Mills & Nebraska Architectural Products
    Hollow Metal Frames

    Commercial Door Frames

    Hollow metal frames are the steel door frames used in commercial buildings. Mills & Nebraska fabricates welded, knock-down and security frames at its 36,000 sq ft Orlando, Florida facility, with in-house Intertek-certified labeling for fire and wind.

    A frame carries the door, the hardware and often the fire or wind rating of the opening, so gauge, anchors and hardware preps are chosen together with the door and hardware schedule.

    • Fire-Rated20 minutes to 3 hours
    • Hurricane-RatedWind-rated assemblies
    • Custom SizingFabricated in Orlando
    • Intertek CertifiedIn-house labeling for fire and wind

    Commercial Door Frames We Supply

    3 product lines. Open any product for full specifications, ratings, standards and FAQs.

    Compare Commercial Door Frames

    A side-by-side summary. Ratings and options depend on the specific listing or approval, so confirm each opening against its schedule.

    Commercial door frame types compared
    Frame typeAvailable gaugesFire ratingsConstructionBest for
    Standard Welded Frames14 (heavy duty), 16 (standard), 18 (light duty)20, 45, 60, 90 min, 3 hr; temperature rise optionsFactory-welded corners, set before or with the wall; labeled in house for fire and windNew construction, stairs, corridors, elevator lobbies
    Knock-Down Frames16 (standard), 18 (light duty); 14 by manufacturer20 min to 3 hr, per manufacturer listingShips unassembled, field assembled without weldingRenovations, tenant improvements, occupied buildings
    Security Frames12 (maximum security), 14 (enhanced security)Up to 3 hrAnti-pry tabs, welded anchors, steel stiffeners; ASTM F3038Correctional, banks, data centers, government

    Standard Specifications

    Standard Widths
    2'-0" to 8'-0"
    Standard Heights
    6'-8" to 10'-0"
    Custom Sizes
    Available on request
    Face Widths
    2" standard; narrow faces and 4" heads available
    Jamb Depths
    4-3/4" to 10" standard; deeper by manufacturer

    How to Choose Commercial Door Frames

    1. 1

      New construction: welded frames are set before or with the wall and give the most rigid frame.

    2. 2

      Renovations and tenant improvements: knock-down frames suit walls that are already built or hard to reach.

    3. 3

      Rated walls: the frame's fire label must cover the rating the wall requires, together with the door and hardware, and exit stair enclosures may need temperature rise assemblies.

    4. 4

      Exterior walls: coordinate the frame with the door, weatherstripping and threshold, since humid outdoor air meeting an air-conditioned interior can cause condensation at the opening.

    5. 5

      Before fabrication, confirm the wall type and anchors, jamb depth, hardware preps and fire rating, since changes after fabrication are difficult.

    Brands We Provide

    Mills & Nebraska provides hollow metal frames from manufacturers including:

    • Ceco Door logo
    • Curries
    • Steelcraft
    • De La Fontaine logo
    • Timely Industries
    • Redi Frames logo

    Standard Welded Frames

    • Ceco Door
    • Curries
    • Steelcraft
    • De La Fontaine

    Knock-Down Frames

    • Curries
    • Timely Industries
    • Redi Frames

    See all of our manufacturer partners.

    Commercial Door Frames: Frequently Asked Questions

    What is the lead time for door frames from your Orlando facility?

    Stocked frames are available with Same Day lead times. Custom frames are quoted per project, and in-house Intertek-certified labeling means rated frames do not wait on an outside labeling service.

    Do you fabricate custom door frames for Florida projects?

    Yes. Our 36,000 sq ft Orlando facility fabricates custom frames with the sizes, gauges, anchor types and fire ratings your project requires.

    What is the difference between welded and knock-down frames?

    Welded frames have factory-welded corners and are set before or during wall construction, giving the most rigid frame for new construction. Knock-down frames ship in pieces and are assembled on site, usually around finished drywall openings, which suits renovations and tenant improvements.

    What gauge door frame do I need?

    Most commercial openings use 16 gauge frames. Use 14 gauge for heavy-use, exterior, security or oversized openings and for many 90-minute and 3-hour fire-rated frames, and 12 gauge for security frames. The fire listing and the door's duty level set the minimum.

    Custom Frame Fabrication

    Send your frame schedule or drawings, from simple knock-downs to complex fire-rated assemblies, and our team will confirm gauges, anchors, preps and ratings before fabrication.