Construction Specifier (December 2002)

SELECTING STAINLESS STEEL DOORS AND FRAMES

Construction Specifier
December 2002

Stainless steel is the "wonder metal" of the construction industry. It is versatile and durable. lt resists rust and corrosion and looks great. There are so many applications where stainless steel doors and frames would be ideal, but sometimes misconceptions or lack of complete information keep architects and spec writers from recommending it. Here are a few things to consider when evaluating stainless.

Long-term Value
While a stainless steel door typically costs eight times the price of a standard hollow metal door, its durability (40 year life span) eliminates the need to replace inferior doors.

Low Maintenance
Stainless steel requires no painting, only occasional polishing to keep its shine. For exterior applications, stainless optimizes "rain washing", so nature can clean the surface of exposed doors.

Integral Construction vs. Cladding
All too often, a cladded door will be specified where only a true stainless steel door will do the job. Cladding, or covering a wood or regular steel door with a stainless veneer, can be asking for trouble. First of all, a cladded door cannot carry a fire label. Plus, cladded doors are likely to delaminate, corrode from within or separate at seams and/or edges.

Architectural Beauty
An amazing variety of looks are available in stainless steel. Not only is stainless made in colors (including gold, copper and charcoal), but also in many textured, etched and abraded patterns. Doors can also be custom embossed or etched in virtually any design. The commercial marketplace is just beginning to recognize the design possibilities, as decorative stainless is being specified more and more for such design-driven applications as hotels and restaurants, office buildings, auditoriums and museums.

Dedicated Manufacturing
To maintain its corrosion resistance, stainless steel doors and frames should be manufactured in dedicated facilities where there is no possibility of contamination from other metals. Even small particles of carbon steel can begin to cause corrosion if they come into contact with the grain of the stainless surface. Furthermore, all componentry should be made of 100% stainless steel materials; otherwise, corrosion can occur from within.

Help From Next Door
If you are considering specifying stainless steel, Next Door Company can offer some help. Their sole focus on stainless gives them a depth of knowledge that most stainless manufacturers can't equal.

Next Door Company specializes in custom stainless and can meet virtually any specification. Ratings are available for fire, hurricane, sound and others. To request a technical binder or talk with one of their experts, contact Next Door Company at 888-791-4450 or info@nextdoorco.com.

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