How to Install a Steel Door Frame: Step-by-Step for Builders

Oct 05, 2026

Vincent Buda & Co provides versatile steel door frames for masonry, stud, and Dincel walls), including fire-rated options compliant with AS1530.4 for up to 2 hours. This guide covers essential installation steps, from confirming rough openings to achieving the precise clearances required for safety and certification.

What You'll Need

Materials:

Steel door frame (profile per Step 3)
Door slab (35 mm solid core, or 37 mm fire-rated)
100 x 75 mm screwfix hinges (2 non-rated, 3 fire-rated)
Universal striker (factory-fitted at 1042 mm)
Fix hardware: wall ties to AS2699.1:2020, stud clips, or masonry dynabolts (matched to wall type)
Sand and cement backfill (fire-rated only)
Timber packers, sealant
Fire door tag (fire-rated only)

Tools:

1.8 to 2.4 m spirit level
Plumb bob or laser, tape
Cordless drill + impact driver
Hammer drill, 10 mm masonry bit (tube-fixed only)
Framing square, rubber mallet

Step 1: Confirm the Rough Opening

Pull reveal size from the Door Frame Profile Book. Non-rated single leaf reveal: 924 x 2065 mm. Fire-rated: 924 x 2055 mm. Rough opening: 20 to 25 mm wider, 10 to 15 mm taller than reveal (around 945 to 950 mm x 2080 mm).

Step 2: Plumb, Level and Square the Frame

Stand the frame hinge-side to the reference wall. Hinges left = left-hand frame. Head underside sits at finished floor height.

Hinge jamb first. Plumb both faces. Shim at hinge and strike points.
Strike jamb next. Reveal width at head, mid and floor must match within 1 mm.
Square the head. Diagonals corner-to-corner must be equal.

Step 3: Fix the Frame to the Wall

Wall Type	Profile	Fix Method	Hardware
110 mm brick / blockwork	N114, F114	Built-in, mortar ties	Wall ties to AS2699.1:2020
90 mm brick / blockwork	N93	Built-in, mortar ties	Wall ties to AS2699.1:2020
90 mm stud + 10 mm board	N114	Stud clips, board returned	Stud clips
64 mm stud + 13 mm board	N93	Stud clips, board returned	Stud clips
Existing 110 mm brick	F114 Tube Fixed	Bolt-through	14 x masonry dynabolts
150 / 190 mm brick (fire)	F152 / F193	Built-in, mortar ties	Wall ties to AS2699.1:2020
200 mm Dincel	D200	Through flanges	No ties required

Built-in: re-check plumb every 2 to 3 courses. Tube-fixed: drill 14 x 10 mm pilot holes, set the dynabolts, torque evenly.

Step 4: Backfill (Fire-Rated Only)

Backfill the void with sand and cement. Mandatory for AS1530.4 compliance. Pour from the head down, tamp out air pockets, cure before hanging the door. Non-rated frames skip this step.

Step 5: Hang the Door and Check Clearances

Lift the door onto the hinges (2 non-rated, 3 fire-rated).

Position	Max Gap (Fire-Rated)	Why
Top to head	3 mm	Smoke + flame seal, AS1530.4
Hinge / strike	3 mm	Smoke + flame seal, AS1530.4
Bottom to floor	10 mm	Floor finish + bottom seal

Gaps over 3 mm at top or sides void the fire rating. Adjust the hinge mortise depth or shim to correct.

Step 6: Test the Swing and Latch

Swing the door through full arc. The door should move freely, hold at any angle, and latch cleanly at 1042 mm. Drift = out of plumb. Latch misses = out of square.

Step 7: Final Seal and Architrave

Non-rated: run a silicone or polyurethane bead around the perimeter. Fix architraves per design detail.
Fire-rated: fit batwing intumescent fire and smoke seals along the rebate. Add an automatic door bottom seal where the gap-to-floor exceeds 3 mm. Apply the fire door tag once the self-install checklist is complete.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How much clearance should the door have around the frame?

Fire-rated: under 3 mm at top and both sides, up to 10 mm at the bottom, per AS1530.4. Non-rated: same numbers as a quality benchmark.

Q: What's the rough opening for a 924 x 2065 mm reveal?

945 to 950 mm wide x 2080 mm high. That is 20 to 25 mm wider and 10 to 15 mm taller than the reveal.

Q: Do I need to backfill a non-fire-rated frame?

No. Backfill is mandatory only for fire-rated frames, to achieve AS1530.4 compliance. Non-rated frames are sealed with silicone or polyurethane around the perimeter.