On the contrary, steel doors can be up to four times more energy efficient than wood doors. Steel doors and frames allow minimal air infiltration which results in less energy loss between the door’s interior and exterior surfaces. Steel is dimensionally stable and when properly designed, can provide an exceptionally tight building envelope for less air loss and better HVAC efficiency over time.
Archives: FAQs
What’s so great about recycling steel? Forests are renewable, trees grow back and waste wood is shredded and recycled as compost or chips.
Steel is an infinitely reusable material without any loss of function, durability or quality. At the end of their useful life, about 88% of all steel products and nearly 100% of structural steel beams and plates used in construction are recycled into new steel products.
How do you handle the 500 mile minimum on regional restrictions?
USGBC LEED, Materials & Resources, Section 5.1 and 5.2 provide the guidelines for the 500 mile minimum requirement. The guidelines expand beyond the location of the manufacturer to include where the materials were extracted and processed. Most architects agree that this is the most difficult credit to achieve due to the nature of the global economy.
I am considering specifying seamless-edge doors and trying to decide which design I should specify: vertical seam edge filled, dressed smooth, intermittently welded seams, edge filled and dressed smooth, or continuously welded seam, dressed smooth? How do the three options differ?
Seamless edge doors are specified primarily for aesthetic considerations. Edge-filled and dressed smooth doors are treated with a filler material and subsequently sanded smooth and painted. Intermittently welded seam doors, are welded at intervals along the seam, treated with a filler material and subsequently sanded smooth and painted. Continuously welded seam doors provide an uninterrupted weld the entire height of the door edge with no added filler material and subsequently sanded smooth and painted.
I have a steel door specification with interior door core construction type A, D or F and exterior door core construction type B, C, E or F. Can you tell me what these door cores are?
The references cited are from an outdated SDI 100 specification. The new specification, SDI 100 ANSI A250.8, does not contain letter designations for core material. The updated document provides a performance-based standard, such that an architect can be assured the doors will perform to the performance levels outlined in SDI 100 A250.8, regardless of core material. If an architect specifies a particular core material they will be limiting the number of manufacturers that supply that product, and perhaps the variety and styles of doors available to them. That is why it is better to base your choice on performance characteristics.
I’m an architect. What does the change to the testing method of thermal performance mean to me?
The testing method was updated to enable architects and other design professionals to specify openings using real-world thermal performance data. Knowing the thermal conductivity of a door opening (U-value), allows you to specify according to the desired energy efficiency of a building or any applicable code requirements for the efficiency of the building envelope.
Why has the thermal resistance of hollow metal doors changed recently?
The R and U values have been updated as a result of a change to the ASTM testing methods of SDI 113 (Standard Practice for Determining the Steady State Thermal Transmittance of Steel Door and Frame Assemblies). In the previous test method only a portion of the door was tested, which does not reflect operable conditions of the door, frame and hardware. The new version of the standard tests the entire assembly, which represents real-world conditions. Architects should only use the numbers from the new thermal performance standard method.
Can you give me a quick explanation about R and U values?
R and U values relate to insulation performance characteristics. The higher the R value, and the lower the U value, the higher the insulating properties of the product. Polystyrene and polyurethane cores have higher insulating properties than honeycomb and steel-stiffened core doors. 1 ¾” thick commercial steel doors will have R values that range from approximately 1.5 to 3.
What are the rough opening dimensions for a hollow metal frame?
The rough opening dimensions for a standard hollow metal frame are as follows: Assumes std. 2″ face, butted wall. “A” = opening width 4 1/2″ “B” = opening height 2 1/4″ So for a 3’0” x 7’0” door
What are the different door cores available from most manufacturers, and how do I select the best type for my application?
Steel doors are differentiated by their core, with each type having a different set of properties and performance characteristics. The five most common cores are honeycomb, polystyrene, polyurethane, steel stiffened, and temperature rise. A honeycomb core door is used for interior and exterior openings where high thermal insulation is not required. Polystyrene core doors are the most commonly specified insulated core and are suitable for applications requiring an R or U factor (a measure of insulating performance). Polyurethane core doors provide superior insulating properties and are suitable for exterior openings in cold climates. Steel stiffened core doors feature steel ribs in the interior of the door and are ideal for high traffic, non-aesthetic applications. Temperature rise core doors are used when a fire resistance rating is required to retard the transfer of heat from one area to another (a stairwell, for instance).