Creating a Safer World

Choosing the right locks and door hardware.

• By Karen Keating
• Mar 06, 2025

Managing and supporting locks and door hardware within a facility is a big responsibility. A building’s security needs to change over time as occupancy and use demands evolve, which can make it even more challenging.

Knowing the basics of common door hardware, including locks, panic devices and door closers, can be effective in daily operations and emergency situations. Building managers are always looking for ways to improve safety and should do their due diligence on the types of locks and door hardware available to them.

Compliance Always Comes First
Fire and life safety requirements should always be the top priority when it comes to building security. Staying in compliance with all fire and life safety codes is imperative. In almost all locations, doors along paths of egress must be able to be unlatched with a single motion, in the direction of egress. All facilities must adhere to local building and fire codes to protect the occupants.

Codes will vary by location and are typically based on the model codes of the International Code Council (ICC) and/or the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA); the well-known door hardware industry blog idighardware.com makes it easy to access this information.

Locks and door hardware should meet the requirements set by the American National Standards Institute and Builders Hardware Manufacturers Association (ANSI/BHMA); they receive product grades for performance benchmarks in each applicable ANSI/BHMA standard. An overview of how they are evaluated and certified can be found in the Hardware Highlights section on buildershardware.com. They must also meet the criteria outlined in the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Standards for Accessible Design and other adopted accessibility standards.

Choose Your Door Locks Wisely
Customers love choice when it comes to door locks. With a myriad of options available, including mechanical, electrified, and electronics, it is important to understand the benefits of each type. Let us break down the options.

Mortise locks. Mortise locks require a pocket that is cut into the door edge to hold the lock body; they are inherently more robust and secure versus other lock types. While it takes more time to install due to the door prep, they typically enable the broadest range of standard and specialty functions. The mortise design provides the flexibility to support the widest array of key cylinder types as well as a variety of aesthetically pleasing trim options.

Cylindrical locks. Cylindrical locks, sometimes called bored locks, are popular due to easier installation and door preparation. Although they provide an adequate variety of function and keying options, they do not have the same level of flexibility as mortise locks.

Electrified locks. Can be either mortise or cylindrical in design and feature the addition of a small motor or solenoid that electromechanically moves the locking mechanism. These types of locks can be used with a switch to remotely lock or unlock the door, or as part of an integrated access control solution.

Electronic locks. Available is mortise and cylindrical options, electronic locks feature built-in intelligence and are typically managed by an electronic access control system. Wireless electronic locks can be used on building interior doors including classrooms, laboratories and residence hall unit doors to deliver increased security and efficiency including centralized lockdown. Upgrading to wireless electronic locks offer improved security, convenience and efficiency.

They are cost effective and scalable, and they expand the benefits of electronic access control deeper into the building. With reduced installation time and costs, wireless electronic locks can be deployed all at once or over time as budgets allow.

Locks with visual indicators. A growing trend is the use of visual sign trims that communicate the status of the lock. The messaging in the visual indicator window can aid in reassuring people that the doors are locked, or a space is occupied, providing peace of mind and confidence in a variety of applications throughout the building.

It is important to choose an ANSI/BHMA Certified lock from a trusted brand that is known to be dependable and secure. Grade 1 locks are typically recommended for most applications that require strength and durability to withstand high traffic and abusive environments. Grade 2 locks are adequate for interior applications including offices and storage closets.

Panic Hardware for Perimeter, Corridor and High Occupancy Spaces
Panic hardware enables occupants to exit a building simply by applying force to the actuating member in the direction of the door swing. This force actuates mechanisms in the device that unlatch the door allowing free egress, which is crucial in emergency exit scenarios where minutes count.

Similar in construction, there are two types of panic devices that are important to understand why and where they are used.

Panic hardware. Panic exit devices on doors must have panic hardware but cannot be used on a fire door. Panic hardware typically has the dogging feature, which allows the latches to be held retracted to create a push/pull function.

Fire exit hardware. Fire exit hardware is required for fire doors to ensure doors latch when they close and help prevent the spread of smoke and flames. Fire exit hardware is not allowed to have mechanical dogging, but electric latch retraction/electronic dogging is permitted. When the latch is held retracted electrically, the door must become positively latched during a fire emergency by way of an automatic fail-safe device that is activated by an automatic fire detector.

In addition to the ANSI/BHMA A156.3 standards, both panic and fire exit hardware are listed to UL 305; while fire exit hardware requires an added listing to UL 10C. Since panic and fire exit devices play a critical role in compliance with fire and life safety codes, it is always a clever idea to consult with a local door hardware or building code expert who can provide guidance on the right model for the application.

An Open and Shut Case
The function of a door closer is not just to close the door; a good door closer will also control the door in both the opening and closing cycles to prevent damage and injury caused by abuse, wind or other factors.

Accessibility, as well as fire and life safety requirements, decide how, when and where to apply door closers. Common use case applications in commercial buildings include:

Fire doors. During normal building operation, corridor doors are typically held open to ensure the smooth flow of traffic. However, as governed by NFPA 80 as well as local codes and standards, fire-rated doors must be closed at the time of a fire to prevent spread. Choose door closer models with integrated fail-safe hold open features or combine a mechanical closer with a separate magnetic holder; these must release upon fire alarm.

Accessibility. Accessibility standards provide guidance on both the opening force and time to close to protect people with disabilities. Interior doors that are not fire doors must be able to be opened with a maximum of 5 pounds of force. Additionally, door closers must be adjusted so that it takes at least five seconds for the door to move from an open position of 90 degrees to 12 degrees from the latch. A variety of mechanical and automatic door operators are available to meet these needs by opening type.

Touchless. With a greater attention to health since the pandemic, there has been an increase in the use of touchless solutions. Touchless actuators paired together with automated door openers can reduce the number of touch points throughout buildings, cutting the need to contact a door.

There are many considerations when choosing door closers that include frequency of use, projected wear and tear, aesthetics, as well as the necessary features and functions to follow codes and standards. Given that door closers also play a vital role in fire and life safety, consulting with a local door hardware or codes expert is recommended.

Invest For Success
Locks and door hardware are vital components of any safety and physical security plan. Success begins through inspection of your facility annually to ensure compliance with all fire and life safety protocols.

This is not an area to neglect or cut corners and should be high on the priority list. It’s best to choose options from trusted and reputable manufacturers that meet industry requirements for operations, strength, and durability. Full compliance with local codes, accessibility standards, as well as fire and life safety regulations, will ensure that everyone entering your building is in a safe environment.