Page 3 - Parts and Hardware
Fire-rated door assemblies are tested, labeled openings designed to resist the spread of fire and smoke for a specified duration. Every fire-rated opening consists of a door, frame, and hardware that have been tested together as an assembly and carry labels from a nationally recognized testing laboratory such as UL, Intertek (WHI), or FM. Fire ratings range from 20 minutes to 3 hours depending on the wall rating and the location of the opening within the building. Understanding what fire ratings mean, which components are required, and what field modifications are permitted is essential for specifying, installing, and maintaining compliant fire door assemblies.
CDF Distributors supplies complete fire-rated door and frame assemblies from its Nashville, Tennessee headquarters. You can configure and order fire-rated assemblies online using CDF’s ProBuilder tool at cdfdistributors.com. For assistance specifying a fire-rated assembly for your project, call (855) 769-9895 or email sales@cdfdoors.com
Fire ratings indicate the length of time a door, frame, and hardware assembly has been tested to resist the passage of fire and smoke. Commercial buildings require fire-rated door assemblies wherever building codes mandate compartmentalization of fire and smoke, including stairwells, corridors, mechanical rooms, and occupancy separations. The fire rating applies to the complete assembly—door, frame, and hardware must all carry matching fire labels to comply with code requirements.
CDF Distributors fabricates and ships fire-rated door and frame assemblies from its Nashville, Tennessee headquarters. You can configure fire-rated assemblies online using CDF’s ProBuilder tool at cdfdistributors.com. For assistance selecting the correct fire rating for your project, call (855) 769-9895 or email sales@cdfdoors.com.
When Fire Ratings Are Required
State and local building codes, typically based on the International Building Code (IBC), specify where fire-rated door assemblies must be installed.
A technical guide to Folger Adams electric strike function, selection criteria, fire-rated applications, and integration with access control systems — available through CDF Distributors via ASSA ABLOY/Banner Solutions distribution.
This guide answers: How do Folger Adams electric strikes work and when should they be specified for access control?
How Electric Strikes Function in Commercial Door Openings
An electric strike replaces the standard fixed strike plate in a door frame with an electrically operated strike that can release the latchbolt or deadlatch without retracting the lock mechanism itself. When the access control system sends an unlock signal, the strike lip (also called the keeper) pivots or retracts, creating a gap that allows the latchbolt to pass through and the door to open. Once the door closes, the keeper returns to its locked position and the latchbolt re-engages automatically.
This operating principle makes electric strikes one of the most versatile and cost-effective
Modifying the glazing in a fire-rated door assembly without verifying the listing can void the door’s fire rating entirely. When glazing exceeds the maximum size permitted for a given fire rating, uses a non-listed glass type, or is installed in an unapproved lite kit frame, the assembly no longer complies with its UL or WHI listing. This means the door fails inspection, the building owner loses code compliance, and the assembly must be replaced or recertified. This guide explains how glazing choices affect fire-rated door assemblies across all five rating levels (20-minute, 45-minute, 60-minute, 90-minute, and 3-hour) and how to specify glazing correctly from the start.
CDF Distributors’ ProBuilder tool at cdfdistributors.com allows you to configure fire-rated door assemblies with listed glazing options built into the selection process. ProBuilder only displays glazing sizes and types that are compatible with your selected fire rating. For assistance specifying glazing for a fire-rated
A specification guide to commercial flush door core types, face materials, fire ratings, and application criteria for interior and exterior openings.
This guide answers: What are the construction types and applications for commercial flush doors?
Overview of Commercial Flush Doors
A flush door has flat, smooth faces without raised or recessed panels. The door consists of a core material sandwiched between two face sheets, with edge banding (stiles) on the vertical edges and rails at the top and bottom. Flush doors are the most widely specified door type in commercial construction due to their versatility, range of available fire ratings, and compatibility with standard hardware preparations.
CDF Distributors supplies commercial flush doors through its partnership with Masonite Architectural, one of the largest wood door manufacturers in North America. CDF's ProBuilder configuration tool allows specifiers to select the core type, face material, fire rating, and hardware preparation for Masonite
Commercial hardware finishes are standardized coatings and surface treatments applied to door hardware components such as locksets, hinges, closers, and exit devices. The two primary designation systems used in the United States are the legacy US finish codes (US3, US4, US10, US26, US26D, US32, US32D, etc.) and the current BHMA (Builders Hardware Manufacturers Association) three-digit numeric codes (605, 606, 612, 625, 626, 630, 652, 689, 693, and others). Both systems describe the same finishes. Selecting the correct finish affects appearance, corrosion resistance, durability, and the ability to match hardware components across a complete door opening.
CDF Distributors supplies complete commercial door assemblies with coordinated hardware finishes. You can configure and order online using CDF’s ProBuilder tool at cdfdistributors.com, which displays available finishes for every hardware component in your assembly. For assistance selecting finishes for your project, call (855) 769-9895
Commercial door hinge size is determined by three factors: door width, door height, and door weight. Standard 3’0” x 7’0” commercial doors use 4-1/2” x 4-1/2” standard-weight hinges, while wider and heavier doors require heavy-weight hinges. Most commercial interior doors require three hinges. Doors taller than 7’0” require a fourth hinge. This guide covers hinge sizing, hinge placement locations, the number of hinges required per door, weight ratings, and the differences between standard-weight, heavy-weight, and continuous hinges for commercial hollow metal and wood door applications.
CDF Distributors pre-punches hinge locations on all hollow metal frames at its Nashville, Tennessee fabrication facility. You can configure door, frame, and hinge selections online using CDF’s ProBuilder tool at cdfdistributors.com. For assistance selecting the correct hinge size or placement for your project, call (855) 769-9895 or email sales@cdfdoors.com.
Hinge Size by Door Width
Hinge size refers to
A hurricane-rated storefront door assembly is a complete system of tested and certified components designed to withstand wind loads and windborne debris impacts required by the Florida Building Code. The assembly includes a reinforced aluminum storefront door, a reinforced aluminum frame system, impact-resistant glazing, hardware rated for wind load conditions, and all necessary anchoring components. CDF Distributors supplies hurricane-rated storefront assemblies through De La Fontaine, holding Florida Product Approvals FL21194 and FL46851. These assemblies are tested to TAS 201, TAS 202, and TAS 203 protocols and are approved for use in both High-Velocity Hurricane Zone (HVHZ) and non-HVHZ areas of Florida, with design pressure ratings up to ±70 PSF depending on configuration.
CDF Distributors ships hurricane-rated storefront door assemblies from its Nashville, Tennessee headquarters. You can configure a hurricane-rated assembly online using CDF’s ProBuilder tool at cdfdistributors.com.
A specification guide to institutional-grade locksets covering ANSI Grade 1 requirements, classroom security functions, ligature-resistant hardware, hospital privacy, correctional-grade specifications, and fire-rated institutional openings — available through CDF Distributors via ASSA ABLOY/FlashShip/Banner Solutions distribution.
This guide answers: What lockset requirements apply to institutional facilities including schools, hospitals, and corrections?
Why Institutional Facilities Require Specialized Locksets
Institutional facilities — schools, hospitals, behavioral health units, government buildings, and correctional facilities — subject door hardware to conditions that exceed the design parameters of standard commercial locksets. The combination of high traffic volume, aggressive use patterns, security threats, life safety requirements, and regulatory mandates creates a demanding environment that requires purpose-engineered hardware solutions.
Standard commercial-grade hardware (ANSI
A specification guide to interchangeable core lock cylinders, keying systems, and the differences between SFIC and LFIC formats.
This guide answers: What Is an Interchangeable Core Lock and When Should You Specify SFIC vs LFIC?
Interchangeable Core Locks in Commercial Keying Systems
Interchangeable core (IC) locks use a removable cylinder core that can be swapped out of the lock body without disassembling the lockset or removing it from the door. This capability allows facility managers to rekey an entire building by exchanging cores rather than calling a locksmith to repin individual cylinders at each door.
The interchangeable core concept was developed to address the operational challenges of large-scale commercial keying systems. In a conventional pin-tumbler lock, rekeying requires a locksmith to remove the cylinder, disassemble it, replace the pin stacks, and reassemble the cylinder — a process that takes several minutes per lock and requires specialized tools. With IC locks, a trained