Steel doorsets must be manufactured to the very highest standards and there are many specialists in the UK with some very advanced models from the likes of Germany and Italy. Most doorsets are factory assembled for the simplest on-site installation with a totally adjustable fixing frame, making life easier for the installer and the customer!
Steel doorsets can be used externally or internally, ensuring a more secure and longer lasting alternative to timber. Although suitable for various applications, the first purpose of a steel doorset is to supply levels security, and this will now be achieved in accordance with many attractive colours and finishes.
With more rigorous demands on commercial products and much higher standards for testing and compliance, steel doors are fast becoming a preferred option for several doors, even in domestic properties. Timber can warp and it requires maintenance, GRP and composites that generally aren’t suitable for demanding environments, while Upvc is certainly not suitable. Aluminium is a fine choice for door types and sections, but steel is that the outright winner for strength, therefore the applications with strength, stability and sturdiness are usually well-liked. Of course, there are some cheap versions of any product and steel doors are not an exception, but cheap, poorly assembled steel doorsets are going to be a poor choice when security, strength and sturdiness are key factors to consider. We would never advise you choose a door on price, and we’re not saying you have to spend a fortunate, but as with all products, you usually “pay for what you get”.
A steel doorset should be totally factory produced and assembled, compliant for the environment and fully tested product to make sure it’s suitable for its intended purpose. Steel doorsets are often fitted in various environments, however, they should provide a decent level of security too. Relevant more than ever before, if you’re purchasing a steel doorset for a replacement build project or maybe a refurbishment, it’s essential that the door has the proper specification, also because the correct certification will ensure total compliance.
So many steel doorsets used and sold within the UK that aren’t compliant and have misleading information about their specification and certification, avoid at all costs!
Some manufacturers will go the extra mile and produce the doors with additional certifications. For instance, why shouldn’t an entrance door be a security rated door? You’ll get strength and protection, and you can find many attractive designs too. Fire exit doors are usually situated during a vulnerable (and often out of sight) area on a building and are a simple target for intruders, especially when the door is of inferiority and specification. In theory a fire exit steel doorset can provide the necessary protection! It is not to say that it is a fire protection door or anything, it’s merely a door to let people use in an emergency and its purpose may be to be opened outwards as fast as possible. So don’t just consider these doors in one area, as they may be useful in others too.