HARDWARE & SECURITY
How to avoid common door hardware problems
Door hardware may feel like a small consideration in an entire doorset, but its role in fire safety, security and accessibility is huge. Components such as handles, locks, closers and hinges take constant wear – and any failure can compromise building compliance in an instant.
By Andy Syms, National Sales Manager, HOPPE( UK)
» MOST HARDWARE ISSUES STEM from poor installation, inappropriate product choice or overlooked maintenance. However, these problems are entirely avoidable with the right approach.
Installation: where many problems begin
Poor alignment, incorrect fixings or the wrong product for the door’ s category of use are all frequent culprits.
Locks that don’ t latch properly, handles that work loose within months, or closers that slam or refuse to latch are more often the result of installation errors than manufacturing defects.
According to the BS EN 1906 standard for lever handles and knob furniture, different categories of use are designed to cope with very different levels of traffic and abuse.
For example, a Grade 4 handle for a stadium will withstand far more than a Grade 1 product for a light-use internal door. Installing the wrong grade is setting the door up for early failure.
On fire doors, the stakes are even higher. Every hinge, closer and lock must be compatible with the door’ s fire test evidence and fitted exactly as tested. A minor deviation at installation can invalidate certification.
To mitigate risks early on, it is crucial to use the manufacturer’ s templates and fixings and check alignment before final tightening; even a few millimetres off can cause binding against seals.
For fire doors, all components must match the door’ s fire test evidence and CE / UKCA marking.
Finally, the door should be fully tested before sign-off, including latch engagement against any smoke or draught seals.
Maintenance: the most overlooked safeguard
Once in place, hardware is often ignored until it breaks. Yet regular maintenance is not just good practice – it is a legal requirement.
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NOVEMBER 2025
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