Cased Open Hollow Metal Frame

LumberGuy wrote: Hi Steve,

I haven't been back here in a while. Been a busy summer with the kids! Can you tell me what a Cased Open HM Frame is and where is it used?

Lyle

Hey Kyle,

Sounds like you're having a nice summer with the kids! A Cased Open Hollow Metal Frame is a frame without a soffit and the stops in between the rabbets. The entire jamb depth of the frame is flat. Here's a pic:

This is mostly used for double acting doors. DA doors have to swing both in and out (in the same opening) and having the soffit with stops would prevent this. You'll see DA doors a lot in restaurants going into (and out of) the kitchen. Car dealerships have these sometimes between the parts department and the shop as well. DA doors are not to be confused with Double Egress doors...see this post on this Forum for that.

Occasionally, you'll see an Architect call for a Cased Open frame by itself...with no door at all. This is simply to create a constant opening between 2 rooms (that will always be open) and the Cased open frame just finishes the opening...rather that finishing the opening with drywall.