The LCN 4040 series continues to be one of LCN’s top-selling door closers.  The 4040 Series’ innovative design offers flexibility when it comes to fire doors.  By law, fire doors must be closed to prevent the spread of flames from one part of a commercial building to another during a fire emergency.  The LCN 4040 Series of sentronic door closers lets building owners/lessees hold doors open if desired.  However, a current interruption (such as during a fire) will automatically close the door when a building’s smoke/fire detection system is activated.

The newest addition to the 4040 line of products is its cover, introduced in mid-2008. The new cover can be applied to any existing door closer from the popular series.  New models are currently being produced with the new cover design.

The new cover has a number of distinctive improvements over the old cover.  Its features include:

* An exclusive patented bracket design unique to LCN.  Installation takes seconds with the simple but effective snap-bracket design.

* No screws required.

* Bracket is non-handed, making it as easy for left-handers to apply as right-handers.

* Molded, seamless construction reduces the risk of wear and tear for a longer-lasting product.

* Modern design with rounded corners for a contemporary look.

The new LCN 4040 Snap-On cover comes in all of the same finishes as the rest of the series.  This makes it easy to match existing door closers already installed.  The variety of available finishes also makes it simple to match any office or building decor, creating a professional, unified look throughout your building or unit.

The LCN 4040SE Sentronic Door Closer

However, there are some compelling reasons to choose pivots over hinges for doors.  Aesthetics aside, pivots provide a number of advantages in many applications.

Hinges, by their very nature, work against the forces of gravity.  Installing a door requires a certain degree of precision, because doors that do not hang properly will not function as designed.  If they are hung too low, they may scrape the floor, damage the frame/threshold, and/or damage the bottom of the door.  Doors hung too high will scrape the top of the frame.  In either case, they may be unable to close properly.  Too much space at the top or bottom can allow drafts to enter in the winter and cool air to escape in the summer.  Working with the force of gravity rather than against it ensures that doors do not warp and floors and frames remain intact.

The biggest drawback to hinges is that the weight of the door on which they are hung pulls downward (with gravity) on an angle.  Eventually, their effectiveness is compromised due to this continuous angular pull.  Screws can become loose and screw threads may strip.  The frame and/or jamb can bend, warp, splinter and even break.  The door may eventually drop or slope downward toward the side on which it opens.

When choosing hinges over pivots, it’s critical to choose strong, sturdy, well-built hinges, such as Ives.  It’s important to choose the correct gauge for the size and weight of the door they are being applied to.  It’s also essential to use the right number of hinges.  For example, larger-than-standard doors may need to have extra hinges instead of the standard three in order to minimize the tension created by gravitational pull.  Hinges should also be checked regularly for wear and tear, and replaced as necessary, preferably BEFORE they become warped or stripped.

The major advantage of pivots is that they eliminate the problem of angular tension.  While hinges are mounted on the door jamb, pivots are installed on the top and the bottom of the door/frame.  The pivot at the top acts as a guide for the swing of the door and keeps it aligned.  The bottom pivot bears the entire weight of the door.  Instead of creating tension on the door frame, pivots transfer the door’s weight into the floor.  This means that doors are not prone to dropping and sloping in the same way they are with hinges.

A door silencer is a small piece of molded, heavy-duty rubber material.  It may be cone-shaped or rod-shaped.  The cone/rod is molded to a flat, slightly thickened backing.

• Hospitals
• Childrens/babies rooms
• Offices
• Schools
• Care/group homes

Keeping doors closed and buildings secured is the perennial problem of commercial building owners everywhere.  With many doors seeing moderate to heavy foot traffic every day, 365 days per year, maintaining secure perimeters can be a challenge.  It’s also a challenge to make sure that dollars are being spent on important business items and not drifting out of open doors into the heat of summer or the cold of winter to vanish into the atmosphere.

Door closers solve a number of problems related to building security and maintaining indoor air quality and temperature.  Most businesses would likely employ their use even without a building code requirement.

The extra challenge comes when building/business owners want to preserve aesthetics without compromising fire safety and integrity (fire doors, by law, must remain closed at all times.)  Overhead, surface-mounted door closers may not fit with every interior design.  Concealed door closers provide one answer to the question of aesthetics.

However, when it comes to outfitting fire doors, concealed door closers aren’t always the best choice.  Concealed door closers have to be mounted inside the door itself.  This requires boring into and cutting away some of the door, which can lead to problems with fire integrity.  The less that fire doors are altered, the better they are at preventing the spread of fire from one part of a commercial building to another.

That’s why jamb-mounted door closers may be a more suitable alternative.  Jamb-mounted devices are attached to the inside of the door frame (jamb) and the inner edge of the door.  A pivoted arm attaches the two parts together and provide the torque which pulls the door shut after it has been opened.  There is no cutting of the door required for installation.  The device can be seen only when the door is open.  When the door is closed, it is completely invisible on both sides of the door, providing the sleek, modern look that many building owners and lessees desire.

An Ives Pocket Pivot Hinge

The Ives Pocket Pivot Hinge works on the same principle as the company’s other pivot-style hinges.  The pivot hinge  consists of a pin and and a single joint.  The pocket pivot hinge takes pivot principle to a new level.   The pocket pivot allows the door to be opened to a full ninety-degree angle.  When the door is fully opened, it actually rests flush in the “pocket” of the corridor.  In this way, the door is completely out of the way of hallway/corridor through-traffic.

The Ives Pocket Pivot Hinge is the perfect solution for commercial buildings with corridors that:

* Experience heavy through-traffic.

* Rely upon clear corridors for executing business.

* Need extra safety measures in place (particularly in emergency situations.)

* Appreciate a certain aesthetic appearance.

Pocket pivot hinges are commonly found in commercial buildings like hospitals.  Hospital corridors not only experience heavy foot traffic, they are also constantly subject to situations which require ease of fast movement and pathways that are free of any obstacles.  Precious seconds can be saved when open doors are not protruding into corridors, blocking gurneys or stretchers and hampering medical personnel.

Pocket pivot hinges are also found in hotels and high-rise buildings.  These types of buildings also experience a steady daily flow of traffic.  Corridors are frequently built as narrow as building codes will allow in order to increase the amount of living space in the building.  This sometimes necessitates extra safety measures so that corridors can be navigated easily, especially in an emergency/mass panic situation such as a fire.  Hallways are free of door obstructions, and are also easier for emergency workers to navigate even if doors are open.

Each single Ives 91105F Pocket Pivot Hinge can bear up to ninety pounds of weight, so the number of hinges needed for a particular door depends upon the size and weight of the door.  Typically, doors up to seven feet should require no more than two hinges.  Doors over seven feet high should use three.

The 91105F is full mortised and employs heavy-duty ball bearings for durability.  The stainless steel components are fire rated for three-hour metal fire doors.  The Ives Pocket Pivot Hinge provides long-lasting stability and performance for commercial buildings where clear corridors are a necessity.

The improvement was made in 2002, and came in the way of re-designed end caps.  The new end caps are stronger, and fit more closely in the door’s mounting hardware.  The result is an overhead door stop that will resist damage and last longer than the old design.

The change in end caps did not necessitate any change in the design of the stoppers themselves, nor does it change the door preparation.  This makes retrofitting 400 Series models produced before 2002 relatively simple.  Models which were made before 2002 can simply have the end caps replaced.  Even if the entire unit needs to be replaced, no changes need to be made to the existing door template.

Glynn-Johnson, a subsidiary of the Ingersoll Rand company, has long been known in the industry as “the overhead door specialists.”  The company has been in business for 75 years, and employs some of the best  engineers in the world who design its many overhead door products, including the 400 Series, and its line of push/pull latches.  Glynn-Johnson manufactures the most reliable overhead door stops in the industry, as well as offering a comprehensive warranty on its products. 

Glynn-Johnson continually looks for ways to improve upon existing products, such as they did with the 400 Series end caps.  They also continue to research and develop new products and technologies.

Unless your door is a larger-than-standard size door, adding one or more extra deadbolt locks does not exponentially increase the security level of the door.  To put it more plainly, twice as many deadbolt locks does not equal twice as secure a door.

Adding an extra deadlock only slightly increases the door’s resistance to being rammed in (i.e. kicked) by force.  In fact, it may be as little as a ten percent or less increase in the psi of force needed.  This may not be enough to warrant the extra money and/or work involved in installing a deadbolt.

Adding a second lock may be an extra deterrent to a lock-picking thief who is looking for nothing more than a quick illegal entry.  However, a determined thief who really wants whatever is inside your premises won’t be deterred be a second deadlock.  Experienced thieves can pick a lock in mere seconds, so a second won’t usually add enough time to his entry to scare him off.

If discouraging lock-pickers is your goal, it’s better to invest more money in one high-quality, tamper resistant deadlock rather than two which are of a lesser quality.  Install one strong deadbolt, then spend a little bit of money on other things that are bigger deterrents to lock-pickers, like good lighting, landscaping which increases visibility, or a reliable alarm system.

The only time that a second deadlock may be really be warranted is for homes or commercial buildings which have larger-than-standard doors.  Taller or wider doors would benefit from having a second point of resistance to force on the lower half of the door in addition to the standard one just above the middle of the door.

Looking for a high-quality commercial door lock that is strong and tamper resistant?  Try the Schlage B-600 Series Heavy Duty Commercial Deadlock.

The cylindrical lock was invented by Walter Schlage as a more convenient and economic alternative to the mortise lock.  Cylindrical locks are relatively easy to install, and cost less than mortise locks.

Cylindrical locks come in three grades: standard, medium and heavy duty.  Heavy duty cylindrical locks offer the most security and best insurance against tampering and picking.  They make an excellent choice for exterior doors, especially where high security is a priority.

When choosing heavy duty cylindrical locks, it’s important to look for some key characteristics, including:

*Grade: Commercial hardware products, including locks, are graded with a number of either 1, 2 or 3.  Grade 1 is the highest grade that a lock can receive.  A lock product, such as the Falcon T-Series Heavy Duty Cylindrical Lock, which has received a grade of 1 has been subjected to testing and evaluation.  It must pass a number of criterion in order to receive this rating, which is based on the durability and strength of the material(s) it is made from and how well it performs under a given situation.  A grade of one means that the lock will be strong and highly tamper-resistant.

The Falcon T Series Heavy Duty Cylindrical Lock (Grade 1)

* Brand: Not all brands are created equal.  Some of the best commercial lock brands on the commercial hardware market include Schlage and Falcon.  Brands like these have been around for decades and have proven themselves in the market as both strong and reliable.  In fact, many Schlage door lock products exceed the standards of grading for door locks.

*Materials: Look for strong metals.  That includes each and every component.  A door lock is only as strong as its weakest component, so every single piece should be built to be durable.

Remember to consider aspects such as fire ratings when choosing a heavy duty cylindrical lock.  Locks which are intended for use in fire doors must also be fire rated for the same length of time as the door/wall itself.

*Further reading: Check out “Choosing the Best Door Lock for Your Home.”

Door hardware that is applied to high-traffic doors needs to be able to handle frequent openings and closings.  You may be able to get away with choosing less expensive door closers or exit devices for secondary doors.  But when it comes to high traffic entrances, it usually pays to invest in high quality hardware.

When choosing door hardware for high-traffic applications, be sure to consider these three things:

1) Grade: ANSI (The American National Standards Institute) and the BHMA (Builders Hardware Manufacturers Association) have partnered together to create, implement and regulate standards regarding the manufacturing of commercial hardware, including door hardware.  Manufactured products which are voluntarily submitted for evaluation receive a grade of either 1, 2 or 3.  High-traffic doors should always be outfitted with hardware rated grade 1.  Products which have received a grade of 1 are the most durable, efficient and dependable.  They will be the most suitable for standing up to frequent use and even abuse.

2) Brand name:  Not all brand names are created equal.  Stick to brands which have proven themselves in the market over time.  Von Duprin, LCN, Glynn-Johnson, Monarch and Dor-o-Matic are just a few of these reliable labels.

3) Warranty:  Choose products and manufacturers that come with strong guarantees and warranties.  This helps to ensure that you’ll be able to get help, support and service down the road if issues arise.

4) Label specifications: Products that are intended for use on high-traffic doors will usually say so on the label, product information leaflet, or in the catalogue description.  Conversely, if the label recommends that a particular product NOT be used on a high-traffic door, heed that recommendation.

Remember, it’s worth spending a little bit more to know that the commercial door hardware that you are using will be reliable and will last for many years.

Start by assessing your current property and the surrounding area.  Doing a “Security Audit” can help you to see things in a different light and open your eyes to potential risks to your business.  Here are some things to think about as you conduct your audit:

1. Lighting: Is there adequate lighting in and around your building/unit?  Are walkways, entrances/exits (even service and emergency doors) and parking areas well-lit at all times?  Do your lights come on as soon as dusk sets in? 
2. Landscaping: Do trees or bushes cover up windows and block or restrict view in or out?  Are branches growing over walkways?  Are trees obscuring parts of parking areas?
3. Public accessibility:  Are all public doors in areas that are visible from the outside and the inside?  Is there a way for staff to monitor who comes in and out of public doors during business hours, especially if doors are out of immediate view (i.e. doorbells, closed-circuit cameras, etc.)?  Are public doors in good working order (i.e. do door closers and panic bars function properly?)  Do staff ever prop doors open?
4. Windows:  How much proximity is there between windows and doors?  Are windows accessible from the ground?  Do windows have bars?  Are they reinforced?  Can windows be seen clearly from the street?  Can you see inside of windows from the street?  Are windows cleaned regularly?
5. Cameras:  Is your building/unit equipped with closed-circuit cameras?  If so, do you review feeds regularly?  Do you save taped feeds?
6. Re-keying:  Do you re-key locks according to a fixed timetable (i.e. every year or two)?  Does re-keying occur after break-ins?
7. Burglar alarms:  Does your alarm system work properly?  Are all staff trained in setting and disengaging alarms?  Does your security company respond quickly to triggered alarms?

This is a very basic checklist that every business owner should refer to.  Some businesses may have more specialized needs and require closer scrutiny.

Next week: How creative landscaping can improve security in and around your business/commercial property.

With thanks to the Ingersoll Rand Companyfor security tips and advice.  For more information see Ingersoll Rand’s Risk Mitigation Assessment page.