Door Testing

Door testing is one of the most critical parts of making sure that a building remains safe from both intruders and from the effects of nature. Doors are used within a structure for a number of different purposes and each different door must be tested to ensure that it is capable of standing up to its intended use. One of the most important uses for a door is to keep the elements outside and the warm or cool air inside depending on the season. A series of standard door testing methods have been established by the American Society for Testing and Materials or ASTM. ASTM E 547-00 outlines the procedure used to test both doors and window for water penetration using the cyclic static air pressure difference method. In this door testing process, water is sprayed on the outside surface of the door at the same time as a cyclic air pressure is applied at the outside door face. The air pressure applied must be higher than that on the inside to assure accurate testing.

This test addresses water penetration through a manufactured assembly. If the water penetrates the assembly but does not cause actual failure other adverse effects may occur such as sealant failure. Interior doors may be used to perform another important function, in the event of a fire they can be designed to stop or slow down the spread of a fire into other parts of the building. ASTM E 2074 addresses the proper method for testing a door to see how well it performs in the event of a fire. This test is used to determine not only how well a door will last when exposed to a fire but also to see how well it will prevent the spread of smoke throughout the building when it is closed. The test can also determine how well a door will stay closed under the pressure of water from the fire departments hose. Structural testing of a door can be used to determine how well a door will stand up to the forces of nature. Depending on where the structure is to be built the types of testing may vary. On the west coast the most common issue that has to be dealt with is earthquakes.

The door and its frame need to be tested to see how well they stand up to the twisting and buckling that occurs during an earthquake. In states along the southeast coast hurricanes are more of a problem. Here the doors must be able to withstand the impact force of wind driven objects as well as that of the wind itself. Whether you are building a new structure or remodeling an existing one testing the doors to ensure that they meet not only your needs but all applicable codes is very important. QED Lab has the knowledge and experience to test any type of door that you may need to use. With both on site and lab testing facilities they can test your doors to make sure that they meet all necessary ASTM standards, guaranteeing that your building will pass all inspections.