Screwed to meeting door edge
ANSI/BHMA A156.22 · NFPA 80 · UL 1784
Maryland, DC & Northern Virginia
A door edge astragal is a seal that mounts on the edge of one or both leaves in a pair of doors. It fills the narrow gap where the two doors meet, called the meeting stiles. Most units have an aluminum or steel body with a replaceable brush, silicone or neoprene insert. Unlike a flat bar on the door face, an edge astragal sits inside the door’s profile. That keeps the look clean and protects the seal from carts, bags and busy hands every day.
Closes the gap on double doors to cut drafts, light leaks, noise and smoke between rooms.
Sits within the door edge, so nothing sticks out to snag carts, clothing or cleaning equipment.
Many edge designs let either leaf close first, which often removes the need for a coordinator.
King Locksmith And Doors Inc. is a locksmith and commercial door company serving Maryland, Washington DC and Northern Virginia. Our technicians install, adjust and replace door edge astragals on hollow metal, wood and aluminum doors. We work with small businesses, government agencies, hospitals, hotels and large enterprises. We check each pair for gaps, sag and fire label rules before we start. Then we fit, seal and test the doors so they close right every time.
The right edge astragal depends on how your doors swing, what they must stop and how hard they work each day. Use these five checks before you order parts or book an install with us.
Start by checking how the pair operates. On an active and inactive pair, the inactive leaf stays shut with flush bolts or a surface bolt. The edge astragal usually mounts on that inactive leaf and seals against the active one.
If both doors swing freely, such as a pair with two exit devices, look at split or dual edge astragals. Each half mounts on its own leaf, so either door can open or close first.
Pairs of fire doors must use an astragal that the door’s label or listing allows. NFPA 80 sets the rules for how rated openings are installed, kept up and inspected each year. Doors tested under UL 10C often need intumescent seals at the meeting edge.
Smoke doors add one more test. Their seals are checked for air leakage under UL 1784. Use only listed parts, and keep any field changes within what NFPA 80 permits.
The insert does the real sealing work. Brush inserts glide smoothly and suit busy doors that see constant daily traffic. Silicone and neoprene bulbs press tight for better sound, air and light control between rooms.
Intumescent strips swell in high heat to help block fire and hot gases. Pick a material rated for your climate, cleaning products and traffic level. Soft inserts wear faster than the metal body, so plan to replace them over time.
Most edge astragals use extruded aluminum with a clear, dark bronze or black anodized finish. Steel versions add strength and are common on hollow metal fire doors in hospitals and schools. Stainless steel resists rust in wet areas, kitchens and wash-down rooms.
Match the finish to your other hardware for a clean, uniform look. Order the correct length for your exact door height, and confirm the screw type suits wood, hollow metal or aluminum doors.
Exterior pairs face rain, wind and temperature swings. Pick an astragal with a weather-rated seal, and pair it with a door bottom and threshold. Interior pairs in hospitals and hotels need quiet, low-friction closing day and night.
High-traffic doors wear seals fast, so choose a tough insert that is easy to replace. Schools and offices may also need sound control between rooms. Tell us how your doors are used, and we will match the part.
Both parts seal the gap between double doors but work in different ways. Here is how a door edge astragal compares with a surface-mounted overlapping astragal on a commercial pair.
Consideration
Door Edge Astragal
Overlapping Astragal
Many designs let either leaf close first
Inactive leaf must always close first
Often works without a door coordinator
Usually needs a coordinator on paired doors
Stays within the door edge, flush look
Flat bar sticks out on door face
Protected from carts, beds and luggage
Exposed flange bends when struck by carts
Mounts on the edge without face drilling
Needs screws through the visible door face
Astragals take a beating every time a pair of doors opens and closes. Watch for these warning signs before a small gap turns into a failed inspection or wasted energy.
We measure, cut and fit edge astragals on new or existing double doors for a tight seal.
We swap worn brush, silicone or neoprene inserts so the astragal seals like new at lower cost.
We install listed fire and smoke astragals that match your door label and meet NFPA 80 requirements.
We fix sagging leaves, worn hinges and weak closers so the astragal meets its partner door evenly.
We correct astragal and gap problems found during annual fire door inspections and document every completed repair.
We pair edge astragals with door sweeps, thresholds and perimeter seals to stop drafts and water intrusion.
Get a free on-site assessment from our door hardware team. We serve businesses across Maryland, Washington DC and Northern Virginia.
