A company must do a lot of things during the building and construction process, not to mention meeting many codes and regulations.
Of all of the parts a business must incorporate when constructing and creating a building from scratch, one that businesses must think about is commercial steel doors.
Taking that a step further, builders must know what the standard commercial door size needs to be.
In the US, the International Building Code states that “the required capacity of each door opening shall be sufficient for the occupant load thereof and shall provide a minimum clear width of 32 inches.” The maximum is 48 inches.
Some doors are exceptions. For example, medical facility doors, where beds are moving in and out of rooms, should provide a clear width of at least 41.5 inches.
As for the height, although there are exceptions to this measurement as well, doors should be at least 80 inches tall.
As long as manufacturers meet those requirements, things like the dimensions of the door can vary because there’s no industry standard, and commercial doors are available in various sizes and shapes. The key thing is that those requirements are met.
There are many available door widths and heights that a company can build upon to fit your wants and needs.
In terms of the types of commercial doors you can use, it comes down to you (unless stated otherwise based on the type of business you’re constructing).
As eHow points out, commercial doors to choose from include wood, steel, aluminum, fiberglass, glass, and overhead.
Before deciding on what kind of doors you need, you have to decide what the door is going to be used for and where it will be, such as the front or back of the store.
Aluminum doors with glass are commonly used at the entrance because they’re aesthetically pleasing and allow natural light to come into stores.
But steel doors, although not as sleek, can provide more security and are ideal for the interior of a building.
Wood doors are typically used inside because they’re not as durable and secure as aluminum and steel doors.
You’ll also need to figure out how many doors you’ll need and might even be able to save money by buying in bulk, but that depends on how big your building is going to be and how many different types of doors you need to purchase.
Manual or automatic is another decision to think about, as is the degree of security needed. If you don’t think your business needs automatic doors, then you can go the manual route. However, it’s a good practice, although not required, to have an automatic door at the entrance of your building. It’s the little things that matter, and being able to answer all the needs of your customers and employees can help you stand out.
A big concern, of course, is likely your budget. While you want to buy the highest quality of commercial doors, you also have to find a way to stay in your budget. Balancing that with the quality, security, and other factors isn’t easy.
A proper door is just one area to think about when it comes to the construction of your building.
Above all else, as long as you stay within the regulations mapped out above, you should be in the clear. Although, you should check all exceptions to see whether they apply to you, and consult the authorities on local and state laws.
