Great entrances do more than welcome people in. They set the tone for your brand, manage foot traffic, and protect what’s inside. That’s why double entry doors for commercial buildings are such a smart upgrade: you get presence and performance in one move. Below, we’ll walk through the essentials such as design, code, accessibility, impact resistance, glazing, hardware, and energy, so you can choose commercial double front door solutions that look refined and stand up to real-world demands.
Double-Entry Doors Built to Last
A double door instantly reads “commercial”, wide, symmetrical, and easy to use in both directions during busy hours. Aluminum and fiberglass systems deliver clean lines with durable finishes; steel/hollow-metal assemblies remain a staple for heavy-use and high-security openings.
For coastal markets, impact-rated aluminum and fiberglass options marry modern storefront aesthetics with storm resilience.
Absolute Window LLC’s commercial team sources and installs impact-rated doors for retail, office, and high-rise applications, useful when you want one accountable partner from spec to install.
Make It Accessible (and Comfortable)
Accessibility isn’t optional. Per ADA guidance, at least one active leaf of a double door must provide a 32-inch minimum clear opening when open 90°, along with required maneuvering clearances and low thresholds (typically ≤ 1/2 inch at exterior doors). Planning your hardware, leaf sizes, and mullion placement around these basics avoids change orders later. The U.S. Access Board’s door guide is the go-to reference for clear width, approach clearances, hardware reach ranges, and thresholds at public entrances.
Life Safety & Panic Hardware
Occupancy drives egress hardware choices. In assembly and educational occupancies with 50+ occupants, and in high-hazard occupancies, the code requires panic or fire-exit hardware on doors that lock or latch, double doors included. That usually means rim or vertical-rod exit devices with dog-down features for day use and positive latching after hours. Confirm your use group and occupant load early so your hardware schedule aligns with IBC requirements.
Impact Resistance for Coastal & High-Wind Zones
In Florida and other wind-borne debris regions, entrances must be impact-rated or otherwise protected. Miami-Dade Notices of Acceptance (NOAs) and Florida Product Approval documents spell out tested assemblies, glass, framing, anchors, and configurations, qualified for the High Velocity Hurricane Zone (HVHZ). You’ll see test references like TAS 201 (missile impact), TAS 202 (air, water, structural), and TAS 203 (cyclic pressure).
Choosing door packages with current NOAs keeps your project on the right side of inspections and insurance.
Absolute Window LLC’s impact door offerings, including double entry doors for commercial buildings and French configurations, are designed for coastal conditions and paired with in-house installation—a practical way to ensure the product and fastening schedule match the approval paperwork.
Security Glazing That Still Looks Like Storefront
Modern storefronts can stay all-glass and still resist forced entry.
Laminated safety glass sandwiches a clear interlayer (like PVB or ionomer) between panes; if struck, the glass cracks but stays bonded, delaying or deterring access. For burglary/smash-and-grab resistance, look for glazing that meets UL 972 or similar forced-entry criteria.
Many laminated makeups also meet ASTM impact and cycling tests used in coastal codes. The key is specifying both the glazing and the door/frame system to the same performance level.
Hardware: Small Parts, Big Difference
Daily performance lives in the hardware. Heavy-duty continuous hinges or pivot sets keep tall leaves aligned. Quality closers control sweep speed and backcheck so doors don’t slam during rushes.
Multi-point locks and robust keepers improve pry resistance at the head, jamb, and sill, especially important on wide pairs with narrow sightlines. If you’re integrating access control, confirm strike/lock compatibility with exit devices and coordinate power transfers and readers early.
Absolute Window LLC frequently specifies high-security locking and impact-rated glass for projects that need both aesthetics and deterrence.
Energy & Comfort in All-Glass Looks
Even “all-glass” entries are part of your building envelope. Today’s codes treat doors and storefront systems as energy components with U-factor and air-leakage limits, typically under IECC. Low-E laminated IG units can hit comfort and compliance targets without dark tints. Work with your supplier to document U-factor and infiltration ratings for permit sets; reputable manufacturers publish tested values for commercial doors.
Details That Separate Good From Great
- Thresholds & sills. Keep them low for accessibility and specify proper water management for wind-driven rain. In hurricane regions, expect taller performance sills with integral drains; coordinate finished floor heights to avoid trip edges while preserving water resistance.
- Active vs. inactive leaf. To maintain ADA compliance and smooth traffic, designate the wider or most-used leaf as the active one with proper clear width and hardware. If you need both leaves active during peak hours, pair exit devices and coordinators so they close and latch correctly.
- Framing the opening. Wide pairs demand true, plumb frames and reinforced substrates. In coastal jobs, attachment patterns must follow the Product Approval/NOA, including fastener type, spacing, and edge distances. Your installer should bring the drawings to the site—inspectors will.
Putting It Together: A Simple Spec Roadmap
Start with your use group, occupant load, wind zone, and security profile. From there, select:
- Door/frame system: Impact-rated aluminum or fiberglass pair with ADA-friendly thresholds.
- Glazing package: Laminated IG with Low-E; upsize interlayers or specify UL 972 where smash-and-grab risk is high.
- Hardware set: Exit devices per IBC (as required), closers matched to door size, and multi-point or reinforced locks for after-hours security.
- Submittals: IECC/energy data, Miami-Dade NOA or Florida Product Approval if applicable, ADA shop drawings showing clear widths and thresholds.
If you’d prefer a turnkey path, Absolute Window LLC’s commercial double front door solutions combine product selection, code documentation, and factory-trained installation—handy when schedule and inspection windows are tight.
Why Choose Absolute Window LLC
For Southwest Florida properties, the combination of impact resistance, clean storefront aesthetics, and precise installation is non-negotiable. Absolute Window LLC delivers all three, backed by local experience and a portfolio spanning retail to high-rise commercial. Their team specializes in double entry doors for commercial buildings, specifying impact-rated double entries, coordinating glazing, and installing to the letter of the NOA, so your stylish entrance also stands up to storms and daily traffic. Reach out to us to learn more.
