Choosing a Steel Door: What Matters More Than Thickness
The first question most people ask when buying a steel door is “how thick is the sheet?”. It is an understandable question, but on its own it says little. A door is only as secure as its weakest link, and that link is rarely the sheet.
Lock and cylinder
Many break-in attempts target the lock itself. How many points the lock engages, and whether the cylinder is protected against snapping and pulling, affect the door’s overall resistance more than the sheet does.
The frame and the hinge side
Someone forcing a door doesn’t only attack the lock side but the hinge side too. How and at how many points the frame is fixed to the wall, and whether there are anti-lift bolts on the hinge side, are rarely asked but very important questions.
What does a class mean?
In Europe, the burglar resistance of doors and windows is classified under EN 1627. Classes range from RC1 to RC6; the higher the number, the longer the door is expected to resist and the wider the range of tools it is tested against. Rather than “secure”, ask for the tested class, if there is one, for a fairer comparison.
Fire and sound are part of security too
An apartment entrance door is a barrier not only against intruders but also against smoke and noise from the stairwell. Checking early what fire regulations require for apartment entrance doors is far cheaper than replacing doors later.
Appearance
Steel doors are no longer just brown with a wood pattern. Doors whose inner face matches the apartment’s interior doors and whose outer face is designed with the building corridor give the whole project a consistent look.
Ask before you decide
- How many locking points, and is the cylinder protected?
- How is the frame fixed to the wall?
- Are there anti-lift bolts on the hinge side?
- Does the door have a tested burglar-resistance or fire class?
- Who installs it, and does the warranty cover installation?
If you are planning entrance doors for a project or a home, get in touch and we can design them together with the interior doors in a single design language.