Stainless Steel Doors
The Stainless Steel Advantage
Design professionals generally specify stainless steel doors and frames for their sleek appearance. Stainless steel is also the optimum door material where rust and corrosion are a concern. They are also very hygienic. For these reasons, they are found in a wide variety of buildings such as offices, hospitals, and food processing plants, to name a few.
Stainless steel doors typically have a composite core such as polystyrene or honeycomb, but are also available with steel stiffeners. They can be fire and STC rated too.
Stainless Steel Door Design
There are many finishing options, enabling architects to add a distinct design element to their doors. Standard industry finishes are referenced by #1-8. Lower number finishes are more matte, while higher numbers are more reflective. The most common finishes include:
#2B Unpolished
Suitable for painting, such as in concealed areas where stainless steel performance is required but aesthetics are not important
#4 Brushed Satin
Low reflectivity
#6 Long Grain Satin
#8 Mirror
… and many more such as angel hair, swirl and distressed
Resources
SDI has developed a variety of resources for architects, specifiers and distributors on stainless steel doors below.
AIA / GBCI Education
Specifying Specialty Steel Doors: A Primer on Fire-Rated, Forced Entry, Acoustic, Stainless Steel and More
Article
Introduction to Steel Doors & Frames