Single-leaf door
One active leaf for standard openings, typically up to about 1.0 – 1.2 m wide. Used for apartment, office, side and service doors.
Door systems
Aluminium Hinged Door Systems
An aluminium hinged door system is a complete swing door: extruded frame and leaf profiles, glazing, gaskets, threshold, hinges and locks designed to work together. It is the most common door type in buildings because it seals tightly, locks securely and suits everything from apartment entrances to office corridors and hotel balconies. Metline supplies hinged door profiles, thermal-break sections and accessories to door fabricators for project door schedules worldwide.
- Profile alloy
- 6060-T66 / 6063-T5, T6
- Leaves
- Single, double, with sidelights
- Frames
- Thermal break or non-insulated
- Standards
- EN 14351-1 · NAFS · EN 1935
What is an aluminium hinged door?
A hinged door, also called a swing door or side-hung door, rotates on hinges fixed to one vertical edge of the frame. When it closes, the leaf presses against continuous gaskets on all four sides and the lock draws it tight. That compression seal is why a hinged door outperforms a sliding door of the same quality on air tightness, water tightness, sound insulation and security.
In an aluminium system, the frame (outer profile fixed into the wall opening) and the leaf (the moving part) are extrusions designed as a pair. The profiles carry grooves for gaskets, chambers for hinges and lock gear, a glazing rebate, drainage paths and, in insulated systems, polyamide thermal break strips. Hardware is chosen to suit the leaf weight and traffic, and the threshold detail decides how well the door keeps water out at floor level.
Hinged doors are specified for almost every type of opening: front doors and apartment entrances, balcony and terrace doors, office and corridor doors, plant-room and service doors, and the active leaves within shopfront and curtain wall entrances. Because one system can produce all these variants with the same sightlines and colours, project teams often build a whole door schedule from a single hinged door series.
Hinged door types and configurations
Double-leaf (French) door
Two leaves meeting at a central mullion or with an astragal on the inactive leaf. Gives a wide clear opening for lobbies, terraces and public entrances.
Inward-opening
The usual choice for residential entrances and balcony doors in Europe; the leaf is protected from weather when open and hinges are inside for security.
Outward-opening
Saves interior space and resists wind-driven rain well because pressure pushes the leaf into its seals. Required on many escape routes, where doors must open in the direction of travel.
With sidelights and transoms
Fixed glazed panels beside or above the leaf to bring daylight into halls and lobbies and to fill wide or tall openings. Frame and mullion design must carry the extra wind load.
Slim-frame and high-performance
Narrow-sightline leaves for modern architecture, or deep, multi-chamber thermal break systems with triple glazing for low-energy buildings.
Profile alloys, wall thickness and system depth
Door and window systems in Europe are mainly extruded in 6060, while 6063 is the usual alloy in North America, India and much of Asia. Both are low-alloy Al-Mg-Si grades with excellent surface quality for anodising and powder coating. The temper is chosen for the stiffness the leaf needs.
| Alloy and temper | Min. tensile Rm | Min. yield Rp0.2 | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6060-T5 | 160 MPa | 120 MPa | Light internal doors, beads and trims |
| 6060-T66 | 215 MPa | 160 MPa | Standard European door frame and leaf profiles |
| 6063-T5 | 175 MPa | 130 MPa | Frames and leaves for residential doors |
| 6063-T6 | 215 MPa | 170 MPa | Heavier leaves, entrance doors |
| 6005A-T6 / 6061-T6 | 260 – 270 MPa | 225 – 240 MPa | Reinforcing profiles, tall mullions |
Minimum values are typical EN 755-2 / ASTM B221 limits for wall thickness up to about 3 – 5 mm; exact limits depend on section and thickness.
Typical system dimensions
- Profile wall thickness
- About 1.8 – 2.0 mm on door profiles; more at hinge and lock zones in heavy-duty systems
- Frame depth, non-insulated
- About 45 – 60 mm
- Frame depth, thermal break
- About 60 – 90 mm; deep high-performance systems 100 mm and more
- Thermal break
- Glass-fibre-reinforced polyamide (PA66 GF25) strips, often 24 – 40 mm, with insulating foam in high-performance systems
- Glazing
- Double units such as 5 / 12–16 / 5 mm, or triple units, with toughened or laminated panes
- Gaskets
- EPDM, with two or three seal lines in thermal break systems
Performance classes and test standards
External doors are tested as complete units. In Europe, EN 14351-1 is the product standard behind CE and UKCA marking, and each property is declared as a class. In North America, swing doors are rated under the North American Fenestration Standard (AAMA/WDMA/CSA 101/I.S.2/A440) with a performance class and design pressure. The table shows what each test means and the typical range for a good aluminium hinged door.
| Property | European test / classification | Typical good hinged door | North America |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air permeability | EN 1026 / EN 12207, classes 1 – 4 | Class 3 – 4 | ASTM E283 |
| Watertightness | EN 1027 / EN 12208, classes 1A – 9A and E | 4A – 8A (higher for outward-opening) | ASTM E331 / E547 |
| Wind resistance | EN 12211 / EN 12210, classes 1 – 5 (A, B, C deflection) | C3 – C5 | ASTM E330 |
| Thermal transmittance | EN ISO 10077-1/-2 (Ud) | 1.2 – 2.0 W/m²K (thermal break) | NFRC 100 U-factor |
| Acoustic | EN ISO 10140 / EN ISO 717-1 (Rw) | 30 – 40 dB depending on glass | ASTM E90 (STC, OITC) |
| Mechanical durability | EN 12400, classes 1 – 8 | Class 5 – 8 for high-traffic doors | Hardware cycle testing |
| Burglar resistance | EN 1627, RC 1 – RC 6 | RC 2 – RC 3 for entrances | ASTM F476 / F842 |
Doors on escape routes also need hardware tested to EN 179 (emergency exit devices) or EN 1125 (panic bars), and door closers to EN 1154. Fire and smoke doors are a separate product class tested to EN 1634 and EN 16034; standard hinged door systems are not fire-rated unless certified as such.
Hinges, locks, thresholds and seals
Hinges
Barrel or butt hinges clamped into the profile chambers, surface-fixed 3D-adjustable hinges, or concealed hinges for a clean look. Choose by leaf weight and size, and to EN 1935 grades for durability; use three hinges on tall or heavy leaves.
Locks
Single-point locks for internal doors; multi-point locks with hooks or rollers at top, middle and bottom for external doors, which pull the leaf evenly into its seals and resist forcing.
Handles and cylinders
Lever-lever, lever-pull or panic hardware, with profile cylinders to EN 1303 and anti-snap options on entrances.
Thresholds
Standard drained thresholds for exposed doors; low or flush thresholds (often 20 mm or less) for accessibility, which need more care with drainage and sill detailing.
Seals
Continuous EPDM gaskets in two or three lines, corner-moulded or vulcanised at joints, plus a drop seal or brush at the threshold where a low sill is used.
Closers and stays
Overhead or concealed closers for public doors, and restrictors or stays to stop wind slamming external leaves.
Hardware and profile must be compatible: hinge and lock positions are machined into specific chambers of the profile, and the leaf weight (frame plus glass) must be within the hinge rating. Double-glazed leaves of 1.0 × 2.4 m weigh roughly 60 – 80 kg, and triple-glazed or laminated leaves considerably more.
Surface finishes and colours
| Finish | Typical specification | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Powder coating | AAMA 2603 / 2604 or Qualicoat Class 1 – 2; 60 – 80 µm | Any RAL colour, matt to gloss; standard choice |
| PVDF liquid coating | AAMA 2605 or Qualicoat Class 3; about 25 – 40 µm | Highest colour retention for façades and coastal sites |
| Anodising | EN ISO 7599 / Qualanod, class 15 – 25 µm | Metallic look and hard, abrasion-resistant surface |
| Wood-grain | Sublimation on powder base coat | Timber appearance without maintenance |
| Dual colour | Different inside and outside colours | Possible on thermal break profiles, which are coated before assembly |
Hinged, sliding or bifold door?
| Factor | Hinged door | Sliding door | Bifold door |
|---|---|---|---|
| Space needed | Swing arc inside or outside | None beyond the frame | Space for stacked leaves |
| Clear opening | Full leaf width; double leaves for wider | About half the frame width (more with lift-slide pockets) | Almost the full opening |
| Air and water tightness | Highest (compression seals) | Lower (brush or lift-slide seals) | Good to medium, depends on hardware |
| Security | High with multi-point locks | Good with hook locks | Good, more joints to secure |
| Maintenance | Low: hinges and lock | Rollers and tracks | Hinges, rollers and tracks |
| Best for | Entrances, corridors, balcony doors, door schedules | Patios and wide glazed openings | Opening a room fully to a terrace |
For wide patio openings see sliding door systems and bifold doors; for paired entrance leaves see aluminium double doors.
Design and installation checklist
- Swing direction and handing: fix inward or outward and left or right hand for every door on the schedule before fabrication; escape doors normally open outward.
- Clear width: the effective passage is the leaf width minus the frame rebates and hardware, not the structural opening. Check accessibility rules (for example 800 – 850 mm clear in many codes, 32 in under ADA).
- Threshold and floor level: agree finished floor levels inside and out, drainage direction and whether a low threshold is required.
- Fixing: anchor the frame at regular centres and close to hinges and lock keeps, with packers under the hinge jamb so the leaf cannot drop.
- Perimeter sealing: use membranes, pre-compressed tape or backer rod and sealant between frame and wall; most leaks happen here, not through the door.
- Isolation: keep aluminium away from wet mortar and steel contact; use stainless fixings.
- Adjustment: after installation, adjust hinges so the leaf meets its seals evenly and the lock engages without force.
Typical projects
Apartments and housing
Entrance and balcony doors in thermal break systems, specified once and repeated across hundreds of units.
Offices and commercial
Glazed corridor, meeting-room and side entrance doors, with closers and access-control hardware.
Hotels and mixed use
Guest-room balcony doors with good acoustic glass, and paired lobby doors with sidelights and transoms.
Schools, hospitals and public buildings
Robust, high-cycle doors with panic or emergency hardware on escape routes and laminated safety glass.
How to order hinged door profiles from Metline
- Door scheduleSizes, quantities, door types, swing and handing, sidelights or transoms, and the location of each door.
- Performance and codeThermal, acoustic, security and weather targets, escape-route requirements and the standard to be met.
- System, glass and hardwareThermal break or standard frame, glazing make-up, hinge and lock specification, threshold type and colour.
- SubmittalsWe provide section drawings, a profile list and a hardware schedule for approval with a quotation on EXW, FOB, CIF or DAP terms.
- Process, label and shipProfiles are cut and machined on request, labelled by door number, inspected and packed for export with material certificates.
References and standards
- EN 14351-1 – Windows and doors: product standard, performance characteristics (external pedestrian doorsets)
- AAMA/WDMA/CSA 101/I.S.2/A440 – North American Fenestration Standard
- EN 1935 – Building hardware: single-axis hinges, requirements and test methods
- EN 1627 – Pedestrian doorsets, windows, curtain walling: burglar resistance
- EN 755-2 – Aluminium and aluminium alloys: extruded rod/bar, tube and profiles, mechanical properties
Aluminium (aluminum) hinged doors: FAQ
Should an external aluminium door open inward or outward?
Inward-opening doors are common for homes and balconies because the hinges are inside and the leaf is sheltered when open. Outward-opening doors save interior space, resist wind-driven rain better and are required on many escape routes. Decide per door, taking into account threshold design and local code.
What makes a hinged door more weathertight than a sliding door?
When a hinged leaf closes, the lock pulls it against continuous compression gaskets on all four sides. Sliding doors rely on brushes or lift-slide seals at moving joints, which are inherently leakier. A good hinged door typically reaches higher air and water classes from the same system family.
Are aluminium hinged doors energy efficient?
With a polyamide thermal break, multi-chamber profiles and Low-E double or triple glazing, aluminium hinged doors typically reach door U-values of about 1.2 – 2.0 W/m²K, depending on system depth, glass and size.
How heavy a leaf can aluminium door hinges carry?
It depends on the hinge type and number. Standard clamped barrel hinges suit typical residential leaves, while heavy-duty and concealed hinges are rated for heavier glazed leaves. Always compare the leaf weight, including glass, with the hinge manufacturer's rating, and use three hinges on tall leaves.
Which alloy are aluminium door profiles made from?
Usually 6060-T66 in European systems and 6063-T5 or T6 elsewhere, extruded to EN 755 or ASTM B221. Both give a fine surface for powder coating and anodising; reinforcing profiles may use 6005A or 6061.
Do you supply assembled hinged doors to a door schedule?
No. Send the schedule with sizes, swing, handing, glazing, hardware and finish for each door, and we supply the profiles, cut and machined on request, with hardware and accessories labelled by door number; your fabricator assembles and glazes the doors.
Need hinged doors for a project?
Send your door schedule, performance targets, colour and destination to sales@metline.in for a profile proposal and delivered price.
