What is a Door Schedule?
A door schedule is a table that lists every door in a building project — what type, what size, what hardware, and what ratings apply. It's the single source of truth for doors.
In plain English: The door schedule tells you everything you need to know about every door in the project — in one place. No hunting through floor plans trying to figure out what D-15 is supposed to be.
What's in a Door Schedule?
Door schedules vary by project and architect, but most include these columns:
| Column | What It Tells You |
|---|---|
| Door Mark | The identifier (D-1, D-2, 101, etc.) that matches the floor plan |
| Size | Width x Height (3'-0" x 7'-0" is standard) |
| Type | Door type code referencing a detail (A, B, C or 1, 2, 3) |
| Material | Wood, hollow metal, aluminum, etc. |
| Frame | Frame type and material |
| Fire Rating | 20-min, 45-min, 60-min, 90-min, or none |
| Hardware Set | References a hardware group (HS-1, HS-2, etc.) |
| Glazing | Vision lite, sidelight, none |
| Remarks | Special notes (ADA, weather-stripping, etc.) |
Reading a Door Schedule
Here's what a typical entry might look like:
| Mark | Size | Type | Mat'l | Fire | HW Set | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| D-15 | 3'-0" x 7'-0" | B | HM | 90-min | HS-3 | Corridor to stair |
This tells you D-15 is a 3-foot by 7-foot hollow metal door, Type B (you'd look at the door type detail for configuration), with a 90-minute fire rating, hardware set 3, and it's the corridor-to-stair door.
Why Door Schedules Matter for Estimators
Doors are expensive. A standard interior door might be $300 installed. A fire-rated door with panic hardware? Easily $2,000+. Get the count or specs wrong, and your estimate is off by thousands.
- ✓ Material costs — Wood vs. hollow metal vs. FRP makes a big difference
- ✓ Fire ratings — Rated doors cost 2-3x more than non-rated
- ✓ Hardware — Lever sets, panic devices, closers, coordinators add up fast
- ✓ Lead times — Custom or fire-rated doors can take weeks to fabricate
When the Schedule Doesn't Match the Drawings
This is more common than you'd think. You count 17 doors on the floor plan, but the schedule only lists 15. Or the plan shows a door that isn't in the schedule at all.
Common discrepancies:
- • Doors added to plans but not added to schedule
- • Doors deleted from plans but still in schedule
- • Door marks on drawings don't match schedule marks
- • Size shown on plan doesn't match schedule
- • Fire rating required by code but not shown in schedule
When you find a discrepancy, that's an RFI. Don't guess. Get it clarified in writing before you price it.
Understanding Hardware Sets
The door schedule usually references hardware sets (HS-1, HS-2, etc.) rather than listing every piece of hardware for every door. The hardware set spec is a separate document that lists what's in each set.
Typical Hardware Set (HS-3 — Fire-Rated Corridor)
- • 3 hinges (4-1/2" x 4-1/2", steel, ball bearing)
- • Mortise lockset (classroom function)
- • Door closer (surface mounted)
- • Kick plate (10" x 34")
- • Smoke gasket
- • Fire-rated label
Hardware can easily cost more than the door itself on commercial projects. Always look at the hardware sets.
Fire Rating Requirements
Fire ratings aren't optional — they're code-required based on the wall rating. A door in a 1-hour wall needs at least a 45-minute rating (¾ of the wall rating is the general rule).
| Wall Rating | Minimum Door Rating |
|---|---|
| 1-hour | 45 minutes (or 20 min for some uses) |
| 2-hour | 90 minutes |
| 3-hour | 90 minutes (stair enclosures) |
| Non-rated | None required |
If the schedule shows a non-rated door in what you know is a rated wall, that's a red flag. File an RFI.
How AI Helps with Door Schedules
Manually cross-checking every door on the plans against the schedule is tedious. It's also exactly the kind of task where humans make mistakes — especially on large projects with 100+ doors.
AI can compare what's detected in the drawings against what's listed in the schedule and flag discrepancies automatically. That doesn't replace human judgment — but it means you spend your time reviewing flagged issues instead of counting doors.
The goal isn't to eliminate humans. It's to catch the mismatches before they become expensive problems.
No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!