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 be secured like any other so that you can close up shop. But how do you do so properly? Does each door need its own lock? Are there special hardware solutions for double doors? We will explain your options to secure a commercial double door below.
The Passive Leaf
In any set of double doors, there may be a passive door, which is also called the passive leaf and an active door, or active leaf.The passive side is not meant to be locked, and the active door is supposed to be lockable. In some cases, only the active door will be used, while the other will stand mostly closed. Even if the passive door is meant to be opened, it can still only open when the active door is unlocked and open.
Passive doors do not have locks, but they do need hardware in order to be secure and work properly. First, they need a co-ordinator. This piece of hardware ensures that the passive door closes first and the active door second. You may also find it useful to use an astragal to cover the gap between the two doors.
The Active Leaf
The active door or active leaf in a double door set-up can have mostly the same kinds of locks you would place on a single door. Most commonly, you will want to rely on cylinders, deadbolts, mortise, electromagnetic locks and variations of them for your exterior doors. These offer high levels of security and sacrifice ease of access to some degree.
On interior double doors, you may not need a lock, or you may need a lock but prefer something that is simpler to use and access. Knob locks and lever handle locks are both good options.
Your lock professional can tell you which specific lock models can be used in a double door set-up and how they need to be adjusted in order to ensure they will work securely.
Bi-Fold Door Locks
There is one lock solution that is often used on both the passive and active leaf of a double door set-up. It is called a bi-fold door lock. Mainly, these locks are used in residential settings to keep children out of certain rooms. Typically, they are not something you would see on an exterior door. However, businesses that cater to children, like daycares, doctor’s offices and indoor playgrounds, may find bi-fold door locks useful on some of their double doors.
Removable Mullions
When you are securing double doors, it is important to think about all of the hardware options and not just locks. We’ve briefly mentioned co-ordinators and astragals. You should also be aware of removable mullions. Mullions are the center vertical stand between double doors. Making them removable allows you wider clearance through the door.
If you want to learn more about commercial doors in Livermore or beyond, reach out to us today.
