Most consumers never think twice when shopping for various types of door hardware, but behind the scenes, maintenance managers are responsible for ensuring that hardware manufactured and sold meets code standards. Typically, the manager would be involved with door hardware designed for commercial use, although hardware used in apartments, condominiums, and other shared residential properties, as well as single-family homes, is part of this person’s responsibility.
Whether purchasing locks and door handles for a home or business, everything sold in the United States must meet strict functionality guidelines. However, the exact codes vary somewhat between different states and municipalities. This means that codes set at the local, state, and federal levels would be unique. As part of this job, maintenance managers have a tough job keeping up with codes and industry standards, but taking this job seriously is what keeps people protected.
Due to the growing concern for security, the applicable codes have become relatively complex. Of course, the main issues that door hardware codes address include safety, security, and accessibility. If hardware manufactured for security purposes was sold without meeting required code standards, in addition to putting people in potential danger, business and home intrusion due to faulty or inadequate locks causes insurance costs to be added. shoot.
Keep in mind that, along with national standards and codes, managers must keep up-to-date on standards and codes as they relate to the National Fire Protection Agency and the American National Standards Institute/International Council of Fire Protection. codes. However, another organization oversees the standards and codes for various types of door hardware to include the Americans with Disabilities Acts. In the latter case, people with a disability need solutions in knobs, handles, handles, locks, etc. to be able to enter and exit the door like the others.
We wanted to provide some of the different organizations’ standards and codes, and a brief comment on what they are.
• American National Standard for Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities (ANSI and ICC): These door hardware standards and codes are specific to the state of Louisiana and state that codes must be coordinated with post-damage rebuilding efforts. for a hurricane.
• National Fire Protection (NFPA): In this case, the organization is responsible for 80 standards and codes related to fire doors and windows. Primarily, the organization makes sure that escape is possible during an emergency while keeping property protected.
• Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) – For people who live and work in certain parts of the country, high force hurricane winds are common. In this case, the codes would apply not only to the door hardware, but also to the materials from which the doors could be made to withstand winds of between 130 and 150 miles per hour.
• Accessibility Guidelines for Buildings and Facilities (ADAAG): The last organization we wanted to mention is this one, which sets and enforces specific guidelines for threshold height and door clearance limits, along with accessible door hardware that they include pulls, knobs, handles, latches, locks, and other operating mechanisms that would be shaped to make them easy to grasp and operate with one hand.