Doorways have evolved in recent years from simple mechanical building components into high-tech access control platforms and life safety portals. Fortunately, in the case of doorway security, complex does not mean difficult. Even with the rapid development of new products, electrified hardware systems, changing building codes, positive pressure and heightened security, the basic fundamentals for providing doorway security remain unchanged: hang the door, secure the door, close the door, protect the door.

Even with the rapid development of new products, electrified hardware systems,
changing building codes, positive pressure and heightened security, the basic
fundamentals for providing doorway security remain unchanged: hang the door,
secure the door, close the door, protect the door.

These are the basic principles behind virtually every architectural door opening, from a complex access controlled entry bank to a basic closet door. The basic fundamentals are central to any discussion of architectural door hardware and are a reminder of the proper order for listing the hardware items for a specification or a schedule.

Hang the Door
When it comes to hanging a door there are several choices of products to apply, each with their own advantages and disadvantages. The butt hinge is by far the most practical choice. Both for its simplicity and its value, it remains the number one method of connecting a door to a frame. Butt hinges are available in two, three and five knuckle designs, and in a variety of special configurations for virtually any application.

Other hanging options include offset pivots, center pivots, pocket pivots, continuous geared hinges and continuous pin and barrel hinges. There are many criteria to evaluate when choosing which hanging method is best for a given application, but the major standards are: frequency of use, door weight, door and frame material, aesthetics, fire rating and cost.

Secure the Door
Securing the door is arguably the most complex step in determining the proper door hardware for any opening. Start by deciding how to secure the inactive leaf of a pair of doors. This may be accomplished by means of manual flushbolts, automatic flushbolts, surface bolts, an exit device, and a twopoint lock or cremone bolt. These devices share one characteristic: they secure the inactive door at the top and bottom by means of bolts or latches. Remember to indicate if a dust-proof strike is required. For fire rated openings, doors must positively latch, which means that upon closing, the door must securely latch without any special action other than the door closing.

A single door, or the active leaf in a pair, can be secured by lockset or latchset, exit device, two or three point lock, deadlock, magnetic lock, electric strike or any of a number of different electronic locking devices. Needless to say, there are a lot of options when it comes to securing an opening. So which one is right for a particular application? That will largely depend on security concerns, aesthetics, fire and building codes, life safety issues, usability, and (of course) cost.

Remember that locksets and exit devices are two of the largest items when it comes to cost for door hardware. If the opening is a means of egress, and the building code dictates that panic hardware is required, then exit devices are in order. If not, a lockset or latchset will suffice. If electronic access control were required, an electric strike, electric lock, electric exit device or magnetic lock might be appropriate depending on the location of the door and other factors. Do not overlook power supplies when specifying electrified hardware devices.

Cylinders and keying fall under this category as well. Pay special attention to the desired level of key control and security required for the given application. Most manufacturers offer a higher level of security over their standard key systems. One would be a patented key system that limits distribution and therefore helps the owner in preventing unauthorized cut keys. The second is high security cylinders that meet UL437 requirements for extensive testing for drill and pick resistance to help in preventing surreptitious entry. These are well worth looking into, and represent one of the best investments a facility manager can make.

Other items to consider in this category are operating trim such as door pulls, push plates and push bars. Accessories for pairs of doors such as coordinators, carry bars and astragals can also be included in this category.

Close the Door
If any of these steps are misnamed it is this one. Amore appropriate label is“Control the Door.” Closing devices such as surface and concealed door closers, floor closers, and automatic operators do far more than just close the door. Adoor closer’s function is to provide control of the door through its phases of opening and closing, protecting not only the door, but also its surroundings and the people passing through the opening as well. The criteria for choosing the proper door control are similar to the other categories. If aesthetics are important, consider a concealed overhead closer or a floor closer. If cost is a primary concern, think about a surface mounted overhead closer instead. If handicap accessibility is a factor, consider an automatic operator.

With few exceptions, fire-rated openings require door-closing devices to be considered self-closing. There are other conditions when applying a door closer may be desirable. A sound rated door, exterior door, or doors with push/pull hardware are examples of doors where closers are needed, even though there may be no fire rating.

Protect the Door
Door protection is often overlooked. Proper door protection involves not only protecting the door from damage, but also the surrounding materials, traffic and people. Traffic can be in the form of handcarts, stretchers, dollys, wheelchairs or more damaging vehicles such as forklifts. Door protection generally takes the form of kickplates, mop plates, stretcher plates, armor plates, edge guards, and spring bumpers. Protective plating guards against impact and marring of the door surface.

Give serious consideration to the type and frequency of traffic through a particular opening when determining the appropriate door protection. In a merchandise stock room, for example, determine where shipments will be received and how it will be transported within the building. Look at the doors along that path from the loading dock to the food storage room, and specify armor plating and edge guards to protect them from the abuse that handcarts can deliver. Consider the application of special door trim guards to protect door levers where cart traffic is especially abusive.

Beware of specifying protective plates for doors in high moisture areas, especially hollow metal doors. The protective plate can hold moisture against the door face and actually deteriorate the door faster than any cart traffic could! Doorstops protect the surrounding materials from damage, as well as the door. Wall stops, floor stops and overhead stops are a necessary part of door control and protection, and should not be overlooked. Try to avoid the application of floor stops except where absolutely necessary. They collect dirt and can often times be a “trip hazard.”

The above four items are often followed by a fifth, “Seal the Door.” The advent of positive pressure fire testing has made this important, but many hardware professionals are still confused about the application of gasketing materials to fire rated door-opening assemblies. Gasketing should be considered for doors where temperature control is required. Other situations such as sound control, light control,  pressure control, and other special conditions where gasketing is a concern need to be addressed as well. When choosing gasketing, consider the floor condition. Does the opening require a threshold? Is there a transition from one floor material to another? Is sealing of the opening at the sill required? Also be aware of meeting stile conditions, where pairs of doors meet in the middle. Be aware of situations where an overlapping type astragal cannot be used, for example when a pair of vertical rod exit devices are being applied.

Lastly, consider other items such as door silencers, room numbers or nameplates, robe or hat hooks, mail slots, doorknockers, viewers, and related electrical devices such as relays and switches. There are items that are common to an entire project such as key control cabinets, key control software, and emergency key boxes that are important to include in any hardware specification or schedule.

Hang the door, secure the door, close the door, protect the door; no matter how complex the doorway, the fundamentals always remain simple.

Glenn McNamara is the public relations & communications specialist at ASSA ABLOY Door Security Solutions. He can be contacted by email at: gmcnamara@assaabloydss.com.

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