| European Union / EEA |
EN 14351-1 for external pedestrian doorsets; local national requirements also apply |
Declared thermal transmittance, air permeability, watertightness, wind load resistance, acoustic performance and operating forces |
Specify a lower U-value where national energy rules or the project energy model require improved thermal performance. Confirm test classifications rather than relying only on nominal material descriptions. |
Declaration of Performance where applicable, test reports, U-value calculation or report, installation instructions and maintenance information |
Check whether the door is part of a fire-resisting or smoke-control assembly; those applications require separate fire and smoke classifications. |
| United Kingdom |
Building Regulations: Approved Document L; Approved Document F; Approved Document O where applicable; BS EN product standards |
Thermal performance, air leakage, ventilation interaction, threshold detailing, safety glazing and accessibility |
Use the project’s energy calculation and the applicable England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland requirements to set the target U-value and air-tightness approach. |
U-value evidence, air-permeability data, safety-glazing marking, threshold and accessibility details, installation instructions |
Coordinate door openings with purge or background ventilation. Avoid creating an inaccessible step at the threshold unless the approved design provides an appropriate solution. |
| United States |
Applicable state or local building code; AAMA/WDMA/CSA 101/I.S.2/A440 (NAFS); IECC or ASHRAE 90.1 where adopted |
Design pressure, water penetration resistance, air leakage, forced-entry resistance, thermal performance and glazing safety |
Select a tested performance class and product designation based on building height, exposure, occupancy, opening location and local wind design criteria. |
NAFS certification or test report, design-pressure rating, U-factor, solar heat gain coefficient, air-leakage data and installation details |
Verify the adopted edition and local amendments. Coastal, hurricane or high-wind zones may require impact-resistant glazing or specific missile-impact testing. |
| Canada |
National Building Code of Canada as adopted locally; CSA A440.4 installation practice; NAFS/CSA performance requirements |
Thermal transmittance, air leakage, water penetration, structural loading, condensation control and frost resistance |
Use the applicable climate zone and energy path to establish the required thermal performance. Improve frame insulation and thermal breaks in severe heating climates. |
Canadian or NAFS test evidence, U-factor or RSI data, condensation assessment, structural rating and installation instructions |
Confirm provincial or territorial adoption. Door sill drainage and airtight installation are especially important in cold climates and wind-driven rain conditions. |
| Australia |
National Construction Code (NCC); AS 2047 for windows and external glazed doors; AS 1288 for glass selection |
Water penetration, serviceability and ultimate wind pressure, air infiltration, energy efficiency, safety glazing and bushfire exposure where relevant |
Determine wind classification from the site region, terrain, shielding, building height and topography. Select glass and frame systems for the local climate and orientation. |
AS 2047 test evidence, wind-pressure rating, water and air results, glazing compliance, energy data and installation details |
Bushfire-prone areas may require additional construction measures under the applicable BAL classification. Coordinate with NCC energy and condensation provisions. |
| New Zealand |
New Zealand Building Code; NZBC H1 Energy Efficiency; NZS 4211 where applicable |
Thermal insulation, air leakage, water tightness, wind loading, safety glazing and durability |
Set thermal performance using the applicable H1 compliance pathway and climate zone. Confirm the opening’s wind zone and exposure before finalizing hardware and frame reinforcement. |
Thermal calculations, wind-zone design information, water-tightness evidence, safety-glazing documentation and installation instructions |
Durability requirements should account for coastal salt, high UV exposure and wind-driven rain. Confirm any restricted-building-work implications during design coordination. |
| Tropical, Monsoon and High-Rainfall Regions |
Local building code plus the project’s adopted air, water and wind performance standards |
Water penetration resistance, drainage, corrosion resistance, solar control, ventilation compatibility and wind pressure |
Prioritize tested water resistance, positive drainage paths, corrosion-resistant hardware and finishes, and adequate shading or solar-control glazing. |
Water and wind test reports, corrosion-resistance specification, drainage details, finish data and maintenance schedule |
Do not use an internal-only threshold detail on an exposed elevation. Coordinate overhangs, flashings, sill pans and sealants with the façade design. |
| Cold, Snow and Freeze–Thaw Regions |
Local energy code, building code and applicable external-door product standard |
Thermal transmittance, frame thermal bridging, condensation resistance, air tightness, sill drainage and hardware operation |
Use thermally broken frames, insulated door leaves and low-conductivity thresholds. Check interior surface temperatures and condensation risk at the frame and sill. |
U-value or RSI evidence, condensation assessment, air-leakage test data, sill detail, weather-seal specification and operating-temperature limits |
Provide a durable drainage path that cannot be blocked by ice. Confirm that closers, locks, seals and automatic operators are suitable for the design temperature range. |
| High-Wind, Hurricane or Cyclone Zones |
Jurisdiction-specific high-wind provisions and the locally adopted door and glazing test standards |
Positive and negative design pressure, impact resistance, cyclic pressure performance, anchorage and glass retention |
Use site-specific wind calculations. Impact-rated assemblies may be required for glazed openings in designated wind-borne-debris regions. |
Product test report, design-pressure label, impact certification where required, anchorage schedule and shop drawings |
The frame, leaf, hinges, locks, glazing and anchorage must be treated as one tested assembly. Field substitutions can invalidate the rating. |
| Fire-Rated or Smoke-Controlled Egress Doors |
Locally adopted fire and life-safety code; applicable fire-door and smoke-control test standards |
Fire-resistance period, smoke leakage, self-closing, latching, vision-panel construction, panic hardware and clear opening |
Specify the required rating and hardware set from the wall, corridor, stair or occupancy condition. The complete doorset must be tested or approved as an assembly. |
Listing or certification, fire and smoke test evidence, hardware schedule, labels, installation instructions and inspection records |
Never combine untested leaves, frames, glazing, seals or hardware in a rated opening. Verify egress width, opening force and accessibility requirements. |
| Accessible Public and Commercial Buildings |
Locally adopted accessibility code or standard, such as ADA Standards in the United States or equivalent national requirements |
Clear opening width, maneuvering clearance, threshold height, opening force, hardware usability and visual contrast |
Use the locally adopted dimensions and force limits. A commonly used benchmark is a nominal 32-inch clear opening for many accessible doors, subject to the governing code and application. |
Door schedule, clear-opening calculation, threshold detail, hardware data, opening-force measurement and accessibility compliance statement |
Coordinate door swings, accessible routes, closers, hold-open devices and automatic operators early to prevent conflicts with circulation and egress. |
