HOLLOW
METAL
METAL DOORS & FRAMES
MANUAL
NAAMM
STANDARD HMMA 800 -96
GS
8d
NAAMM 3
FOR DETENTION SECURITY
L
96
D INTRODUCTION TO
96
NAAMM 3
8d
CUSTOM HOLLOW METAL FOURTH EDITION
METAL DOORS & FRAMES
A Division of
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF
ARCHITECTURAL METAL MANUFACTURERS
Hollow Metal Manufacturers Association
Division of the National Association of Architectural Metal Manufacturers
This manual was developed by representative members of the Hollow Metal
Manufacturers Association Division (HMMA) of the National Association of Architectural
Metal Manufacturers (NAAMM) to provide information and guidance on the selection of
hardware for hollow metal doors and frames. This manual contains advisory information
only and is published as a public service by NAAMM and its HMMA Division.
NAAMM AND ITS HMMA DIVISION DISCLAIM ALL LIABILITY OF ANY KIND FOR
THE USE, APPLICATION OR ADAPTATION OF MATERIAL PUBLISHED IN THIS
STANDARD.
Purchasers of NAAMM Standards may receive current information on all NAAMM
Standards by calling or writing the National Association of Architectural Metal
Manufacturers.
Copyright @1977, 1987, 1996
National Association of Architectural Metal Manufacturers
8 South Michigan Avenue Chicago, Illinois 60603
INTRODUCTION TO CUSTOM HOLLOW METAL
The term "hollow metal work" refers to many of Why CUSTOM Hollow Metal?
those components of building construction that are
made of cold formed sheet metal. It applies to a Just as with many other products, the term
wide range of products, including not only doors and "custom" as applied to hollow metal doors and
frames, but partitions, curtain wall framing, radiator frames, denotes a product made to order, as
and convector enclosures, and numerous other opposed to one that is uniformly produced in
similar items. With the exception of single family quantity and stockpiled for sale. More importantly, it
residences, there are relatively few buildings, in fact, also implies a wide latitude in size and design,
in which hollow metal work is not used. By far the careful attention to engineering details and
most widely used of these products are doors and manufacture, resulting in a superior product.
frames, and for that reason this Manual is concerned In respect to hollow metal work, however,
principally with those items. "custom" does not necessarily imply premium
Hollow metal doors and frames were introduced cost, as it often does with other products. In
early in the century, and the use of hollow metal general, the cost of custom hollow metal doors and
products has steadily expanded since then, keeping frames is highly competitive with that of stock
pace with the growth of the building industry. Yet products having comparable quality of construction.
there have been few attempts to provide the This is another reason why many architects specify
architect with authoritative and unbiased technical custom work where design character, rugged
information regarding the manufacture, design and construction, or quality workmanship is essential.
use of these products. Specifically, the principal advantages of custom
It is the purpose of this Manual to provide such hollow metal doors and frames are these.
information, in the belief that it will benefit not only
architects but the industry as well. Its chief aim is the Design Freedom: The variety of door designs
promotion of good design practice, the use of available is limited only by the architect's ingenuity.
quality materials and careful workmanship. The While the more "typical" flush, paneled, or glazed
establishment of appropriate standards in respect to doors are generally the most economical, the choice
these matters will be helpful to all concerned; not is by no means limited to a series of catalog designs.
only the architect and manufacturer, but the Any arrangement, size or shape of panels or glazing,
contractor and the building owner as well. in doors of any reasonable size or shape can be
The information provided, though general in provided.
nature, pertains particularly to custom work, for If desired, doors and frames may be
reasons that will be explained. This manual is not manufactured of stainless steel, or clad with
intended, however, as a comprehensive treatise on stainless steel or other material. Doors and frame
the subject. Such an undertaking would not only assemblies for specialized applications may also be
require more time and resources than have been specified as: Fire-Rated, Thermal Rated, Bullet
available, but might also be of dubious practical Resistant, Commercial and Detention Security, Blast
value. Instead, the aim has been to provide basic and Pressure Resistant, Sound Retardant, Radiation
and concise information which hopefully will help the Shielding and others.
design professions to better understand how hollow The size and shape of the opening are also
metal work is made and how it should be designed unrestricted. The architect has the freedom to
and specified. specify any combination and or variation of single or
multiple opening frames. These can incorporate a
variety of section designs, limited only by the
architect's imagination. Frames with curved or
arched heads are readily provided in custom work,
and multiple openings may have any plan
configuration the architect desires.
1
The architect is encouraged to consult early in The Story of Hollow Metal
the course of development with a NAAMM
manufacturer to insure that proposed designs are The history of the development of hollow metal
practical and meet application requirements. doors and frames is a profile of the American genius
for combining beauty with good functional design
while offering an improved product at reduced cost.
Hardware Options: As more fully explained in the The interesting story revealed by a review of door
Hardware Section of this Manual, there are no and frame catalogs since 1906 substantiates this.
limitations, either, as to the types of hardware that
The early development of pressed steel frames
may be used on custom hollow metal doors. Where
and steel doors as we know them today seems to
appropriate, pivots may be used in place of hinges;
have had its birth place in the Jamestown, New
and door closers, instead of surface-mounted, may
York, area, where there apparently was a
be any of the concealed or semi-concealed types.
concentration of sheet metal craftsmen. In their 1910
Panic hardware may have concealed instead of
Sweet's catalog, the Dahlstrom Metallic Door
exposed rods; and door edges may be made to
Company of that city stated:
accommodate any type of weatherstripping.
Whatever type of hardware the architect may select,
custom made doors can be specifically designed to "We are the originators of the Hollow Metal
properly accommodate it. Fireproofing... Being pioneers, our patents
cover broadly the most desirable features
and ensure simplicity of construction. Our
Finishes: Although painted finishes are by far the
welded joints and sealed double lock seams
most common, the choice is not limited to these.
make the connections invisible, adding
Other finishes can be provided on doors, permitting
beauty and strength to the unsurpassed
the architect to specify the most appropriate finish in
fire-proof quality of our doors.'
each case. When other finishes such as texturized
metals, vinyl coating, or even laminates are desired,
they can be provided. The point was stressed that no wood was used in
the doors and frames, and this was one of the chief
Specifying Custom Hollow Metal motivations for this new development of hollow
metal construction.
The major advantage of custom hollow metal is The great fires in Baltimore and San Francisco
the architect's design freedom. Where special "were due chiefly to the vast mass of wood furniture
requirements so dictate, thicker material may be and doors," according to the 1910 catalog of the Art
used for either doors or frames, and special Metal Construction Company, another Jamestown
reinforcements are readily provided. firm. Before the introduction of hollow metal, many
Typically the steel used in HMMA doors and doors and frames were of Kalamein construction,
frames is thicker than that used in products of stock basically a wood structure encased in light gage
design, resulting in superior strength and stability. sheet metal as a deterrent to flammability.
Door faces have no detectable seams or joints, all The purpose of the Jamestown development
welds being made on the door edge and so finished was to make the steel self supporting and virtually
as to be completely invisible. seamless, eliminating the wood core. The frames
Most frames, whether for a single door or a were all of a three-piece construction, however-a
larger opening have accurately fitted and welded carry-over from wood construction-with optional trim
corners, and are shipped as rigidly assembled units. being installed separately, to provide for adjustment
This insures squareness and facilitates providing to the preconstructed rough opening.
proper door clearances and fit when installed in the
building.
Another inherent advantage of custom work is
that shop drawings of all items are submitted for the
architect's approval before fabrication is begun, thus
providing the architect an opportunity to check all
details of design in advance of manufacture.
2
SECTIONAL VIEW OF THE "DAHLSTROM" FIREPROOF DOOR
Showing sheet steel frame, four styles of casings, and two methods of securing same to the wall.
The drawing above, from the Dahlstrom catalog Extended flanges serve as finish, and no casing
of 1909, shows a typical stile and rail hollow metal (face trim) is required, but can be used if
door (with no structural wood core), and frame desired. The corners are acetylene welded,
combination as offered then. The next development making rigid and tight joints that cannot open
appeared in the 1915 catalog of the Dahlstrom up. Several methods of sanitary base features
Metallic Door Company under the heading "Special will be submitted on request"
Frames for Hospital Doors," it was stated:
As with other NAAMM manuals, this publication
"A recent development is a specially constructed is the result of several years of work by a committee
door buck and jamb particularly suited for hospital representing many of the leading manufacturers in
buildings. It is made of cold rolled steel plate in the field. The pictures shown on the following pages
standard forms as illustrated below, or made are but a few examples of the flexibility with design
according to architect's details, all securely of custom hollow metal.
anchored to the partitions.
SEVERAL DESIGNS OF SANITARY DOOR TRIM
3
OTHER HOLLOW METAL WORK
Detail drawings and photographs of curtain walls, interior partitions, entrances and other representative
examples of the versatility of custom hollow metal work.
EXTERIOR VIEW OF LIBRARY BUILDING (WINDOW DETAIL)
4
WINDOW WALLS (DETAIL)
5
LOBBY WINDOW WALL (DETAIL)
6
INTERIOR CORNER VIEW OF LIBRARY (DETAIL)
7
EXTERIOR WALL (DETAIL)
8
MAIN ENTRANCE BAY (DETAIL)
9
INTERIOR LOBBY WALL (DETAIL)
10
FRONT ENTRANCE (DETAIL)
11
