Door Hardware
Active Door (of pair)/Single Door Securing Hardware
Locks
There are three grades of locks available:
- Grade 1 – Heavy duty, used in high-frequency openings i.e. main entrances
- Grade 2 – Standard duty, used in moderate used openings i.e. washrooms, offices
- Grade 3 – Light duty, used in low-frequency openings i.e. apartments
Advantages of cylindrical locks are they are less expensive than mortise locks, easier and faster to install, and have key in knob, or lever features.
Mortise locks are one of the most durable types of locks available. They offer long lasting operation, and low maintenance.
Keypad locks, card reader locks, FOB reader locks are to control entry to certain areas by requiring the need to use proper credentials for the lock to open. Most of these types of locks offer audit trails to allow tracking of who has been gaining entry.
Options available for locks:
Many finishes, functions, lever/knob designs are available.
Electronic locks. Offer the capability of electronically unlocking the lock to help control ingress/egress remotely
Tactile warning for use to aid people with limited eyesight to warn them of dangerous areas.
Exit Devices
Due to their direct effect upon life safety, exit devices are one of the most important hardware items in a building. Exit device are used to secure openings while offering immediate exit in case of emergency.
Rim mounted exit devices are installed on the face of the door. Rim devices are typically the most secure, and most cost effective type of exit device.
Mortised exit devices have a mortise lock body in the lock stile of the door, and the actuating bar is mounted on the face of the door.
Surface mounted vertical rod exit devices are typically used on pairs of doors. They are installed on the face of the door with a top and bottom rod that extends the full height of the door. At the ends of these rods are the latches that secure the door in the closed position. These devices are also offered with Less Bottom Rod configurations.
Concealed vertical rod exit devices are similar to the surface mounted exit devices , but the rods that extend the height of the door are concealed in the door, while the actuating bar is surface mounted on face of the door.
Exit device trims are offered for all exit devices as a means of operation from the pull side of the door.
Dogging feature: Non-fire rated devices come standard with dogging capability. This allows the latch to be held in a retracted position, so that the door can be used as a push/pull. This is not allowed on a fire rated exit device, as this would not allow the door to stay in a latched position in case of an emergency.
Options available for exit devices:
Many finishes, functions, lever/knob designs are available.
Electrified latch retraction. Offers the capability of electric latch retraction to help control ingress/egress remotely
Integrated audible alarms. These alarms can be installed in the actuating bar of the exit device, so that when the bar is pressed an alarm is sounded.
Delayed egress. When the bar is depressed, the exit device will not unlatch for a pre-determined amount of time. NOTE: This feature is limited in use by the OBC.
Troubleshooting:
When an exit device is not functioning properly, typically, it will be one of the following:
- Improper installation of frame/door
- Door prepared incorrectly
- Strike not installed correctly
- Incorrect strike supplied for condition
- Device not mounted level
- Vertical rods not aligned correctly
- Vertical rods not long enough due to non-standard mounting height of device
- Fasteners either too tight or loose
- Operating trim not installed properly
Cylinders
Mortise cylinders are identified by the threads on the cylinder housing allowing it to be threaded into hardware items such as mortise locks, certain exit device trims, key switches, etc., and held in place by a setscrew.
Rim cylinders are similar in appearance to a Mortise cylinder, but they do not have the threads, and have a long tailpiece which extends through the door into the latching mechanism, typically an exit device
Key-in-knob (KIK) / Key-in-lever (KIL) cylinders are typically factory installed in the knob/lever of the lockset. If needed, this cylinder can be removed, and replaced with a different keyway to suit needs.
Options available for exit devices:
Interchangeable cores. These are available for both Mortise, and Rim cylinders. The advantage of these cylinders is that the keyed portion of the cylinder, or core, can be removed with a special control key, and a new core installed without the need to disassemble the lock, or exit device.
High security cylinders. Manufactures offer a High security cylinder for added protection and security. Keys, or extra cylinders can only be ordered through the distributor by authorized staff, and cut at the manufacturer.
