down the spread of fire. When emergency escape routes are distinctly marked and secured, they also aid occupants to exit the building more quickly and easily.

Residential doors are intended to be used only a few times each day, and are built out of materials that can withstand the wear and tear of a normal household. Residential doors are also certified to provide a certain degree of security when used with higher-grade hardware. Commercial doors are intended to be opened and closed multiple times per day. They are also designed to be used with commercial-grade hardware that is more durable and of a higher security grade.

32-48 inches wide by 80 inches tall: The International Building Code (IBC) specifies a minimum of 32 inches (2.67 feet) and a maximum of 48 inches for commercial doors. There are, however, exceptions. Doors at medical facilities, for example, must be at least 41.5 inches wide to allow hospital beds to move in and out of rooms. Swinging doors that do not have a mullion – or a partition between the doors – must have at least one 32-inch-wide door leaf. With limited exclusions, the IBC specifies that commercial doors must be at least 80 inches tall.

Great Valley Lockshop provides commercial locksmith services. These include access control design, door and hardware supply, hardware installation, security services that meet accessibility, emergency and fire exit requirements. Our locksmiths are experienced with working on commercial buildings for educational purposes, namely colleges and universities, as well as healthcare and pharmaceutical buildings with high-security needs.

Businesses can boost security by upgrading to a keyless entry system or biometric entry system. Our locksmiths customize access security systems to each business and commercial property.

Yes, we supply lock and entry hardware. Plus, we install what we sell. For, new construction projects Great Valley Lockshop can supply doors and hardware to general contractors and install them.