Commercial security doors can offer valuable protection and peace of mind for any business with valuable assets. With the right kind of commercial interior doors, businesses can prevent access to certain areas and protect assets while providing ease of use for employees and maintaining an appearance that fits the building. 

Every business is different, so selecting the right door for interior openings isn't always straightforward. We'll discuss some popular options and tips for choosing the right product.

Select the right style of door or grille.

Before choosing an interior commercial door, determine which type is right for your application. Interior openings often work well with grilles or rolling doors, both of which can provide security and style. Below are a few different product types to consider.

Security grilles

Security grilles create a metal barrier when closed, usually with gaps between the metal components that allow for airflow and visibility. They roll up into a coil stored near the ceiling and can close off areas to the public. You'll often see interior security grilles used to close off a business attached to a larger space, such as a store in a mall or airport, but they're also common for separating spaces within a business or providing extra after-hours security.

These versatile solutions come in many designs and materials, including side-folding options. Some popular interior security grilles we offer include:

• Visionaire® MicroCoil® Grille: This compact metal security grille is a great fit for strong security in a space with limited headroom.
• Rolling security grilles: Our rolling security grilles come in many configurations of styles, finishes, and colors.
• SteelWeave™️ woven metal grille: This attractive metal security grille offers extensive visual appeal while maintaining high security, visibility, and airflow.

Steel rolling doors

An interior steel rolling door provides heavy-duty protection, and instead of sliding along an overhead track like traditional garage doors, they coil up into a barrel shape. This compact design leaves much more room in the building and allows for side-by-side doors. The slats can have perforations, too, allowing for visibility and airflow. You can use interior rolling doors for many openings, including business entrances, vehicle service bays, and areas with higher-security needs like storage areas or showrooms.

Interior commercial doors come in a wide array of styles, including:

• Rolling service doors: A rolling service door is a great all-around solution with high customizability, using slats of galvanized steel, aluminum, or stainless steel.
• ScreenGard™ perforated slat doors: If you need to maximize ventilation or improve visibility, ScreenGard rolling doors can achieve both with customizable perforations.
• Insulated rolling doors: An insulated rolling door can help maintain temperatures and reduce sounds. When used for business interiors, they can help keep noisy areas separate from quiet ones and can even help reduce energy bills.

Fire-rated products

A fire-rated rolling door can prevent fire and smoke from moving throughout your business, supporting visitor and staff safety, and protecting your inventory. If a fire breaks out in the building, these doors can block it, automatically activating alongside smoke and fire alarms. With a smoke-protection option, like our SmokeShield® elevator containment system, you can compartmentalize smoke and hot gasses, preventing it from entering elevator shafts. 

Interior fire-rated doors often work well around areas with high-value assets, such as storerooms, or near potentially hazardous activities, like work with flammable chemicals. Fire-rated interior doors include:

• Fabric smoke doors: A fabric smoke door creates a seal between the curtain and its guide channels to help keep smoke and fire in one place. These doors blend in well with many design strategies, offering a particularly attractive mode of fire protection.
• Fire-rated rolling doors: A fire-rated metal rolling door can activate automatically, quickly closing off areas with a rugged barrier. These doors are for use in openings that are not part of a required means of egress.
• Insulated fire doors: These insulated metal fire doors also block fire and smoke while providing functional benefits during regular use. They prevent temperature and sound transmission, making them a good fit for separating quiet areas like lobbies and waiting rooms from louder adjacent spaces.

Determine what elements your door needs.

Now that you know your options, consider the requirements of your application. For example, if you prioritize aesthetics, you can focus on products designed with visual appeal in mind, like a perforated slat door or woven metal grille. Some aspects to consider when choosing interior commercial doors include:

• Aesthetics and design: Consider whether your door will play a role in the building's appearance when closed. Some doors, like rolling service doors and fire doors, can take on the company's logo and colors as a branding opportunity. Other options, such as woven metal grilles, can appear more seamless with designs that almost fade into the background. With customization, you have extensive options.
• Security: For high-security areas, look for doors with more protective mechanisms, like reinforcements, rugged materials, and upgraded locking systems. These features can offer added security for spaces containing high-value assets.
• Visibility and airflow: Some doors will block your line of sight and restrict ventilation in an area. Security grilles offer the most visibility and airflow, but perforated rolling doors can also support these needs.
• Durability and speed: Determine how often employees will open and close the door. If used frequently throughout the day, you may need something that moves faster. A slower option might be appropriate if you only close the door at night. The more often a door is used, the more durability you may need, often represented by a cycle count.
• Additional features: We can outfit many of our doors with additional features, such as automatic controls, varying locking mechanisms, pass and pocket doors, and entrapment protection. Talk to your supplier to learn more about these options and see if they can support your installation.
• Installation restrictions: Consider whether your installation has any unique requirements, such as a lack of support or a curved track. You may need to choose products to accommodate these needs.

You can choose a door that fits your project by assessing your needs for these factors. If you're not sure what you need, our experienced Architectural Design Support Team is always happy to help.

Work with the experts at Cornell.

Partnering with a trustworthy supplier is crucial to any business renovation or build. Cornell is a leading provider of rolling doors with domestic manufacturing, bringing innovative designs and custom-built doors to many organizations. We offer extensive production capabilities to fit even the most unique applications, and our knowledgeable team can help you find the right commercial interior door for your installation.

Reach out today to learn more about our rolling interior doors or to request a quote!