Which Commercial Door Hardware Solutions Are Right for Your Business?
Assessing Your Commercial Door Hardware Options
A commercial door has a critical job. Not only does it need to support high-traffic usage, but it also has the duty of protecting people and essential information. In addition, commercial doors are built to be resilient, making them heavier and more durable than the average residential door.
But the function of a door is only as good as the hardware used to support it. As a result, we often receive questions about the options for commercial door hardware and which types are suitable for specific uses. Continue reading to learn more about commercial door hardware options available for your Fort Collins, CO, business.
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The most commonly used commercial door hardware falls into one of these categories:
- Lever sets and knobs
- Continuous hinges
- Hydraulic door closers
- Panic bars/exit devices
Let’s explore each one of these in more detail.
Lever Sets and Knobs
Lever sets are durable for high-traffic areas and are an ADA-compliant door knob solution. Because of their design, you can easily open a lever handle with your elbow if you are carrying something.
The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) grades commercial locks, such as lever sets, for durability. A Grade 1 lock is the most durable and typically used in high-traffic situations such as hospitals, schools, factories, and public buildings. Find Grade 2 locks in apartment buildings, hotels, retail stores, and places of worship.
Continuous Hinges
You will find continuous hinges in high-traffic areas that have hefty doors. A continuous hinge spans the entire length of the door to help bear its weight. You will often find these hinges on oversized doors because they help reduce stress on the hinge and door frame.
Hydraulic Door Closers
Hydraulic door closers are essential when working in a quiet office space. They assist the door in closing softly instead of slamming each time someone passes through. These offer additional safety and reduce the chances of pinched fingers resulting from slamming doors.
Panic Bars/Exit Devices
Businesses use a panic bar or exit device to open a door from the inside out. You will find these most commonly in commercial buildings on exit doors. Building codes typically require that exit doors must swing out, making the panic bar the perfect compliment for a quick exit. By simply crashing into it, the door should open. Panic bars also function as locks, so you can prevent access from the outside whenever needed.
If you want to learn more about commercial door hardware options available for your Fort Collins, CO, business, please reach out to our team of experts at LockSafe Systems. Commercial hardware is part of your first line of defense against intrusion. We can help you choose the right solution for your needs.