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Your Most Trusted Source for Hinges and Hardware
Your Most Trusted Source for Hinges and Hardware
Commercial doors are specially designed to be opened and closed several times a day, much more than residential doors. As the name suggests, they are manufactured for commercial purposes and are commonly found in schools, shopping malls, office buildings, stores, and other commercial buildings.
The higher amount of traffic and volume a commercial door has to handle means that it requires higher levels of security and durability. This is a guide that aims to illustrate the various heavy-duty commercial door hardware.
An Introduction to Commercial Door Hardware Standards
Commercial door hardware comes with many different features, designs, and standards. Sometimes it can even be hard to differentiate the different hardware products and get what you need.
When purchasing commercial door hardware such as hinges, locksets, exit devices, closers, and more, do purchase hardware products that have been certified and tested to meet the standards of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the Builders’ Hardware Manufacturers Association (BHMA). This is to ensure that the hardware products are durable, function as expected, and meets certain grades of design and quality.
Understanding Commercial Door Operation
Commercial doors have superior strength and functionality compared to residential doors but perform the same function. However, they operate differently compared to residential doors due to the presence of access control systems which enhances the security aspect of the door.
Oftentimes, the commercial door provides a checkpoint as to who can enter the building and when. Thus, commercial doors operate with an access control system to keep doors secure and may even operate using advanced security features such as remote access, touchless entry for commercial doors, and tracking entrants and people who exit.
What are the Different Commercial Door Hardware Options?
A commercial door locking mechanism involves a mechanical or electronic lock. A mechanical locking mechanism usually involves a key to unlock the doorknob or door lock. Electronic locks are more advanced and may incorporate smart technology such as voice control, facial recognition, or smartphone control, thereby omitting the need for a key.
Most commercial doorstops are made of steel and are heavy to prevent the commercial door from swinging widely and keep it in place. Commercial doorstops vary in design and size. Some commercial doorstops may use magnets, and mounts, or may feature a traditional portable design.
There are also many different types of commercial door locks with different designs and features. Some of the common commercial door lock types include electronic locks, deadbolt locks, cylindrical knob locks, mortise locks, and cylindrical lever locks. Knowing your security needs will enable you to make a more informed choice regarding which lock to get.
Another key part of any door is the hinges. There is a wide range of commercial door hinges available for you to choose from. You can pick the one that is best suited to your needs. If the doors are used frequently in your commercial space, you may want to try out the heavy-duty hinges. You can also consider getting the spring hinges. Having the right hinges will allow the doors to open and close smoothly without any issues.
Commercial Door Hardware FAQs
Interior doors come in many different configurations and styles. They are also a visible part of a building’s interior. Some factors to consider include the color, material, hardware styles, panel layout, and hardware specifications of the door.
You should also consider how effective the interior door will be in blocking noise and enhancing privacy. Other personal preferences such as door design can also be considered. Considering all these factors will help you choose the most optimum interior door type for your commercial usage.
There are several important commercial door accessories and hardware to obtain such as wall and door protectors, door closers, exit devices, commercial locks, commercial door hinges, push and pull plates, and commercial door stops.
Yes, electronic commercial door locks are fairly popular and frequently used. They are popular due to their convenience and ease of access. Instead of using a traditional lock and key method, an electronic lock can be set up to be triggered remotely and automatically respond to cards, fingerprints, or sounds within a certain range.
The choice of obtaining a commercial door core depends on your needs and functionality. Commercial door cores are either solid or hollow. A solid door core is made from a mixture of synthetic wood composites and wood. They are much heavier than a hollow door core, more durable, and heavy-duty.
They are also great at blocking sounds but are harder to repair and more difficult to install due to the heavier weight. A hollow core door is completely hollow inside, are lightweight, easy to install, and a cost-effective option. However, they are not as durable as solid door cores and do not reduce noise or insulate sound as well.
Whether or not your commercial door hardware matches other design elements is up to personal preference. The design elements of the door will not affect the overall functionality and quality of the door or its hardware. If you prefer a more beautiful, complete, and polished look, you can always choose to match your door hardware to the other design elements.
There are various materials available for commercial interior doors such as metal, plastic, and wood. Each has its advantages and unique features. A wooden door gives off a naturally beautiful look is versatile, and is popular in commercial settings. A metal door is the most durable out of the three due to its heavy-duty property, is easy to maintain, and provides good insulation against hot or cold temperatures.
Plastic laminate doors are also another popular option and are usually found in high-traffic areas such as hospitals. This is because these plastic doors are stain-resistant, making them easier for cleaning, along with having fire-retardant material in their door core. Plastic doors also tend to be the most flexible and affordable out of the three materials.
The most common commercial door hardware locksets are mortise locks, deadbolts, cylindrical level locks, keyless or electronic locksets, and cylindrical knob locks.
If a commercial door handle is loose and needs to be tightened, you should try to find out what is the reason for the door handle becoming loose. Is it due to a buildup of dust and dirt? Or because of a loose or missing screw? Or maybe because of malfunctioning in the locking mechanism of the door.
Knowing the exact reason will help you to better tighten the door handle and prevent the same problem from recurring. For example, if the screws are loose, you should remove the door handle using a screwdriver or Allen key depending on your door handle design. Upon separating the doorknob, proceed to remove the base and be careful to avoid damaging the backing plate of the door lock.
You will then be able to see the set of screws running from the inside backing plate to the outside backing plate. Proceed to tighten each screw separately while holding the outside backing plate to prevent it from moving. Lastly, restore the base and put the handle back on.
The bottom of a commercial door is also known as a bottom rail.
For more information about our commercial door hardware, feel free to contact us today.
