ANSI/SDI A250.

4-2011
Revision of ANSI/SDI A250.4-2001

Test Procedure and Acceptance Criteria for –

Physical Endurance for
Steel Doors, Frames and Frame Anchors
ANSI/SDI A250.4-2011

SPONSOR
Steel Door Institute
Approved June 10, 2011
 ANSI/SDI  ®
A250.4-2011
Revision of ANSI/SDI A250.4-2001

American National Standard

Test Procedure and Acceptance Criteria for –
Physical Endurance for
Steel Doors, Frames and Frame Anchors

Secretariat
Steel Door Institute

Approved June 10, 2011

American National Standards Institute, Inc.
American Approval of an American National Standard requires verification by ANSl
that the requirements for due process, consensus, and other criteria for
National approval have been met by the standards developer.

Standard Consensus is established when, in the judgement of the ANSl Board of

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that all views and objections be considered, and that a concerted effort
be made toward their resolution.
The use of American National Standards is completely voluntary; their exis-
tence does not in any respect preclude anyone, whether they have approved
the standards or not, from manufacturing, marketing, purchasing, or using
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Published by

Steel Door Institute

30200 Detroit Road, Cleveland, Ohio 44145-1967

Copyright © 2011 by Steel Door Institute

All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced in any

form, in an electronic retrieval system or otherwise,
without prior written permission of the publisher.

Printed in the United States of America

ANSI/SDI A250.4-2011
Contents
Page

Foreword............................................................................................. ii
1 Purpose.........................................................................................1
1.1 Reference documents. . .............................................................1
2 Apparatus and equipment..............................................................1
2.1 Door opener.............................................................................1
2.2 Hardware. . ................................................................................1
3 Preparation for test........................................................................2
4 Test specimen................................................................................2
4.1 Doors.......................................................................................2
4.2 Frames.....................................................................................2
5 Swing test. . ....................................................................................3
5.1 Doors.......................................................................................3
5.2 Frame. . .....................................................................................3
6 Twist test.......................................................................................4
7 Acceptance criteria........................................................................4
7.1 Doors.......................................................................................4
7.2 Frames.....................................................................................5
Figures
1 Swing Test Detail . . ....................................................................2
1A Swing Test Detail . . ....................................................................3
2 Twist Test.................................................................................4
Performance Reports
Swing Test Form 1.........................................................................6
Swing Test Form 2.........................................................................7
Twist Test Form 3 .........................................................................8

i
Foreword (This Foreword is not part of American National Standard A250.4-2011)
The material contained in this document has been developed under the
auspices of the Technical Committee of the Steel Door Institute.
The original standard was issued on July 28, 1980 and was revised in 1987,
1994 and 2001. The current edition is a revision of the 2001 document
with the contents being updated to reflect changes that have taken place
in the steel door and frame industry since that time.
Suggestions for improvement gained in the use of this standard are wel-
come, and should be sent to the Steel Door Institute, 30200 Detroit Road,
Cleveland, Ohio 44145-1967.
The organizations which approved this standard and are part of the Accred-
ited Standards Committee A250 formed February 8, 1991, are as follows:
American Institute of Architects
Builders Hardware Manufacturers Association
Canadian Steel Door Manufacturers Association
Cedar Valley Associates
Door and Hardware Institute
FM Approvals
HMMA/Division of NAAMM
Intertek Testing Services
Steel Door Institute
Therma-Tru
Underwriters Laboratories Inc.
The Technical Committee of the Steel Door Institute, which developed this
standard, had the following personnel at the time of approval:

Terry Simpson, Chairman

Claus Heide, Vice Chairman
J. Jeffery Wherry, Managing Director
Organization Represented Name of Representative
Amweld Building Products, Inc................................................... Mike Kolovich
Ceco Door Products.................................................................... Tom Janicak
Curries Company........................................................................ Dave Dedic
Deansteel Manufacturing Company............................................ Claus Heide
Door Components....................................................................... Tom Popow
Mesker Door Company............................................................... Mike Torres
Metal Products, Inc..................................................................... Tom Stone
Pioneer Industries........................................................................ Kamal Sheikh
Republic...................................................................................... Jason Lisewski
Security Metal Products Corporation.......................................... Terry Simpson
Steelcraft..................................................................................... Kurt Roeper

ii
AMERICAN NATIONAL STANDARD ANSI/SDI A250.4-2011

American National Standard

Test Procedure and Acceptance Criteria for –

Physical Endurance for Steel Doors, Frames
and Frame Anchors

1 Purpose testing door or frame shall be anchored in such a

manner as to ensure rigidity.
The primary purpose of this procedure shall be to
establish a standard method of testing the perfor- The swinging mechanism shall be in two parts:
mance of a steel door mounted in a hollow metal 2.1 Door opener
or channel iron frame installed with appropriate an-
chors, under conditions that might reasonably be The door opener shall be an air motor positioned
considered an accelerated field operating condi- at 65° to the plane of the door in its closed posi-
tion. tion that will actuate an exit device mounted on the
test door. The contact point shall be set to push the
The user of this performance standard must temper door open 60° ± 5°, and retract to allow the door
his usage with the knowledge that there are many closer to bring the door back into its original closed
variables that affect door and frame performance, position and then begin the cycle again. See the
such as different hardware, anchors, glass and lou- specifications in figures 1 and 1A.
ver cutouts, field modification by parties other than
2.2 Hardware
the manufacturer, environmental factors, such as
heat, cold, moisture, etc. The exit device, door closer and hinges used in
testing shall be selected based on the manufac-
1.1 Reference documents
turer’s recommendations for the testing level de-
ANSI/BHMA A156.1-2006  Butts and Hinges scribed in Swing Test Form 1. The manufacturer
and model number shall be recorded in the report.
ANSI/BHMA A156.3-2008  Exit Devices
All hardware shall be applied to the door and frame
ANSI/BHMA A156.4-2008  Door Controls – Clos- with fasteners provided by the hardware manufac-
ers turer (for example, machine screws or sex bolts) in
the location recommended by the door manufac-
ANSI/BHMA A156.7-2009  Template Hinge Di- turer. The hardware shall conform to the latest edi-
mensions tions of American National Standards ANSI/BHMA
A156.1, 3, 4 and 7. The device shall be set to close
2 Apparatus and equipment the door at a rate of 15 cycles, ± 1, per minute.
The apparatus and equipment used shall be the Inspect all hardware and silencers at regular in-
same when testing doors or frames with frame tervals, and adjust or replace as necessary. It is
anchors. The main testing structure shall be con- acceptable to apply lubrication to hinges and exit
structed as shown in figures 1 and 2. The structure devices.
shall conform to the parts shown, except the open-
Note: Where the applicable BHMA Test Standards
ing width and height are permitted to vary to allow have been followed, this information shall be record-
the testing of various door sizes. The test frame for ed in the test report.

1
ANSI/SDI A250.4-2011

3 Preparation for test the frame throat to simulate actual construction

conditions.
The door shall be hung in the frame on the hinges.
Care shall be taken to ensure the hinges are prop-
4 Test specimen
erly applied to the door and frame as recommend-
ed by the hinge manufacturer, and any hinge fillers 4.1 Doors
or shims, are in place. The clearance between the
Unless specified otherwise, the test shall be per-
door and the frame shall be recorded in the test
formed on a 3′-0″ x 7′-0″ nominal size door. A
report.
detailed description of the construction of the door
The door frame shall be securely fastened to the and the applicable processes such as welding,
test frame opening structure in accordance with bonding, etc., used for attaching components, shall
the manufacturer’s instructions. The manufacturer be recorded in the test report, Swing Test Form 1,
is permitted to select anchors for specific wall ap- under the “remarks” section.
plications (i.e., wood stud anchors or steel stud an-
4.2 Frames
chors, loose or welded in or existing masonry wall
anchors). Unless specified otherwise, the test shall be per-
formed on a 3′-0″ x 7′-0″ nominal size frame hav-
Silencers shall be installed on the frame and the
ing a 5 3/4″ jamb depth. A detailed description of the
stop face of the door shall contact the silencers.
door frame which shall cover all components used
The frame shall be plumb, square, and rigid.
in the frame’s construction, as well as applicable
When applicable, wall surface materials (e.g., dry- processes (such as welding, etc.) used for attach-
wall) shall be applied to the test frame opening at ing and connecting components, shall be recorded

1″ dia. x 5″ long
roller contact pad

Air motor
Air motor stand
Set screw
Contact panic bar at attach to
center third of door piston rod

Detail “A”
Air lube unit
Panic bar
Mechanical counter
or equivalent
65°

Standard hollow metal frame

Detail “A”
mounted in channel iron frame

Full mortise butts

60°
Door closer
Door 3070

Figure 1 – Swing test detail

2
 ANSI/SDI A250.4-2011

in the test report, Swing Test Form 2, under the nents readily accessible, such as face skins, ex-
“remarks” section. posed hinge and lock stiles, flush closing channels,
end closures, hinge reinforcements, and lock body/
A detailed description of the frame and anchoring
face plate reinforcements and shall cover the integ-
system which shall cover all details of the anchors,
rity of assembly methods used to connect the door
as well as the means of attachment in the frame
components.
and the weight of the door used for the test shall
be recorded in the test report, Swing Test Form 2. Doors which have passed the cycling criteria at
one level shall be deemed to have passed all lower
5 Swing test levels. The results shall be recorded on a standard
performance report, Swing Test Form 1.
5.1 Doors
5.2 Frame
Duration of the test shall be 250,000 cycles with
latching for Level C doors; 500,000 cycles Duration of the test shall be 250,000 cycles for
with latching for Level B doors; and 1,000,000 Level C frames; 500,000 cycles for Level B frames;
cycles with latching for Level A doors. A general and 1,000,000 cycles for Level A frames. A general
inspection of the door shall be made at 25,000 inspection of the frame shall be made at 25,000
cycle intervals for the first 100,000 cycles and at cycle intervals for the first 100,000 cycles and at
50,000 cycles thereafter. A mechanical counter or 50,000 cycle intervals thereafter.
equivalent shall be used to record the cycles.
The general inspection shall cover perimeter clear-
The general inspection shall cover perimeter clear- ances between door and frame and all frame
ances between door and frame and all compo- components readily accessible, such as corner

1″ dia. x 5″ long
roller contact pad

Air motor
Air motor stand
Set screw
Contact panic bar at attach to
center third of door piston rod

Detail “A”
Air lube unit
Panic bar
Mechanical counter
or equivalent
5″ adjustable C.I. frame 65°
location varies to
accomodate different 5″ Stationary C.I. frame
Detail “A”
size doors

Half mortise butts

60°
Door closer
Door 3070

Figure 1A – Swing test detail

Door can be tested in channel iron frame with half mortise hinges (no pressed steel frame).

3
ANSI/SDI A250.4-2011

21/4" max

Screw jack

21/4" max
Force gage

Remove hinge pins

Test frame

Pressure pad
Long range between force gage
dial indicator Lever operated and door, 21/2" dia.
toggle clamps
at adjacent corners

Figure 2 – Twist test

clips and screws, corner tabs and slots, head and area illustrated in figure 2. The deflection noted on
jamb tabs/slots hinge reinforcements, and strike the dial indicator shall be plotted against the load
reinforcements and shall cover the integrity of as- applied to the corner on Twist Test Form 3. A maxi-
sembly methods used to connect the frame com- mum 300 lb. load shall be applied. The load shall
ponents then be reduced in 30 lb. increments and corre-
Door frames which have passed the cycling criteria sponding deflections recorded and plotted on Twist
at one level shall be deemed to have passed all Test Form 3. A smooth curve drawn through the
lower levels. The results shall be recorded as part points shall graphically demonstrate the reaction of
of the test report, Swing Test Form 2. the door to increasing and decreasing pressures at
different cycle intervals.
6 Twist test At the completion of each twist test, the hinges
The twist test is applicable in evaluating door con- shall be reassembled by means of inserting the
struction only. hinge pins, silencers shall be reinstalled, the exit
devise shall be latched, and the assembly shall be
The deterioration of the door strength during the
subjected to another 25,000 or 50,000 cycles. The
cycle test, if any, shall be checked through a series
condition of the silencers shall be noted and re-
of twist tests. These twist tests shall be performed
placements made where deemed necessary.
before the cycle test begins and then at 25,000
cycle intervals for the first 100,000 cycles and at
50,000 cycle intervals for the balance of the test. 7 Acceptance criteria
During the twist test, the hinge pins and silenc- 7.1 Doors
ers shall be removed from the door and frame as- 7.1.1  Doors shall not show any visual indication of
sembly and the exit device shall be unlatched. The metal fatigue, cracking or deformation at hardware
door is then clamped in place as noted in figure cutouts or along form contours.
2. If necessary to facilitate twist testing, the door
is permitted to be taken from the test fixture and 7.1.2  Doors of laminated construction (cores lami-
installed in a separate twist fixture. Loads in 30 lb. nated to face sheets, channels or stiffeners lami-
increments shall be applied at the upper lock edge nated to face sheets, etc.) shall not delaminate in
corner through the screw jack and force gage in the excess of 10% of the total surface area.

4
 ANSI/SDI A250.4-2011

7.1.3 In doors of welded construction (stiffeners horizontal and a vertical cut at the center of the
or channels welded to face sheets, etc.) breakage door height and door width. Internal construction
of welds shall not exceed 10% of the total weld of of door shall be inspected visually for delamina-
those face stiffeners. tion, metal fatigue, cracking and weld failure. The
results of this inspection shall be recorded in the
7.1.4 Top, bottom or edge channels shall remain
test report.
securely in place, without any weld breakage.
7.2 Frames
7.1.5  Where seams occur on doors, there shall be
no opening or spreading of the seam. 7.2.1 Frames shall remain plumb, square, rigid,
and show no visual signs of metal fatigue, crack-
7.1.6  All hardware reinforcements shall remain se- ing, or deformation at hardware cutouts or along
curely in place and show no visual signs of metal form contours.
fatigue, cracking or deformation.
7.2.2 Corners shall stay aligned with seams in a
7.1.7 As a result of the twist test, the maximum closed position.
deflection permitted shall not exceed 2 1/2″ when
loaded to 300 lb. for Level C. For Level B and Level 7.2.3 Perimeter clearances between door and
A doors the maximum deflection shall not exceed frame shall not be greater than 1/16″ from those
1 1/4″ when loaded to 300 lb. listed at onset of test.

7.1.8  Permanent deflection for doors shall not ex- 7.2.4 Hardware reinforcements shall remain se-
ceed 1/8″ when load is removed. curely attached to the frame, with all welds intact.

7.1.9  Tapped holes shall not strip. 7.2.5  Tapped holes shall not strip.
7.2.6  At the completion of the test, the frame shall
7.1.10 At the completion of the swing and twist
not limit door operation. If during the test the door
tests, the door shall be fully operable.
becomes inoperable, it shall be determined wheth-
7.1.11 Upon completion of the foregoing checks er a defective door frame, hardware reinforcement,
and measurements, remove door from test struc- hinge, frame anchor, etc., caused the failure and
ture and cut door into four equal sections with a shall be so noted in the test report.

5
ANSI/SDI A250.4-2011

Performance Report — Swing Test Form 1 Date

Test#

Manufacturers Type and Size of Doors

Weight of Door

Inspection at 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22
indicated cycle 25 50 75 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 500 550 600 650 700 750 800 850 900 950 1000
M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M
intervals (1)

Condition of edge
weld/bond

Condition of lock
prep.
Condition of hinge
prep.

Top

Center

Bottom

Condition of top
closure
Condition of bottom
closure
Condition of door
core/stiffeners
Condition of panels
— general
Level C Door  Level B Door  Level A Door 
(1)
Indicates condition in appropriate columns:
S — Satisfactory
Use footnotes under Remarks for further explanation

Hinge Manufacturer & Number

Lock Manufacturer & Number
Closer Manufacturer & Number

Remarks:

6
 ANSI/SDI A250.4-2011

Performance Report — Swing Test Form 2 Date

Manufacturers Test#

Jamb Width Type and Size of Frame

Weight of Door Type of Anchors

Inspection at 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22
indicated cycle 25 50 75 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 500 550 600 650 700 750 800 850 900 950 1000
M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M
intervals (1)

Condition of general
appearance

Condition of
perimeter clearance
Condition of strike
prep.
Condition of hinge
prep.

Top

Center

Bottom

Condition of
silencers
Condition of wall
anchors
Condition of floor
anchors

Condition of miters

Level C Door  Level B Door  Level A Door 

Indicates condition in appropriate columns:
(1)

S — Satisfactory
Use footnotes under Remarks for further explanation

Hinge Manufacturer & Number

Lock Manufacturer & Number

Remarks:

7
8
Performance Report — Twist Test Form 3

Test No. Date

Product Description
ANSI/SDI A250.4-2011

480

450

420

390

360

330

300

270

240

210

180

150

Pounds / Load Applied

120

90

60

30

0
0.1 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0

Inches / Deflection
 MEMBERS OF THE
AVAILABLE PUBLICATIONS STEEL DOOR INSTITUTE
Ceco Door
Specifications 9159 Telecom Drive
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ANSI/SDI A250.6 Recommended Practice for Hardware Reinforcings on Standard (731) 686-8345
Steel Doors and Frames www.cecodoor.com
ANSI/SDI A250.8 SDI 100 Specifications for Standard Steel Doors & Frames
Curries
SDI-108 Recommended Selection & Usage Guide for Standard Steel Doors P.O. Box 1648
Mason City, IA 50402-1648
SDI-118 Basic Fire Door, Fire Door Frame, Transom/Sidelight Frame, and (641) 423-1334
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SDI-128 Guidelines for Acoustical Performance of Standard Steel Doors & Deansteel Manufacturing Co.
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SDI-129 Hinge & Strike Spacing (210) 226-8271
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Test Procedures
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ANSI/SDI A250.3 Test Procedure & Acceptance Criteria for Factory Applied Finish 7980 Redwood Avenue
Coatings for Steel Doors & Frames Fontana, CA 92336-1638
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ANSI/SDI A250.4 Test Procedure & Acceptance Criteria for Physical Endurance for www.doorcomponents.com
Steel Doors, Frames and Frame Anchors
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ANSI/SDI A250.10 Test Procedure & Acceptance Criteria for Prime Painted Steel 602 S. 65th Avenue
Surfaces for Steel Doors & Frames Phoenix, AZ 85043
623-936-7000
ANSI/SDI A250.13 Testing and Rating of Severe Windstorm Resistant Components www.HMXpress.com
for Swinging Door Assemblies for Protection of Building Envelopes
(Not applicable for FEMA 320/361 or ICC-500 Shelters) Mesker Door, Inc.
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SDI-113 Standard Practice for Determining the Steady State Thermal Huntsville, AL 35811-9021
Transmittance of Steel Door & Frame Assemblies (256) 851-6670
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SDI-131 Accelerated Physical Endurance Test Procedure for Steel Doors,
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Construction Details (606) 523-0173
ANSI/SDI A250.11 Recommended Erection Instructions for Steel Frames www.metalproductsinc.com

SDI-110 Standard Steel Doors & Frames for Modular Masonry Construction Pioneer Industries, Inc.
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SDI-111 Recommended Details for Standard Details Steel Doors, Frames, Hackensack, NJ 07601
Accessories and Related Components (201) 933-1900
www.pioneerindustries.com
SDI-122 Installation Troubleshooting Guide for Standard Steel Doors &
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155 Republic Drive
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Miscellaneous Documents (731) 352-3383
SDI-112 Zinc-Coated (Galvanized/Galvannealed) Standard Steel Doors & www.republicdoor.com
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SDI-117 Manufacturing Tolerances for Standard Steel Doors & Frames 5700 Hannum Avenue, Suite 250
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SDI-124 Maintenance of Standard Steel Doors & Frames (310) 641-6690
www.secmet.com
SDI-127 Industry Alert Series (A-L)
SDI-130 Electrified Hinge Preparations Steelcraft
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SDI-134 Nomenclature for Standard Steel Doors & Steel Frames Cincinnati, OH 45242
(513) 745-6400
AUDIO-VISUAL PROGRAMS ALSO AVAILABLE www.steelcraft.com

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