ANSI A250.4-2011 Physical Endurance for Steel Doors, Frames & Frame Anchors
Over 30 years ago the steel door institute created a standard to set uniform testing procedures for door, frame and hardware durability. This standard focuses on two tests, the cycle test and the twist test.
I thought it might be interesting for you to know exactly what the testing entails. This post will feature the cycle test for doors and I will share the twist test specifics next week.
4 Test specimen
4.1 Doors
Unless specified otherwise, the test shall be performed on a 3‘-0“ x 7‘-0″ nominal size door. A detailed description of the construction of the door and the applicable processes such as welding, bonding, etc. used for attaching components, shall be recorded in the test report, Swing Test Form 1, under the “remarks” section.
4.2 Frames
Unless specified otherwise, the test shall be performed on a 3‘-0“ x 7‘-0″ nominal size frame having a 5 3/4“ jamb depth. A detailed description of the door frame which shall cover all components used in the frame’s construction, as well as applicable processes (such as welding, etc.) used for attaching and connecting components, shall be recorded in the test report, Swing Test Form 2, under the “remarks” section.
A detailed description of the frame and anchoring system which shall cover all details of the anchors, as well as the means of attachment in the frame and the weight of the door used for the test shall be recorded in the test report.
5 Swing test
5.1 Doors
Duration of the test shall be 250,000 cycles with latching for Level C doors; 500,000 cycles with latching for Level B doors; and 1,000,000 cycles with latching for Level A doors. A general inspection of the door shall be made at 25,000 cycle intervals for the first 100,000 cycles and at 50,000 cycles thereafter. A mechanical counter or equivalent shall be used to record the cycles.
The general inspection shall cover perimeter clearances between door and frame and all components readily accessible, such as face skins, exposed hinge and lock stiles, flush closing channels, end closures, hinge reinforcements, and lock body/face plate reinforcements and shall cover the integrity of assemble methods used to connect the door components.
Doors which have passed the cycling criteria at one level shall be deemed to have passed all lower levels. The results shall be recorded on a standard performance report, Swing Test Form 1.
5.2 Frame
Duration of the test shall be 250,000 cycles for Level C frames; 500,000 cycles for Level B frames; and 1,000,000 cycles for Level A frames. A general inspection of the frame shall be made at 25,000 cycle intervals for the first 100,000 cycles and at 50,000 cycle intervals thereafter.
The general inspection shall cover perimeter clearances between door and frame and all frame components readily accessible, such as corner clips and screws, corner tabs and slots, head and jamb tabs/slots hinge reinforcements, and strike reinforcements and shall cover the integrity of assembly methods used to connect the frame components.
Door frames which have passed the cycling criteria at one level shall be deemed to have passed all lower levels. The results shall be recorded as part of the test report.
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