When you’re securing your doors using an access control system, you have two major choices for lock types: electric vs magnetic locks. While both locks will work with your access control system and allow authorized users to access your door, they still offer different features based on their different mechanisms. Choosing between these lock types [...]
When something is wrong with your commercial door, you generally have the choice between repairing it and replacing it. You don’t typically want to replace a door without good reason, as this just cuts into your operating costs. But repairing a door that really should be replaced isn’t a great idea either and will have [...]
You might be right-handed or left-handed. Just like you, all doors, commercial or otherwise, have a “handedness,” too. Door handing is essentially a description of which side of a door has hinges and therefore which side it should swing open from. It is important to understand handedness so that you choose the right doors for [...]
Every door on your business property should always open and close properly and smoothly. If one of your doors is not closing properly, then you may have a security issue, you may let out warm or cold air and undermine people’s comfort in the space, ruin your energy efficiency and also frustrate staff who try [...]
Whichever material you choose for your door, you typically have the choice between a solid or hollow core. For example, if you want a wood door you can get a door that is entirely wood with no other materials in it. Or you can get a door with a thin veneer of your chosen wood [...]
Whatever weather you’re dealing with outside, from intense heat to sudden wind and rain, your commercial doors can’t escape it. Making your doors resistant to the elements and easier to use during bad weather can benefit your organization. You can save money on your cooling and heating bills, and make your building entryway more appealing [...]
Door louvers are essentially vents for doors. You typically see them installed on the bottom of the door, where you’d imagine a doggy door would go. But louvers do not have large enough gaps to allow animals to pass through; instead, they only allow for air to pass through. While they are vents, the slats [...]
Understanding ADA rules for commercial doors and their hardware can be challenging. How do you know if your door closer follows the rules? And, how do you know if the door needs a closer in the first place? We answer your questions below. Door Closer Speed For those with disabilities or mobility challenges to get [...]
Bluetooth is a useful technology not just to connect your electronic devices but also to let you in and out of a secure building. Many access control systems use Bluetooth signals to recognize authorized users and allow them in. However, any system using Bluetooth or Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) should actively defend against the [...]
It depends on which door you’re referring to but, yes, some bathroom doors need to be self-closing to meet ADA regulations. We know it can be confusing to understand ADA rules for commercial doors and where they do, or do not, overlap with the International Code Council rules for doors and any other building codes [...]
When you’re looking through safety hardware for your door or trying to make sense of the requirements in your building code, you may stumble upon the terms panic hardware and fire exit hardware. Both of these are hardware options for commercial doors which improve the exit function of the door, making them safer for people [...]
You approach almost any door in a retail space these days, and it automatically opens for you. These automatic doors have sensors which know when you’re approaching and send a signal to open the door. How do those sensors work? What happens if they need to be repaired? Here is what you need to [...]
When you’re comparing your top options for commercial doors, it often comes down to a choice between hollow metal and solid core wood doors. Both have core materials surrounded by a thin veneer of either metal or wood. They differ in performance, looks, and cost, so the decision is a meaningful one. Which kind of [...]
The panic bar was invented by Robert Alexander Briggs in 1892. But that’s not the whole story. He was motivated by a tragic disaster in England in 1883. The panic bar did not make its way into the United States until there were similar disasters on US soil. Discover the history of this essential door [...]
Few things feel as convenient as a working automatic sliding door, which is perhaps why they are so frustrating when they are not working. As customers approach your door they note that the door is automatic subconsciously, and begin to expect a seamless experience. Their frustration when the door isn’t working is amplified by those [...]
Many homeowners or business owners may get confused when it comes to the different types of locking mechanisms. The two most common locks you will run into are the deadbolt and the deadlock. Both locks will require a key in order to unlock, and both can be used as very effective ways to secure your [...]
Despite their name, hollow metal doors aren’t exactly hollow. They have soft door cores which are surrounded by metal plating on all sides. The metal is usually stainless steel. These doors look like they are made of solid metal, but they’re lighter, they’re more affordable, and they’re highly practical for any kind of commercial door [...]
Double doors have a certain elegance. As interior doors in commercial settings, they make their room stand out and feel more important than the surrounding spaces. When they are exterior doors in high-traffic buildings, they may seem more like a practicality, but they can still operate smoothly and look inviting. Commercial double doors need to [...]
You may have run into a few different options for exterior door hardware. Deciding between panic hardware and fire exit hardware may be confusing to some, especially if you don’t know the differences between the two or where one may be more useful than the other. Most of the differences are code related, as some [...]
Both hollow metal and aluminum storefronts and door frames are a very common and durable component for businesses of all types. Whether you plan on using a large amount of glass or simply have a few windows, both of these materials can be very useful for your commercial facility. Depending on your needs and preferences [...]
