These requirements can vary significantly depending on location, building type and application context, so design professionals are encouraged to consult local codes and clarify requirements with an Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ).
To support the specification process, in this Q+A, Tysen Gannon, LEED AP, draws insights from over 15 years of experience in the industry to help guide designers in understanding what door hardware options are available to fit their project’s needs.
Q: What qualities should door hardware have to meet accessibility requirements?
A: The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) lists standards for buildings to reach a minimum threshold for accessibility. This standards encompass the entire built environment, including doors and door hardware.
ADA-compliant door hardware needs to be operatable without special knowledge and require no pinching, twisting or grasping. It is also required that doors provide ample clearances around hardware to allow for its easy operation by people of all abilities.
While not required within a building, automatic sliding doors can support accessible design by operating within ADA parameters.
Q: What should specifiers look for in sliding doors when an application calls for locking hardware?
A: Locking hardware is generally still required to meet the ADA door requirements if a thumbturn is present.
Specifiers should look for commercial grade solutions that engage with a strike and are designed to resist attempts to overcome the lock. There is a world of difference in terms of security and practicality between an inexpensive floor lock and commercial grade hardware keyed to integrate with the rest of the building.
If access control hardware is desired, electric strikes or electronic locks may be viable solutions, but quality assurance is key with those hardware items as well. It is important to work with manufacturers with opening solutions that can readily accommodate this type of hardware. Electric strikes are generally preferable from a life safety perspective as they can offer free egress.
Q: How can specifiers confirm the performance capabilities of door hardware?
A: Requesting information on the grade, history of use and recent projects as well as evaluations of samples or site visits to existing installations can validate manufacturer’s claims regarding the performance of door hardware.
Asking for the most recent iteration of hardware is important since industry-leading manufacturers will revisit their systems to ensure they have the durability and meet the performance capabilities needed in today’s commercial environments.
Specifying the right hardware starts with finding the right manufacturer
Sorting through local code requirements for safety and accessibility can be one of the more challenging aspects of design. However, designers do not have to figure out which hardware meets the requirements of a project application on their own.
Door manufacturers with a proven track record can support the specification process with a knowledgeable team of experts, extensive and up to date guides and overviews of building requirements and other technical documentation. As such, project teams are encouraged to approach door and door hardware specification collaboratively to ensure a cost-effective and efficient process.
