Classroom Door Security Considerations

While it's always been important, the call for classroom door security is more urgent today than ever before. Active shooter situations were once rare, but today they are all too frequent and require addressing. The safety of students, faculty and staff is at stake, and the right classroom door could be a lifesaver that provides shelter from harmful intruders.

If you're the contractor or building manager responsible for providing classroom door protection, there are several things to consider. We'll discuss what to look for in a breach-resistant door – including its composition, door locks, view panels and other features. CDF Distributors, a trusted supplier of commercial doors for schools, leads the discussion to help you choose the best class doors to suit your property.

Choosing a Breach-Resistant Door

Metal or wood – which is the best choice for a breach-resistant door? Steel is obviously the strongest, but if you're outfitting an entire school, metal doors will likely be out of your price range. The generally accepted practice is to install steel doors at entrances and wood doors in classrooms. Before buying any door, know what features are must-haves for your application.

Wood Classroom Door

Aside from classroom door security concerns, keep in mind that school doors take a lot of punishment day after day. Choose a durable, high-quality wood door for confidence in safety and security. Here are some of the qualities a wooden classroom door should possess:

• Solid Core: A wood door with a solid core is more difficult to breach than one with a hollow core. Look for wood doors constructed with solid wood around a particle board or mineral core. A solid core door will also muffle noise from the hallway.
• Solid Steel Frame: A good door is made better when it's installed in a hard-to-breach steel frame. Make sure the door hinges, door stops and other hardware are equally durable.
• Thickness: Choose a wood door that's at least 1-3/4 inches thick.
• Fire Rating: Know the requirements in your municipality. Your class doors may need to be fire rated, particularly if the room isn't equipped with sprinklers. 
• Window Panel: Classroom doors with windows are a common sight. Class doors have a window so students and administrators can look in without opening the door. Doors with windows in schools also reduce the risk of hitting someone on the other side as the door opens. Several types of glass are available for your class door: tempered, insulated, wire glass or fire-rated glass. Tempered glass is a wise choice for classroom doors because it doesn't break into shards if smashed. In lockdown situations, the teacher may want to cover the window for added security.

Metal Door

Schools and universities typically use high-quality, heavy-duty steel for entry doors. A metal classroom door with a proper lock is an excellent way to secure a school entrance. Steel doors are a strong deterrent for armed intruders.

Which Lock Is Best for a Breach-Resistant Door?

Choosing a lock that ensures the best classroom door security can be tricky. School administrators continue to debate what the best door locks are. While most agree that a mortise lock is best, they don't always agree on how it should operate. It's not just about having a breach-resistant door – you must ensure students can quickly evacuate the classroom in an emergency such as a fire, tornado or other disaster. 

Many municipalities have regulations that will determine what type of lock mechanism you need to use to achieve classroom door security. Typically, there are four options:

1. Entry Mortise: Most classrooms use this locking device, which is activated by a turn on the inside of the door and a key on the outside. 
2. Privacy Mortise: This type of lock has a turn on the inside but the outside is non-keyed. Schools generally prefer a classroom door that can lock from the outside so the door can be secured during non-school hours. 
3. Storeroom Mortise: The outside of the door is always locked and opens with a key. The door can't be locked from the inside.
4. Passage Mortise: This lock is not keyed at all, making it suitable for stairwells and other areas that don't need to be secured.

For more information on the topic, review the National Association of Fire Marshalls (NASFM) guidelines on Classroom Door Security & Locking Hardware.

For Optimal Classroom Door Protection, Rely on CDF Distributors

CDF Distributors has wood and metal class doors with the features you need to provide maximum protection for students and staff. Choose the size, style, lock, window and other attributes to customize your classroom door. Build a quote so we can get started today!

January 13, 2023
Wayne Foreman