If you need additional security for your commercial premises or even at home then steel doors are the answer. The security door sets are available with either a smooth steel finish or embossed wood grain effect, which is targeted for home use.
Exterior steel doors are supplied as standard with an epoxy powder primed finished for applying the final painting on site. If a factory finish is required the doors and frames can be pre-painted with a polyester powder coat to any colour of your choice.
The exterior steel door is constructed with steel tubing and channel inner frame for added strength and to prevent the door from twisting. The frame is covered with sheets of Zintec steel of 1.2, 1.6 and 2.0 thick depending on the door use. The joints of the steel outer skin can be folded or welded. All steels are hot dipped galvanised against corrosion. Stainless steel exterior doors are available at additional cost. The overall minimum thickness of the standard door leaf is 45 mm. The thickness can be increased for added security or higher fire rating. The door frame is also made from galvanised steel folded with single or double rebates using 1.6 – 2.0 mm thick Zintec steel. Between 3 to 5 hinges, preferably ball bearing type, are needed depending on the weight of the exterior metal doors. The frame needs to be well fixed to the structural door opening in order to take the weight of the heavy steel door. The door, frame and ironmongery can be supplied complete and ready for installing on site which is easy and quick. Door sets also come in a knocked down form for assembly on site. When installed the door set is vertually maintenance free for many years.
Examples of steel doors
Some steel doors come with a dense mineral wool core and may be suitable as a fire door. An added benefit is good acoustic and thermal qualities. These doors could be suitable for reducing the noise coming from machine room. Other core fillings, such as solid wood, can be used for added security. Lighter steel door sets can incorporate foam filling (which must be HCFC free) or using Dufaylite, which is a honeycomb core material with a ratio of high strength qualities compared to weight.
The majority of doors are single leaf however double exterior steel doors and 1½ leaf configuration are also common.
Careful attention must be paid to the locking system used on your steel security doors. If the door is a fire escape door then a panic bolt opening device is often used, allowing quick release and escape. The panic bolt can either include an outer cylinder for access or quite often be excluded for added security. This door locking arrangement would be normal on commercial exterior steel doors or on exterior steel entry doors. Locking systems can include multi point systems which can make the door very secure. The cylinder however is quite often the weakest link in any door locking system. It has been known for burglars to snap the ends of the cylinder to gain access to the inner locking device that will release the door. Anti snap and anti drill cylinders should be fitted.
Examples of various security locks
Security can be enhanced by fitting “dog bolts” on the hinge side of the door.
Two types of Dog bolt fittings
A typical security test for the performance of a door is an attack lasting about 10 minute using a variety of tools such as hammers, chisels, crow bars etc. without concern for noise. Manufacturers can supply certificates for the various fire and security tests carried out on their door types.