According to the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission, one of the ways polluted outdoor air can enter a home is through infiltration. In this process, outdoor air flows into the home through joints, cracks, and openings in ceilings, floors, and walls, as well as around windows and doors.
2. According to the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission, one of the ways
polluted outdoor air can enter a home is through infiltration. In this process, outdoor air
flows into the home through joints, cracks, and openings in ceilings, floors, and walls, as
well as around windows and doors.
It is therefore important to choose the kind of door that can act as a seal, protecting
your indoor air from pollutants that bring health risks. Your door should also act as a
barrier against outdoor noise while keeping you safe as well. Here are some guidelines
to follow when choosing an interior door:
Choose a Material to Suit Your Climate
Mahogany, maple, cherry, and pine are some of the most common materials used for
solid wood doors. They look elegant on colonial homes, but may not be ideal if you live
in a humid area, as they expand and shrink with changing temperatures. Additionally,
mold grows easily on wooden surfaces in humid environments, which may cause
respiratory diseases.
3. On the other hand, metal and glass doors work in almost any climate. They blend well
with a modern interior, and some you may even customize to include components that
seal quality air in and lock pollutants out.
Know the Sound Ratings
You can measure the ability of a door to eliminate outdoor noise by its sound
transmission class (STC). The higher a door’s STC, the less sound can pass through it.
The lowest STC score is 25 — you can hear most normal speech through these doors. A
door with an STC of 60 or more is virtually soundproof.
Plywood or composite doors with a hollow core allow sound to pass through more
easily. Doors made of the same material but with a solid core have better sound
deadening qualities than its hollow-core counterpart, without the high expenses
associated with a solid wood door.
4. Resources:
http://www.uberdoors.com/store/exterior-doors/front-door-colors-collection.html
http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/1116380/list/houzz-planning-how-to-choose-an-
interior-door
https://www.cpsc.gov/Safety-Education/Safety-Guides/Home/The-Inside-Story-A-
Guide-to-Indoor-Air-Quality
http://matterism.com/2014/02/torggler-door/
http://www.livestrong.com/article/125073-health-effects-poor-air-quality/
https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/improving-indoor-air-quality
http://thecreatorsproject.vice.com/blog/the-future-of-the-door-is-unfolding-right-
before-our-eyes
The Future of Doors
Basic door technology remained relatively the same through centuries. Austrian
designer Klemens Torggler, however, opened up “new applications for the door” with
an innovative concept. He designed a door that uses rotating squares to move the
door sideways, completely eliminating the need for tracks as well as the extra space
occupied by a conventional door.
