Doors for school leaders are tasked with creating a safe environment while guarding against many safety risks. And that starts with the doors that lead in and out of classrooms, hallways and other high-traffic areas.
The ideal classroom door for schools is commercial grade with a solid-core, so it’s difficult to breach. A solid-core door also muffles sounds from the hallway, which is important in a teaching environment. Some manufacturers offer a lightweight ballistic-resistant layer on classroom doors, which can help protect against gun violence. However, it may not be necessary in all situations or a cost-effective solution for every school.
Opening the Door to Safety: A Comprehensive Guide for School Entrances
In addition to being durable, the perfect door for a school must be able to handle abuse from students. From hard forearm slams to swinging gym or book bags to feet kicking the doors shut, school doors take a beating. A steel door is strong enough to take these punishments and can help defend occupants inside rooms during potential disasters.
School safety requires that exterior doors be able to lock from both sides and open with a key or mobile credential. These access points must be easy to manage and compliant with building and fire codes. For example, schools often require that all exterior doors be numerically labeled for quick and efficient evacuation in emergencies. To make these doors easier to use, manufacturers provide options that include lite kits that let in light without opening the door, and anti-ligature hardware that sits flush against the door surface so there are no protruding surfaces for a ligature to wrap around.
