Why Every Project Needs a Statement Door

On Feb 19, 2021 | admin@freshy.press

Why Every Project Needs a Statement Door

With each commercial design project, regardless of how big or small, you want to make your mark. Likewise, your clients want to leave an impression on all who visit or work in their building. There are numerous options for where to put the focus on the exterior of a building. Inside, a perfect opportunity to make a statement is with interior doors. Far more than simply functional, interior doors set a tone and style that affects how inhabitants experience a space. Let’s take a look at why and how a statement door enhances a design.

Make a Statement with Stile and Rail

Stile and rail doors make a smart investment for their combination of function and aesthetics. Wood stile and rail doors add a touch of luxury and class that works for everything from office buildings to medical facilities. They’re often a good choice when you’re trying to achieve historical authenticity. More importantly, however, you can customize them to fit just about any style or brand standards.

You can get different looks by customizing the number, shape and size of panels or replacing some of them with glass. A single stile and rail door, or a pair of them, can stand out as the entrance to a conference room or executive suite. Stile and rail doors look great in schools, as well, such as entry ways for libraries, auditoriums or executive offices. Choose from various wood species and wood cuts to help your doors either blend with or stand out from the elements around them.

Create a Focal Point with a Custom Door

Whether you choose a stile and rail or flush wood door, customize it to make a statement. Even if you choose to keep many of the doors in a project fairly standard, you can create a focal point with a custom door. In a hotel lobby, you might highlight the entry to the bar or restaurant and incorporate the hotel’s branding. For an office, you might use the company’s logo color or print the company values directly on a conference room door.

Grab Attention with an Oversized Door

Oversized doors are a popular design trend that’s guaranteed to steal the show in any building. Large doors can be functional, such as for a cross-corridor door where large items need to move through. However, there is also a trend of large, attention-grabbing doors for aesthetic reasons.

Oversized can work in almost any type of commercial space. For example, Masonite Architectural chose an oversized entry door to the main common area when updating a historic building for our offices. A true statement piece, the door is the first thing that most employees and visitors notice upon their arrival. A large wood door can also look striking in a hotel lobby or an event space in a school.

To make an oversized door truly stand out, consider a trendy option for hanging it, such as barn door-style or on a pivot. These striking options are also practical, allowing adjacent spaces to be joined together for specific needs.

Find Your Statement Doors at Masonite Architectural

With the right statement door, you can tie together a whole design with a dazzling visual. Visitors will go away remembering it. For any size budget, working one outstanding wood door into a design makes for a relatively small investment that makes a big impact., Explore our stile and rail buyers guide or our flush wood doors guide to see more statement door ideas. Or contact Masonite Architectural today to request product samples.

STC-Rated Doors in Education Projects

On Feb 19, 2021 | admin@freshy.press

STC-Rated Doors in Education Projects

In specifying doors for schools and universities, safety is usually the top concern. However, acoustics play a key role in creating a positive learning environment. Schools are often situated on busy roads, near a lot of traffic and activity that creates noise. Within a school and its grounds, sound is generated by voices, foot traffic, sports, musical instruments and other activities.

Many elements in the design process contribute to the acoustic experience of a school building. Your choices of room layout, HVAC systems, electrical fixtures, flooring materials, windows and doors affect how sound moves through the school. Here, we will look at the options for STC-rated doors for education projects.

How Acoustics Impact Learning

Exposure to loud noise interferes with the ability to concentrate, hear and understand a teacher, and learn. A 2013 paper published in Frontiers in Psychology reviewed existing literature on how noise affects children’s learning. The researchers concluded:

“Children are much more impaired than adults by noise in tasks involving speech perception and listening comprehension. Non-auditory tasks such as short-term memory, reading and writing are also impaired by noise.”

Because sound makes such a difference in a learning environment, there are strict acoustic criteria as set forth by ANSI S12.60-2002. These standards, “Acoustical Performance Criteria, Design

Requirements and Guidelines for Schools,” include the following:

For core learning spaces with internal volumes of 20,000 cubic feet or less, one-hour steady-state background noise levels should not exceed 35 dBA.
For core learning spaces with internal volumes of 20,000 cubic feet or more, one-hour steady-state background noise levels should not exceed 40 dBA.
If the noisiest one-hour period during which learning activities take place is dominated by transportation noise, the maximum noise limits are increased by 5 dB.

The US Green Building Council also considers acoustic design in its LEED for Schools program, awarding credits for taking steps that mitigate sound transfer and reverberation.

How STC-Rated Doors Reduce Sound Transmission for Classrooms

Sound reduction starts with good site selection and space planning. Once those decisions are in place, sound transfer can be addressed with the materials used for floor-ceiling and roof-ceiling assemblies, along with STC-rated windows and doors.

The amount of airborne sound blocked by a partition is measured as a Sound Transmission Class (STC) rating. An interior door’s STC rating depends on the materials and the installation methods. The STC rating of a door roughly indicates the decibel reduction that it provides. At a rating of 35, loud speech is audible but not intelligible, while 40 or more meets the level considered “privacy.”

Acoustic education doors actually carry two STC ratings. One rating measures the “sealed in place” performance, for which manufacturers test the doors while they’re sealed in place with putty. The other rating measures the “operable” performance, or how the door functions in a realistic, operational setting.

The materials, construction and installation of architectural doors all play a part in acoustics. STC-rated doors reduce sound in two ways, by absorbing sound or by reflecting it. Schools often want surfaces that are easy to clean, which means that doors with flat, painted surfaces or heavy-duty laminates work well. These door surfaces are effective at reflecting sound.

Best Types of Interior Doors for a School

Masonite Architectural Doors for Education

Masonite Architectural offers complete education door solutions. Our customizable wood doors can meet your project’s needs for acoustics, security, sustainability, health and aesthetics. We test all of our doors in operable openings, for the most useful acoustic performance results. The best acoustically-rated doors bring together form and function. You can find just the right style, finish, and color to match the rest of the school or university, to create a seamless visual effect.

Contact your Masonite Architectural rep today or find your ideal interior school doors using our acoustic sound tool.

Using Doors to Create a Sense of Place

On Feb 19, 2021 | admin@freshy.press

Using Doors to Create a Sense of Place

One goal of design is often to create a sense of place. A sense of place encompasses the characteristics that make a locale special or unique, whether we’re talking about the lobby of a building or a whole city block. In an increasingly digital and virtual world, people long for a sense of physical belonging.

In a commercial building, a sense of place is the accumulated effect of multiple touch points creating an overall “vibe.” Doors, an omnipresent feature in any built environment literally connect the different spaces within a building and so, they contribute significantly to a sense of place.

Why is a sense of Place Important?

Research presented at the Places and Technologies conference in Slovenia stated, “There is an undeniable link between the qualities of place and people’s relation to it, and their mental health, or well-being in general.” The paper goes on to describe how the “unique ecological, architectural, historic, or geographic features contribute to emotional health, satisfaction, and well-being of a local community.”

The concept applies to any location where human beings spend time, indoors or out. In a healthcare facility, for example, the way visitors experience the environment can directly affect their wellbeing. The hospitality industry has fully embraced the pursuit of a sense of place, so we will focus on it.

A Sense of Place in Hospitality

Hospitality Net calls a sense of place a “branding imperative” in hospitality design. The design experts at Sherwin Williams add, “Hospitality design has always been about conjuring a sense of place. That’s even truer today, as cities everywhere are being reshaped by an eat local, shop local movement.”

When designing a hotel or resort, this concept is important to keep in mind. Hospitality companies wish to give their guests an immersive experience they will remember. Even large hotel chains are seeking to make each of their properties reflect the history and personality of their local communities

With interior doors needed for such a range of uses in a hospitality project, each one needs to be approached with the sense of place in mind.

Door Characteristics that Contribute to a Sense of Place

Material

The material used for a door sets the tone for its aesthetic and performance considerations. Incredibly versatile, wood can create an ambience from rustic to sophisticated, from historic to modern. Lighter color wood doors and natural stains contribute to a more rustic, warm, or homey look. Exotic wood doors and high shine give a more classy appearance. There is also a lot of versatility to be found with different wood cuts and facing.

Laminates and other smooth door surfaces can create a modern or industrial feeling, or serve as a canvas for eye-popping colors and designs. Other unique touches, like router carved MDF or metal inlays, make for memorable visuals that make a strong impression on hotel guests.

Style

The style of the doors further sets the tone for a hotel. A flush wood door conveys a different feeling than a stile and rail door. Door hardware, from simple to decorative, completes the look of a door that you want to achieve. Even security features play into the experience — think Disney’s “MagicBands” that allow visitors to scan in and out of their guestrooms, among numerous other functions.

Color

A color palette sets the foundation for a whole design, supporting a hotel’s brand and also its sense of place. Interior doors can be specified in colors that make them blend seamlessly with their surroundings or “pop” for a dramatic look. Custom color options for wood doors make the possibilities endless.

Other Elements

These are just a few of the ways in which doors contribute to a sense of place. They can also play a role in how a space is lit. For example, their placement or the gloss of their finish can reflect light around a space, while glass lites can facilitate the passage of light from one room to the next.

Even the size of a door makes an impression. For example, a larger door can add a sense of grandeur, or can be left open to create flow among ballrooms or banquet facilities.

The doors you specify in a hospitality project will affect how guests and employees will experience that space for years to come. Chosen thoughtfully as part of an overall vision, they will indeed help to create a sense of place that makes that hotel or resort entirely unique.

Explore Masonite Architectural’s hospitality door options for your next project.

Choosing Attack Resistant Doors by Project Type

On Jan 21, 2021 | admin@freshy.press

Choosing Attack Resistant Doors by Project Type

Commercial design moves in response to broad societal trends, and the tragic trend of mass shootings is an example. Mass shootings have been on the rise in the U.S. since the 1970s, and have received significant public attention in recent years.

As a result, companies and government entities look to “harden” buildings that might be targets of such an attack, and keep threats in mind during the design of a new school, office building, hospital or hotel. Even smaller organizations like churches and community centers are revisiting safety in light of shootings and hate crimes. Here, we take a look at how attack resistant door openings can contribute to the design of various types of commercial and public buildings where safety is a concern.

How Attack Resistant Doors Work

Attack resistant door openings act as a central element of commercial building safety in the face of a potential mass shooting or other violent attack. An attack resistant opening — which includes the door itself, the door frame, glass, jamb and hardware — is designed to stop or delay an attacker from entering a room. Even a small delay increases the chances for survival by buying time for first responders to arrive.

Contrary to popular belief, attack resistant doors don’t have to be made of metal. In a well-designed assembly, wood doors offer a high level of protection. The key is that the parts all function as a unit.

They are tested according to the 5-aa10 test standards based on the FBI’s Active Shooter Report. The Shooter Attack Test Method used to test the product is based on two recognized test standards (UL 752 Level 7 and ASTM F476), modified and combined based on input from law enforcement, the Department of Homeland Security, and active shooter subject matter experts.

Door Security Concerns in Different Commercial Sectors

Education

One of the greatest concerns of the school system is how to keep students and teachers safe from adversarial- and human-caused threats. Governments are willing to invest in this pursuit, too. For example, in the state of Florida, $99 million of a $400 million school security bill signed in 2018 is designated for “hardening” the infrastructure of educational buildings.

Attack resistant openings contribute to this hardening approach, both for new construction and retrofitting of existing education buildings. Schools may want attack resistant openings for large gathering areas like gymnasiums and cafeterias, or for every classroom.

Hospitality

Security features like card readers and biometric scanning are popular in hospitality, but one cannot overlook manual attack resistance – protection against aggressive entry into a guest room. For the hospitality industry, advanced physical security such as attack resistant door openings can be a selling point, especially for VIP guests. According to hotel security consultants, Toren Consulting, “considering security alongside architecture and interior design means that a hotel is better equipped to attract the kind of guests that the owner and brand intended for its VIP Suite.” Convention and event spaces can also benefit from attack resistant openings.

Office

While workplace mass shootings remain extremely rare, their high profile nature tends to raise the perception of danger. Security experts advise preparedness no matter what. In response, some office buildings are moving to a single point of entry. This could be a door or vestibule staffed by security personnel or outfitted with cameras. They will invest in making sure that entrance is as secure as possible. Therefore, even when attack resistant openings for a whole space would be cost-prohibitive, facilities may invest in them at one or two critical locations

Healthcare

The rate of violence in healthcare is five times greater than the private industry on average. Healthcare construction clients keep physical security top-of-mind, due to concerns of not only violence, but theft, privacy, and disease transmission. For example, they might opt for smart locks or RFID systems on their interior doors, since these contribute to security in multiple ways. However, it may be productive to remind them that an attack resistant door opening can prevent entry by sheer brute force, whether or not other security measures are in place. In a place like a hospital or doctor’s office, where many inhabitants may be disabled or incapacitated, physical security may be the only way to protect them in the face of violence.

Masonite and Armoured One’s Attack Resistant Openings

Masonite Architectural and Armoured One offer an attack resistant door solution designed to slow an active shooter from entering a room, allowing more time for the occupants to react and for the police to respond. The assembly features Armoured One’s Eagle Defense Series Glass. The glass is tested above and beyond the force of a typical active shooter.

Masonite Architectural has long been a leader in high-impact commercial doors but is working with Armoured One because of their expertise in whole building security. The attack resistant door opening is part of our Aspiro Series doors, and includes standard door frames, metal vision kits, and reinforced hardware. When combined with the Eagle Defense Series Glass, these elements are designed to resist up to 237J of force after bullet degradation.

The solution has been tested with a variety of surfaces and elevations to meet the design intent for multiple project types, and is available for both flush and stile and rail doors. The attack resistant door solution has been tested to the latest methods developed by active shooter experts that ensures integrity in real-life scenarios.

Learn More About Attack Resistant Openings

If you are interested in learning more about this important trend in commercial architecture, Masonite Architectural and Armoured One offer a CEU course on attack resistant door opening solutions. Learn more and enroll here.

Armoured One also offers security assessments for buildings. Armoured One Security Assessments were created by SWAT Team Operators, Homeland Security Active Shooter Experts, a former Navy SEAL Master Chief, a Delta Force Team Leader, Engineers and Architects.

Explore all of Masonite Architectural’s interior wood door products or contact your Masonite representative to get started.

What Makes STC-Rated Doors Essential for Hospitality Projects

On Jan 19, 2021 | admin@freshy.press

What Makes STC-Rated Doors Essential for Hospitality Projects

Trends in hospitality design change quickly and architects need to keep pace. At a time when many hotels are seeking to “design across generations,” to appeal to Baby Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, and now Gen Z, a quiet guest room is one feature that appeals to everyone. Hotels need quiet rooms to provide the best overnight experience for their guests.

Noise reduction in a hotel guest room can be achieved through a combination of smart choices for walls, windows, floor coverings and doors. Here, we look at the role that STC-rated doors play in that network and how to select acoustic interior doors for hotels.

Why Sound Levels Matter in Hospitality Environments

Hotel guests equate quiet with luxury and noise is one of the top complaints that hotel staff hear from guests. People need adequate sleep, for starters. Also consider that business travelers often work in their rooms, and many people take vacations primarily to “get away from it all,” enjoying some peace and quiet.

A well-designed door solution decreases disruptive noises from hotel hallways or adjacent rooms, leading to greater guest satisfaction. Industry experts estimate that hotel guests only report about 25% of their noise complaints directly to hotel staff. The rest, they communicate by word-of-mouth or online reviews, to the detriment of the hotel’s reputation. The bottom line is, poor acoustics reduce guest satisfaction, which in turn can impact hotel revenue.

The American Hotel and Lodging Association does not set a standard for guest room sound levels. So, making smart choices in the design phase is up to the architect and the property owner. Your clients may appreciate you bringing the benefits of STC-rated doors to their attention early in the process.

What an STC Rating Tells You About a Door

When discussing Sound Transmission Class, or STC-rated doors, we’re addressing airborne sound — which travels through the air in waves — as opposed to impact sound. Sound Transmission Class (STC) rates how well a structure resists airborne sound transfer, measured in decibels (dB).

An STC rating takes the dB level of the source sound and subtracts the dB level after it crosses the barrier into the next room. The average noise reduction is its STC number. At a rating of 35, loud speech is audible but not intelligible, while 40 or more meets the level considered “privacy.”

Building component technology, including door openings, has evolved in recent years to make

sound attenuation more affordable and practical. Innovations in door construction have led to lighter-weight doors that can carry the same STC ratings of their heavier predecessors.

How STC Rating Reduce Sound Transmission

Building component technology, including door openings, has evolved in recent years to mak sound attenuation more affordable and practical. Innovations in door construction have led to lighter-weight doors that can carry the same STC ratings of their heavier predecessors.

Acoustically-rated doors actually carry two STC ratings: a “sealed in place” rating and an “operable” rating. Manufacturers may test acoustic doors while they’re sealed in place with putty, or in a realistic, operational setting. Masonite Architectural tests all of its doors in operable openings for the most accurate results.

You can find STC-rated hospitality doors in many wood species, finishes and surface types, as well as with performance features like fire-rated mineral cores. You can even add lites and still achieve a certain level of acoustic resistance.

How to Use Acoustic Doors in a Hotel Project

Consider STC-rated doors for both exterior room doors and room connector doors. It’s also important to dampen noise from back-of-house locations such as the kitchen, laundry room, machine shops and boiler room. Some hotel chains have even added an extra sliding door that separates the entryway of the guestroom from the sleeping area.

Masonite Architectural manufactures interior doors with an STC rating of 47 with a 45-minute fire rating and an opening up to 4’x8’ or an STC rating of 30 with a 90-minute fire rating up to 4’x10’.

Find the acoustic door that meets your specifications, along with details of gaskets, seals, sweeps, and thresholds. Because you can order a wide range of interior wood doors from Masonite Architectural, including flat panel, stile and rail and attack-resistant doors, it’s possible to source all of the interior doors for your hospitality project from one source. Contact your Masonite rep, or find a Masonite rep to get started.

Tips for Writing Division 8 Specifications for Doors

On Jan 10, 2021 | admin@freshy.press

Tips for Writing Division 8 Specifications for Doors

As an architect or designer, you’re no stranger to MasterFormatⓇ. Relying on this standardized delivery of project information enables smooth communication between you and your clients, and within the construction team. With 50 Divisions and numerous Sections, some of them overlapping, MasterFormatⓇ takes time and skill to use expertly. Division 8 involves openings, with several sections related specifically to interior wood doors. Here, we will delve into those sections and provide tips for writing Division 8 specifications as completely and clearly as possible.

Which Division 8 Sections Relate to Wood Doors?

Division 8 covers all kinds of openings, including doors, grilles, entrances and glazing systems, windows, skylights, hardware, glazing materials, louvers and vents. The following sections are the ones you will address when specifying Masonite Architectural doors.

Flush Wood Doors (08 1416)

This Section includes:

Solid-core doors with wood-veneer faces.
Solid-core doors with plastic-laminate faces.
Factory finishing flush wood doors

Stile and Rail Wood Doors (08 1433)

This Section includes:

Interior and exterior stile and rail wood doors
Interior fire-rated stile and rail wood doors
Fire-rated wood door frames
Factory fitting wood doors to frames and factory machining for hardware

Door Hardware (08 7100)

This Section includes:

Mechanical door hardware for swinging doors and sliding doors
Cylinders for door hardware specified in other Sections
Electrified door hardware

Glazing (08 8000)

This Section includes:

Glass for windows and doors
Glazing sealants and accessories

Things to Keep in Mind When Specifying Doors

At Masonite Architectural, we strive to help architects and designers execute a successful project. We want to help you cover everything you need to write clear and concise Division 8 specs, close any loopholes and avoid omissions.

1. Clearly Define the Quality Assurance Standard

One of the most important steps is to indicate AWS (AWI) or WDMA quality assurance standard, and which version of the standard. For example:

ANSI/WDMA I.S. 1A-13 for Interior Flush Doors
ANSI/WDMA I.S. 6A-13 for Stile and Rail doors
AWS Edition 2-2015 Architectural Woodwork Standards

Take care to remove older versions that are no longer used.

2. Clearly Define Environmental Requirements

Environmental requirements may be noted in Division 1, Division 8, or both. Take care not to overlook these and be specific when listing the sustainability standard, including the version.

For example, you may need to specify LEED certification, International Green Construction Code IgCC, Living Building Challenge, CalGreen, Green Globes, or CHPS. Define the environmental attributes to which the doors apply. Include the type of compliance that is needed to meet low-emitting materials credits (NAUF, NAF, ULEF, CARB), and whether the doors use recycled, certified, regional, or rapidly renewable wood. Finally, list documentation requirements, such as SDS, EPD, HPD, or CSR.

3. Note Product Testing and Certification Requirements

Clearly define whether product testing reports or third party certification validation is required for the project’s doors. An example of how you might express this is “Fabricate doors with adhesives and composite wood products that comply with the testing and product requirements of the California Department of Health Services.” All door types should comply with the requirements you list.

4. Include the WDMA Performance Duty Level

Performance duty level will vary according to where the door will be placed and the building type. Identify which WDMA duty level each door must meet: Heavy Duty, Extra Heavy Duty, Standard Duty. Multiple duty levels can be listed within a project, so you may use Heavy Duty only in high traffic areas, for example.

5. List Construction Grade and Face Grade

Remember to list these two grades separately. For construction, specify Premium or Custom. Custom is the standard grade and will differ minimally in appearance from Premium. Due to limited availability, it is generally recommended to only specify Premium grade construction for special circumstances. For face grade, specify A or AA. Note that AA veneers may be more difficult to source due to limited supply.

6. Check References to Adhesive Type

For flush wood doors, the AWS and WDMA standards allow manufacturers to use a Type I or Type II adhesive to attach the face to the core, as long as the assembly meets the performance criteria of the duty level specified. Specifications should allow for use of either if you include a reference to “adhesive type.” Formaldehyde-free adhesives may also be available from your manufacturer of choice.

7. Clarify Wood Species and Cut

Many factors go into the ultimate look of the wood for a door. You will need to think through species, sapwood vs. heartwood, and wood cut. Indicate the species to be used for the veneer.

A major consideration is whether you want white or natural characteristics; birch, maple, and ash need to be defined as natural or white. If you do not designate one or the other, most manufacturers will default to natural. Also remember that oak must be identified as red or white.

In addition to species, always include the cut of veneer, as cut can completely change the look of wood. Choose from rotary, plain-sliced, or quarter-sliced, or — when specifying oak only — rift cut.

8. Note Face Lay-Up and Matching Requirements

Another factor in how a veneer looks is how the cuts of wood are faced and/or matched. Specify the desired lay-up such as slip match, balance match, or center match. Include special veneer requirements, such as:

Selected flitch material
Special flitch width or specific number of flitch pieces
Vertical or horizontal lay-up

Book and running match is the standard default for A grade by most door manufacturers, as it is the most economical lay-up option, followed by balanced and then centered lay-up options.

9. Define Figured Veneer Requirements

In addition to all of the above factors that affect the appearance of the veneer, also think about the degree of figuring desired, with either a low, medium or high designation. Common degrees of figuring include Low, Medium, and High. The higher degree of figure typically means a higher cost. Manufacturers will typically quote the least costly, which is a low figure if no degree of figuring is specified. Even specifying a degree of figuring does not guarantee that every door will have the same amount of figure — there is always a range.

10. Exclude Non-Required Information

Almost as important as what you include in your Division 8 specifications is what NOT to include. For example, exclude room or sequence match references if they are not required. Room match applies to a room of doors or a hallway of doors where they are located within close proximity of each other, where consistency is important. You can call it out in any specification, but it’s most commonly found in AWI Premium Grade projects. A room match must be specified if truly needed, but keep in mind it can add substantial cost to a project and may not be available from all manufacturers.

11. Include Laminate Required Type and Thickness

There are two types of decorative laminate, so take care to indicate which one the doors should have. It’s important to understand the difference between high-pressure and low-pressure laminate (thermo fused melamine).

Also take into account laminate grades and thickness. Indicate horizontal grade surface (HGS), vertical grade surface (VGS), or post-forming. Thicknesses can range from .28 to .048, with the latter being most common.

Make sure to include the laminate manufacturer, pattern number, and finish number such as matte or suede in your specification. Manufacturers will bid a generic standard laminate if no specific color is indicated.

12. Consider Specifying Multiple Surface Types

Not all door surface types are suited to every application. Understand the differences so that you can specify whether each interior door should have a veneer, laminate, and high-impact surface material. Veneer door surfaces provide the feel of warmth and well-being. Laminate surfaces provide a consistent appearance from door to door in addition to impact resistance. High Impact surfaces such as vinyl or PVC are the ultimate solution for those areas that need the most protection from heavy use.

Using multiple surface types on a project allows you to specify the best material by location. In some instances, different surface types can be matched with one another to give your project a more consistent look.

13. Define Vertical Edge Requirements

Not all vertical edges are alike, so noting the type of edges allowed is critical. Otherwise, you will get the manufacturer’s standard construction. Note whether door edges should be matching or compatible – and remember that these are not the same. Edges could be compatible but not match. Consider whether you want:

Veneer edge band over SCL
Thin hardwood over SCL
Hardwood/softwood lumber with outer-ply of different widths
Laminate edge bands for HPDL doors
Painted/stained edges for laminate doors
Veneer edge band over SCL

List specifics if you want something other than the manufacturer’s standard. Note that, for fire-rated doors, field trimming may not be possible if an intumescent must be incorporated into the construction.

14. Define Top and Bottom Requirements

Every part of the door matters, and that includes the top and bottom. Note whether you need these to be:

Structural composite lumber
Hardwood or softwood lumber
Laminate edge for HPDL doors
Cleanable smooth impact resistant edge

As with door edges, remember that matching and compatible are not the same. Also consider you want the same tops for all doors or only those where the top rail is visible from above.

15. Include Regulatory Requirements for Fire Safety

Fire-rated doors include a mineral core, but the whole door opening works together in the case of a fire. Flames and smoke can get through any openings in the assembly. Because wood doors do not expand when heated, door edges may burn away. An intumescent seal between the door and frame can fill any gaps that might form, by expanding in the presence of heat. The seal may be incorporated into either the door or the frame. If it’s in the frame, it can be pulled off, so keep that in mind for certain locations like schools. In Division 8, specify whether the door must withstand positive pressure testing (UL 10C) or neutral pressure testing (UL 10B)

You will also need to specify Category A or B. Category A doors do not require intumescent sealing or already have it built in. Category B doors require an additional edge-sealing system installed at the jobsite. Category A construction is recommended where an intumescent seal is not necessary. It typically — though not always — costs less, minimizes the risk of intumescent being vandalized while frame applied, and generally looks better.

16. Be Precise with Door Core and Construction Types

Be precise when specifying door cores; door manufacturers offer numerous core types. Some of these options will be dictated by building codes. In other cases, a client may want a specific core type in order to reduce noise or provide additional safety. Note the following when specifying door cores:

Bonded or non-bonded
Whether Particle Board should be wood or can be Agrifiber
Note that Particleboard does not necessarily mean wood. Allows Agrifiber if not defined as wood.
Requirements for mineral or fire-resistant composite
Lead-lined doors, such as for a radiology room in a hospital

17. Define the Door Hardware Required

You will need to define hardware reinforcement needs. Indicate if hardware reinforcement blocking is needed for some or all doors. When it comes to door hardware, you might find areas of overlap with Division 28, electronic safety and security. The 2016 MasterFormatⓇ update moved some products from Division 8 to 28, including delayed egress devices, non-integrated locksets, keypad lockets, stand-alone locksets and electric strikes. Confusion may arise over where to specify these things, so you may wish to duplicate this information in both Divisions. In addition, installation, keying and commissioning must be coordinated between the two divisions.

18. Add Details About Lite Bead and Glazing

When wood doors include lites, you have some additional specifications to consider. Make sure to confirm glazing requirements and lite bead shape and material. Note whether to include:

Wood, metal, or fire-resistant composite
Wood or metal lite beads
Flush or lip beads
Whether MVFs should be primed, painted or veneer wrapped
Glass type and thickness

You may also specify factory glazing or field glazing, but keep in mind that recent codes require lights to be glazed at the factory or by a licensed machiner. Therefore, field installation may not meet code.

19. Choose the Finish System, Sheen and Color

Verify the finish system, sheen and color for your doors. For interior wood doors, there are two grades of finish processes: Premium and Custom. First note which of these processes you need. Identify the finish system to be used. i.e. lacquer, varnish, polyurethane and check to see if the manufacturer offers it. Most manufacturers only offer one finish type (TR-8/AWS System 9). If multiple approved manufacturers are noted in the specification, then the construction standards indicate that the chosen manufacturers finish process is considered acceptable When specifying sheen level, use the manufacturers standard gloss level, rather than terms like satin, flat, etc.

20. Remove Any Door Specifications Not Required

What you include in your commercial door specifications is critically important — but what you don’t include matters, too. To avoid confusion, remove all references to any project certification that is not required. All project certifications add cost. Recommend that a manufacturer’s letter of compliance to specifications be accepted in lieu of certification. A manufacturer’s letter of compliance is not part of the AWI QCP Certification. Reference to an AWI Letter of Licensing is not a valid statement and is not used by the AWI Quality Certification Corporation that administers the AWI QCP Program. Also, note that not all manufacturers are AWI QCP Participants.

Final Thoughts on Division 8 Door Specifications

MasterFormatⓇ requirements come from the Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) and Construction Specifications Canada (CSC) and are intended to make information easy to navigate by architects, contractors and others involved with a project. In order to make them as helpful as possible, follow these tips.

Specifications need to be clear and concise to ensure the product that gets delivered is what you and your client expect. Remember to allow adequate time to flesh out the details of each and every Section.

Order samples of Masonite Architectural doors to get started planning your next project.

Updating Interior Architectural Doors

On Oct 19, 2020 | masonite

Challenges in Updating Interior Architectural Doors

If you’ve landed a design project to update a commercial building, one of many elements you will want to think about is retrofitting the doors and door frames. There are many design elements to consider, especially in buildings with a historic designation. Safety, preservation of character, and incorporating performance features are key. Here, we discuss the challenges of updating and developing interior architectural doors and door frames.

Updating Doors and Door Frames for Safety

Safety is a top priority when developing an existing building. It’s important that you balance creative design and aesthetic with the safety and security of the building’s occupants.

Fire-Rated Doors

When bringing doors and door frames up to current building codes, you might start with using specific fire-rated doors. The existing doors are likely to be solid wood or hollow, depending on the age of the building. Fire-rated doors can protect against both fire and smoke, potentially saving lives, and reducing liability in the event of a fire.

Primary codes that address fire rating requirements include:

Areas of a building where a fire is more likely to start, such as a kitchen in a nursing facility or hospital, will require fire-rated doors of a specific rating.

Attack Resistant Openings

Another type of commercial door to consider is an attack resistant opening. Unfortunately, there have been hundreds of gunfire incidents on schools and other public buildings in the United States over the past decade. Many commercial design clients today want attack resistant door openings that can mitigate the risk of violent incidents.

Thanks to several layers of protection and strong materials, attack resistant openings will remain intact, even if shot by bullets or physically struck. That strength can buy valuable time until help arrives.

Redeveloping a Historic Building

Historic buildings are noticed for their unique styles, building materials, and architectural design. While original doors can add character and charm to a history building, they can also be troublesome to update or replace.

The Guidelines for Rehabilitating Historic Buildings have simple standards for updating original buildings while preserving their historicity. Generally, their guidelines suggest that you fix what can be fixed. If it can’t be fixed, find a replacement. If you can’t find a replacement, find a solution that looks similar to the original.

Replacement doors should replicate the original doors as closely as possible. Fortunately, interior wood doors can be customized to a wide range of styles and stained or painted to match other design elements. If a unique style can’t be duplicated exactly, then the replacement should be modern yet complementary, and speak to the unique character of the building.

Incorporating Newer Performance Features

Updating architectural doors in an existing structure allows you to incorporate new, modern features that can add to the building’s value, or improve quality of life for its occupants.

Noise control is often a concern for commercial buildings. Doors with high Sound Transmission Class (STC) ratings absorb sound as it passes through it. With the right STC-rated doors, the noise level in bustling environments like office buildings, schools, and medical facilities can be kept to a minimum.

“Green” architectural design choices are rising in popularity as well. Sustainable doors rated by the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program incorporate recycled content materials, saving energy and reducing impact on the environment.

Consider a Classic Stile and Rail Design

Stile and rail doors are a classic choice of door that work well in a variety of architectural projects, including updating and preserving history buildings.

High Quality

A stile and rail door looks like a single carved piece of wood, but it is assembled from a dozen or more pieces. Horizontal rails and vertical stiles with panels secured in between are combined to make a high-quality, precisely constructed door.

Because of its construction, stile and rail doors are sturdy and more resistant to sound transfer. They can also be customized to meet fire-rating specifications.

Flexible Design Options

Thanks to a detailed, multi-step construction process, stile and rail doors can be modified to suit any architectural style. Panels can be flat panel, mitered rim, or louvered. You may also choose to add hardware, or lites and archtops.

Furthermore, you can choose veneers, paint colors, stains, or wood species to complement the features and style of the existing building. Midcentury, art deco, contemporary, and more, stile and rail doors can be customized and used for virtually any commercial building redesign.

To learn more about the wide range of options available when you need to retrofit doors for a redevelopment project, browse our wood doors or contact your Masonite Architectural representative

How Masonite Updated Its Historic Office With Custom Doors

On Sep 4, 2020 | masonite

Masonite, parent of Masonite Architectural and one of the world’s largest door manufacturers, broke ground on a new global headquarters in the historic Ybor City neighborhood of Tampa, Florida, in November 2018. Naturally, selecting the interior doors for the office was an important part of the design process. Here’s a look at how we updated our office’s historic interior with custom manufactured doors.

Interior Design Challenges in a Historic Locale

Ybor City, a booming center for the cigar industry in the late 1800s, has distinct Spanish, Cuban and Italian architectural influences. The eclectic neighborhood blends vintage boutiques, upscale restaurants and unique nightlife with old-world cobblestone streets and historic architecture.

When designing a new workspace for more than 200 Tampa-based Masonite employees, Alfonso Architects sought to integrate historic Ybor influences into a modern, open environment. The architects leveraged Masonite’s expertise and innovative nature to enhance the blended aesthetic with unique interior wood doors.

Howard Heckes, CEO of Masonite, adds:

“Doors do more than open and close – they have the power to make spaces brighter, quieter and more impactful. As a leading door manufacturer, it was important for us to focus on the pivotal role our products play in defining this space.”

A Statement Door for the Common Area

The most remarkable feature of the new four-story headquarters is the massive stranded lumber entry door to the main common area. A true statement piece, the door is the first thing that most employees and visitors notice upon their arrival. Within the structure of the door, meticulous laid cutouts provide a line of sight into other common areas of the first floor. As the designer explains:

“In addition to many key design features throughout the building, we wanted to communicate the soul of Masonite at the main public entry door on the ground level. This resulted in a dramatic 12-foot-high, 525-pound, solid hardwood cross-laminated statement door with a functionally elegant modern design.”

This unique door was manufactured by the Masonite Architectural’s plant in London, Ontario, known for making stile and rail doors. It required more than 45 hours of labor and 30 team members. The London team had to account for the swinging door portion as well as the large stationary side section. In total, the door contained 396 board feet of white ash, maple, birch and red oak veneer. The door components were stabilized by four pallets on each side and bolted vertically.

Tampa-based Integrated Door Systems needed a crew of eight to move the statement door into place and install it. The door is on a large automatic opener triggered by a common card reader.

Customized Doors for Offices

For the offices, the designers turned to Masonite Architectural’s flush door plant in Saint-Ephrem, Quebec, to produce one-off custom doors. Masonite employees got to design them themselves. The custom doors used the same wood species and color for a consistent aesthetic, but with variations in glazing and design to reflect each team member’s personality.

“Helping to design the door for our own office was exciting as it was the first time I’ve had the opportunity to personalize a product for my own workspace,” said Graham Thayer, Senior Vice President of Masonite Architectural.

Masonite Ybor Office with open green doors

Flush and Louvered Doors for Restrooms

A plain sliced white maple with a clear finish was selected to match the project’s flush wood doors and full-length louvered bathroom doors. Each door features a different lite layout and integrates glass from Masonite’s strategic glass providers.

Doors Make the Space

The results of the project have helped Masonite’s team internally while also giving the company ideas helping clients achieve their design goals through proper door selection. As Heckes explains:

“Our company vision is to open new doors for our customers, partners and employees and we pride ourselves in a culture that promotes new ideas and inclusiveness. This new, state-of-the-art headquarters will lay the framework for helping our teams here in Tampa, as well as our employees, partners and customers around the globe, discover all-new ways to walk through walls.”

For your next office design project, explore all that Masonite Architectural has to offer for every part of the office environment. Find the door performance features you need along with a wide range of design features and finish options to create exactly the right look.

Commercial Doors 101

On Sep 4, 2020 | masonite

While they only account for a small percentage of a building’s design budget, commercial doors are a key component of a successful project. Commercial doors do more than complete your design. Certain performance features are required for compliance with building codes, but that doesn’t mean they need to appear boring. It’s smart to focus on a commercial door’s technical specs and performance needs before its design, but aesthetics can’t be forgotten, either. That’s why it’s important to understand a few commercial door basics to ensure the doors you specify meet your project’s architectural and design needs.

Here’s a rundown of the most important elements of commercial doors that architects and designers need to know to plan a successful project.

Commercial Door Styles

Doors come in many different styles, but they can be broadly separated into flush wood doors and stile and rail doors.

Flush Wood Doors

Flush wood doors have a smooth, or flush, surface without any moldings. It is common for flush doors to be covered with ply, MDF board, or wood and finished with laminate or painted. They are often specified for hospitals, hotels, and schools. Flush doors are better sound insulators and tend to be more fire-resistant and pest resistant.

Stile and Rail Doors

Stile and rail doors get their name from the horizontal wood joiners (rails) and vertical wood joiners (stiles) that create the panels on the door. These doors are more stylish and aesthetically pleasing, but they tend to cost more because of the extensive craftsmanship that goes into making them.

Commercial Door Core Types

Doors typically come as solid wood, hollow-core, or solid core. Hollow doors actually have a cardboard honeycomb inside. When it comes to commercial solid door cores, there are four main types:

Structural Composite Lumber (SCL) Core: Strands of different types of small-diameter hardwood trees combined with special resins. It is more durable and heavier than particleboard.
Particleboard Core: Ground-up raw wood glued together. It is durable, low cost, and widely available. Particleboard is suitable for most commercial construction.
MDF Core: Glued wood fibers for a core that is more dense than particleboard. It makes a durable, budget-friendly choice.
Mineral Core: A mix of noncombustible minerals used in fire-rated doors. They are very lightweight but require woodblocking to hold screws for hardware.

Commercial Door Surface Types

Depending on the style of commercial door, there are several broad categories of surface types to choose from. You will find variations on each of these, making for a wide range of options to meet just about any style or performance need.

Laminates: Typically made of plastic bonded to a composite base, it is printed to look like real wood.
Veneers: Thin pieces of wood glued directly onto the door core.
Fiberboard. Available in different densities and ideal for painting.

Painted or Stained Wood Doors

When it comes to painting or staining a commercial door, it is important to remember that paint is often less costly, more durable, and provides more protection than a stain. Likewise, paint quality doors are more affordable than stain quality doors, and there is virtually no limit when it comes to door paint color. That said, stained doors offer a natural aesthetic better suited to certain projects. Essentially, it all comes down to your budget and the aesthetics you are trying to achieve.

Wood Species for Commercial Doors

The wood species you use can affect the door’s durability and color. Some of the most common species used include:

Maple: A strong, dense wood that is naturally light in color. Works well with both paint and stain.
Birch: A light-colored wood featuring a straight wood grain. Also works well with both paint and stain.
Cherry: A long-lasting medium-strength wood that is resistant to warping and is ideal for high-end projects. Exposure to sunlight can darken the wood over time.
Oak: A long-lasting, classic wood that is resistant to cracking and water damage. It is ideal for high-use doors with either paint or stain.
Mahogany: Perfect for high-end, executive projects. It is a darker color, limiting the stains it is compatible with.

Commercial Door Wood Cuts

The look and style of a door can be changed based on the wood cut, as it determines grain pattern and consistency. Common wood cuts for commercial doors include:

Rotary Cut: Blade spirals inward through trees producing a wood sheet. This is the most environmentally friendly and economical cut.
Flat Cut: Plain slicing of a log resulting in straighter grain and a more uniform look. This cut is highly affordable and a good option for commercial doors.
Quarter Cut: A log is first cut into quarters with layers cut from each quarter. Creates a tight vertical grain, producing a uniform look. In oak, this creates a “flake effect,” or shiny appearance.
Rift Cut: Only available in oak, this cut is made 15-degrees to the radial accentuating the vertical grain.
Comb Grain: Only available in oak, this cut has a tight, straight grain almost appearing as solid color, making it more costly.

Impact Edge Commercial Doors

The edges of doors have the most wear and tear, leading to the veneer or laminate getting damaged. Impact edges help protect the edges of the door, ultimately increasing the durability of the door. Some can even remove the need for metal edges or kick plates.

Glass Lites for Interior Doors

Lites are framed glass panels fixed in the door, sidelight, or transom. They neither open nor have an operable sash, but they can vastly change the look and feel of a space by controlling the passage of light. They can be decorative or clear and are typically made with safety glass and insulated. They can also be used beside or above a door to add visual interest.

Commercial Door Opening Components

A door slab is one of the many components of a fully functional commercial door. Here are other important components found in door openings.

Hinges

The type of hinge required for a commercial door will depend on the purpose of the opening. Some of the most popular commercial hinges are:

Mortise/butt hinge: A removable pin joins two leaves that “butt” together when closed. Used with lightweight doors.
Ball bearing hinge: Two leaves combined by permanently lubricated bearings making it smooth and quiet. Used with heavy and wide doors.
Continuous hinge: A long, narrow hinge that goes the whole length of the door, providing more support and reducing stress on the hinge. Often used with fire doors.

Frames

Door frames play a key role in security. Wooden frames are susceptible to rot and damage, while steel door frames are more secure and can be attack resistant. Steel frames can also be wrapped in wood to match the aesthetic of a wood door but still provide additional security.

Hardware

Commercial doors require hardware of different kinds depending on the function of the door, where it is located, and the level of security needed. Hardware may include:

Doorknobs
Lever handles
Kickplates
Door sweeps
Locks and deadbolts
Door reinforcements
Panic bars and exit devices
Security devices
Door closers

Any selected hardware must be able to withstand the traffic and use required. It must also provide the necessary security. Keeping all of this in mind, the hardware must also match the rest of the space’s design.

ANSI Performance Levels

ANSI performance levels are national standards indicating the reliability of various commercial doors in certain environments and applications. There are three main levels:

Extra Heavy Duty: This is the highest performance standard applied to doors that receive frequent, extreme use, such as hospital patient rooms, public bathrooms, and classrooms.
Heavy Duty: This standard is used with doors that will still need a high-quality standard but are not in high-traffic areas, such as hotel room doors, apartment doors, and stairwell openings.
Standard Duty: This is a basic standard for doors that are in low-use areas, such as private bathrooms, storage rooms, or closets.

Always double-check the ANSI performance level of any commercial door and ensure it meets the required standards for the area before incorporating it into your design.

ADA Requirements for Commercial Doors

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires that entrances, doors, and gates have certain measurements to ensure accessibility. Regulations require at least 60% of public entrances to be accessible in a new construction. If there are double-leaf doors, one active leaf must meet ADA criteria. ADA door measurements are:

Height opening of a minimum 80”
Width opening of a minimum 32″
No hardware above 48”
No projections into the opening below 34”
10” of clear surface area from the floor
Thresholds must not exceed ¾” high for exterior sliding doors and ½” for other doors
Changes in level between ¼” and ½” must have a beveled slope

Contact Masonite Architectural for Help Finding the Right Commercial Doors for Your Project

While we’ve just shared a comprehensive resource to help you understand commercial doors, you may still have questions or need help selecting the right door.

Finding the right commercial door that meets all of the code requirements and fits into your overall design and aesthetic vision can be challenging. Masonite Architectural offers a range of commercial doors that give you the durable design you need to make your project a success. Contact us today to find the commercial doors you need.

Where to Specify Different Door Surface Types

On Aug 17, 2020 | masonite

Whether an interior door works in a project has everything to do with its surface type. Changing the surface material can actually change the look and function of a wood door. Here, we will take a look at various surface types for doors and discuss which ones work best in various commercial projects.

Popular Types of Wood Door Surfaces

Hardwood Veneers

Nothing can substitute for the beauty and warmth of natural wood. The right stain can take any wood species, from birch to mahogany, to just the right shade for your design. For painted doors, paint-grade poplar makes a great choice. Generally, hardwoods are more dense and therefore resist scratching and denting more than softwoods.

Softwood Veneers

By custom request, Masonite Architectural can provide softwood veneers such as fir. Both hardwood and softwood work well for stile and rail doors.

Reconstituted Veneer

This human-made wood veneer can be created to mimic colors and grain patterns of natural wood, but give a more uniform look. Depending on what wood species you want it to look like, a reconstituted veneer might offer a more budget-friendly alternative.

High-Density Fiberboard

High-density fiberboard (HDF) makes for a durable option for interior doors, offering a dense, paintable surface.

Medium-density Fiberboard (MDF)

This door surface contains glued wood fibers, which are denser than customary particleboard. The smooth surface makes MDF perfect for painting. It can even be router-carved for a completely custom look.

Medium-density Overlay (MDO)

Medium-density overlay (MDO) gives premium adhesion for factory-applied paints. At Masonite Architectural, MDO is exclusive to our AspiroTM Series premium painted doors.

Molded Panel

This smooth hardboard is available in a variety of familiar design choices featuring deep embossments and simple, pleasing lines.

High Impact Door Surfaces

High-impact surfaces are specifically engineered to withstand intense use. Combine them with impact edges to prolong the life of a door.

HPDL Surfaces

Decorative laminates are made from kraft paper and resin pressed together. A laminate surface is highly customizable and works with just about any type of door core. High pressure decorative laminates (HDPL) provide an extremely durable surface, great for high-traffic areas.

LPDL Surfaces

Low-pressure decorative laminates (LPDL) are made from similar materials to HPDL but attached to the substrate using lower pressure and higher temperatures. The result is a budget-friendly door with a quick turn-around time, best used in lower traffic areas.

Best Door Surface Types for Different Projects

Hospitality Projects

Hospitality design projects run the gamut in terms of budget and size, so you have to approach each one individually. What they have in common, however, is their quest for a peaceful, home-away-from-home environment. Premium painted MDO work well for hotel guest rooms, while select wood veneers offer a high-fashion look for bars and banquet rooms.

Another great choice, unique to Masonite Architectural, is our West End surface. It complements contemporary and modern styles with smooth, hardboard surface doors with distinct embossments.

Healthcare Facilities

When specifying doors for healthcare projects, we usually think first about core type — STC-rating, fire rating or lead-lined — but the door surface contributes significantly to performance. High-impact or HPDL surfaces protect doors against heavy traffic and potential damage from hospital equipment. They’re also easy to clean and disinfect, especially when paired with a top & bottom clean edge. A wood veneer or choice laminate makes a strong impression for lower-traffic spaces like administrative offices and hospital staff conference rooms.

Schools and Classrooms

Durability is the name of the game for education design projects. Paintable MDO or choice laminates can work in tandem with all of your school door performance requirements, like fire-rating and STC-rating. The growing interest in school safety and attack resistant openings has generated a full line of these products; specify the doors in laminates, impact surfaces or wood veneers. Custom laminates also make a fun addition to classrooms, allowing the doors to be printed with school colors or mascots.

Office Projects

Office projects often prioritize function over form, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find the ideal interior door surface. Wood veneers make a strong impression, especially with stile and rail doors. When budget is a bigger concern, painted MDF stile and rail doors make a good alternative. Impact and HPDL surfaces are a great idea for areas where equipment might bang into doors, like mailrooms or storage areas.

How Door Designs Influence Wood Surface Decisions

Your decision about types of door surfaces may also hinge on whether you want stile and rail doors versus flush wood doors, and whether you prefer painted or stained doors. Not every surface type is available for every Masonite Architectural door, so your best bet is to speak to your rep to choose the best option for your project.

While both functionality and design factors are crucial to a successful project, surface type makes a big difference to both. Performance factors need not stifle your creative vision or your client’s taste.