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HARDWARE & SECURITY • 45
3mm gap between seal and frame, and if it doesn’ t latch, then it’ s not performing its fire-resistance duties.
To prevent against unwanted access, operation difficulties and legality problems, facility managers should put in place a maintenance schedule to check over these doors regularly, both before winter begins and during the course of the season.
Use of latchbolt monitor switches can also be a smarter way of checking whether doors are latched properly. These products work by sending a signal to a central monitoring station, giving confirmation of when the door is shut and secure.
Heavy duty cast iron door closers are also advised. Their all-weather fluid maintains viscosity and stability to assure maintenance-free performance, while double heat treated oversized pinions withstand wear and tear.
AIR PRESSURE CHANGES IN WINTER A common misconception is that, in summer, doors slam due to the oil in the closers becoming more viscous. However, it is actually sometimes due to air pressure changes with windows being opened within the building. Whilst this is true when a vacuum is created in residential homes where no door closers are used, it is not correct for buildings where closers are in effect.
What actually happens is that when winter arrives, doors and windows are closed up to retain heat, meaning no air
gets into the building. This change in air pressure causes closers to shut doors incorrectly – either not latch or shut too quickly. This is particularly prevalent for care homes and student accommodations. Air pressure can make doors harder to open as well.
For care homes, employing door closers that have a free-swing or swing-free feature, which can turn a door into a free swinging operation, can be especially useful in these situations. The door becomes easier to open for these users who may have lessened upper body strength.
Use of door closers with adjustable closing force and backcheck functionality is advised in student accommodations. The former allows students to overcome air pressure forces, while the latter prevents the door from being‘ thrown’ open and thus protects the door, door hardware and the wall behind the door from damage.
MAINTENANCE MISCONCEPTIONS
Winter inherently brings cold weather, and maintenance staff or cleaners may unwittingly assume that spraying door closers and locks with antifreeze solutions to prevent any sticking or freezing is the correct thing to do.
That’ s a common misconception, and one that should be avoided. While
moisture in the air can get into locks and joints and subsequently freeze and misalign your door hardware, preventative measures can be taken to prevent this.
Using a water repellent spray to stop any moisture from sticking to hardware is the best way to stop water ingress. Using antifreeze solutions is highly hazardous as the chemicals are not tested against door hardware and they will corrode the hardware materials.
RESIDENTIAL BURGLARY RISING Extended dark nights mean more opportunities for burglars to be on the prowl, particularly in residential areas. The obvious reason is that lower lighting means less visibility and better chances to attack without getting caught. Older properties are more vulnerable as attackers know these buildings may have older residents and the door components are likely to be of a less secure nature.
To stop attackers getting through your doors, look at your current locks and faceplates. If they don’ t have the BSI Kitemark standard, then it may be worth changing to ones that have. Locks baring this symbol means they have passed the British Standards Institution test and will have completed intrusion attacks.
Door viewers, visible alarm systems and lighting are also advisable to ward off any opportunists.
LOCKSMITHJOURNAL. CO. UK | NOV / DEC 2016