No longer an open-and-shut issue

HEADNOTE

Advances in door hardware technology force managers to rethink their views on specification and maintenance

A new generation of door hardware is bringing benefits to facilities, including more control of

security, longer performance life and greater reliability. But door hardware also is bringing a range of new considerations. A closer look at the impact of technology on key components of door hardware reveals that maintenance and engineering managers face far more than the traditional range of options and that their decisions will have a lasting impact on the maintenance mission.

Technology's impact In response to demands by managers, door hardware manufacturers have made technological improvements to meet safety, security and durability requirements.

The term lockdown is no longer confined to detention facilities. Just as often, it applies to the nation's schools and other commercial and institutional buildings. Terrorism and other forms of violence have everyone's attention. All the more reason for serious attention to the expanding role of door hardware safety and security hinges.