How to Choose an Aluminum Frame for Commercial Interior Applications

Choosing an aluminum frame for a commercial interior involves more than selecting a profile that fits the desired aesthetic. Opening configuration, wall construction, glazing, door type, installation sequence, and performance requirements can all influence which framing system is appropriate.

Frameworks Manufacturing offers interior aluminum framing systems for a range of commercial applications. Evaluating these conditions early can help project teams select a system that supports both the design and functional requirements of the opening.

Start With the Opening Configuration

The first consideration is what the frame needs to accommodate. A standard doorway has different requirements than an opening with a sidelite, borrowed lite, or larger glazed office front.

Frameworks’ framing systems can accommodate doors, sidelites, borrowed lites, and other interior configurations. Glazing can be particularly useful when natural light and visibility are design priorities. As Frameworks has previously explored, borrowed lites allow light to reach farther into interior spaces while maintaining separation between rooms.

Consider the Wall and Installation Method

The surrounding wall assembly is another important factor. Frame dimensions need to correspond with the partition construction, while the installation method should fit the project’s construction sequence.

Frameworks offers Type I and Type II interior aluminum framing systems. Type I is installed into the drywall and requires taping and floating as part of wall finishing. The modular Type II system uses snap-on trim to conceal fasteners and can be installed after walls have been finished and painted. Type II is also available in multiple throat sizes for different drywall partition thicknesses.

Coordinate Doors and Glazing

Doors and glazing should be considered alongside the aluminum frame rather than as separate decisions.

Frameworks’ Type I system accommodates 1/4-inch and 3/8-inch glazing, while Type II accommodates 1/4-inch, 3/8-inch, and 1/2-inch glazing. Frameworks also offers aluminum stile-and-rail swinging and sliding doors, allowing these components to work together as a coordinated interior system.

Where floor space influences the opening design, sliding doors provide another option. Frameworks’ barn-style sliding doors operate on a surface-mounted track and can be used with Type II frames. Frameworks has also addressed space-conscious applications through its SlimLine Series, which accommodates swinging and sliding doors.

Identify Performance Requirements

Depending on the application, fire ratings or acoustic performance may also influence frame selection. Frameworks offers rated configurations, with available ratings dependent on the framing system and opening configuration.

For spaces where speech privacy and noise control are priorities, Frameworks’ Serenity solution pairs a Type II aluminum frame with compatible acoustically rated wood doors to achieve an operable STC 35 assembly. Frameworks has previously explored how the Serenity STC-35 system can support productivity in commercial environments.

Choose the Frame as Part of the System

An aluminum frame is ultimately one component of a larger commercial interior system. Wall construction, doors, glazing, hardware, installation, and future use should be considered together when evaluating the right solution.

Frameworks’ modular approach can also support adaptable commercial interiors, building on the flexibility associated with modular design in changing commercial environments.

Accurate planning matters as well. Frameworks’ architectural specifications call for field verification of interior aluminum frame openings before fabrication, helping ensure the specified frame corresponds with actual project conditions.

By evaluating the opening, wall construction, glazing, door operation, installation method, and performance requirements early, project teams can choose an aluminum frame that supports both the architecture and long-term function of the space.

At Frameworks Manufacturing, we create commercial interior systems that emphasize durability, flexibility, and lasting functionality.

Connect with our team today to learn more about solutions designed to perform well long after installation.

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