Five Reasons Businesses Should Use Steel Doors Over Wood

When adding access doors to a building, it's important to consider the benefits of different materials. Here's why industries should choose steel over wood.

From serious security needs to heavy foot traffic, industrial buildings have unique requirements to consider when it comes to enhancing the building's access doors. When adding an entry door to an industrial facility, there’s more to consider than aesthetics. Read these five reasons property owners should go for steel doors in place of wooden ones.

Increased Fire Rating

The best steel doors and frames are fire-resistant to improve safety in an industrial facility. 20-gauge steel doors have a 20-minute fire rating, which gives occupants in a building more time to escape to safety in case of fire. These doors also meet stringent Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) requirements for emergency exit doors.

A More Durable Door

Steel is rust-resistant, scratch-resistant, and doesn’t crack or bow under pressure. The same can’t be said for wood. In an industrial setting, exterior facing doors face the elements, physical exertions, and other rugged conditions that steel can easily withstand. In addition, steel doors have better blast resistance than wooden ones. These doors pass all blast resistance standards, including ASTM F2247, ASTM F2927, and UFC 4010-01.

Reducing Sound

Some industrial facilities require sound-resistant building materials. Steel doors have excellent sound-reducing properties, offering the highest STC (Sound Transmission Coefficient) rating of STC 32 to STC 55. This feature makes these doors better than wooden ones for sound reduction.

Enhanced Security Against Forced Entry

Industries and commercial premises often contain expensive machinery and important items. A strong door is required to avert financial losses through breaking and entering or other events that might require door repairs. Steel doors perform better than wooden ones in forced-entry resistance tests, making them ideal for enhancing security on industrial properties.

Resilient in High-Traffic Areas

Industrial buildings see a lot of traffic in and out, meaning that an access door on such a property should be strong and flexible enough to withstand frequent use. In the "million cycle” tests to evaluate the performance of doors, steel doors perform better than wooden doors.

For the most reliable commercial and industrial doors in Jacksonville, FL, and the surrounding area, Perimeter Glass is the one to call. Since 2001, we've been offering the highest level of workmanship and quality materials. Contact us today for an initial free estimate and exceptional commercial steel door installation services.