Q:
What is the best way to
secure a Hollow Metal
Door, I would like to
know what is the best
lock possible?
A:
It is very difficult to
specify one lock that is
the "best", however, it
depends on your
application, for example
a 4-way locking (A/K/A
Police lock, or Fox
Lock) made by
Securitech Group we
would consider to be
most secure, but keep in
mind it cannot be used
on exit doors, also on
entry doors it may be
considered dangerous as
in case of emergency,
rescue efforts may not
be able to gain access.
The other option maybe
an electro-magnetic
lock, available in
600 lbs to 1800 lbs holding
force, made by
Securitron, and
other manufactures,
there are some
restrictions with
building codes in
certain cities, verify
with your local
authorities.
Q: we just
complete a project with
some Hollow Metal and
some Fire rated wood
doors, the owners just
decided that they want
to have glass installed
in some of the doors,
can we save the hassle
of replacing the doors ?
A: the answer is YES,
you don't need to
replace these doors, if
theses doors are fire
rated, there will be
limitations as to which
glass and glazing can be
used, also the sizes of
the glass, consult with
the door manufacturer,
they should be able to
provide you glass kits
(A/K/A Vision Lite Kits)
usually a 5" X 20" or a
10" X 10" wire glass
will be allowed, (100 sq
in) you will have to
make sure that the Kits
are UL approved for your
application.
The actual cutting is
fairly simple, when you
get to that point, you
can email us and we will
guide you on how to do
it and which tools to
use.
Q:
we are building a new
commercial office
building, we are trying
to achieve a modern
look, what type of doors
do you recommend?
A: it depends on your
local building code what
type of fire rating you
would need, either way,
you can achieve 90
minute (B label), or
even 3 hour (A label)
fire rating by
installing Hollow Metal
doors, if you need 3
hour rating, be careful
to ask to the
manufacturer, what type
of metal frames you
should use, some
manufacturers require
the frames, to be
welded.
The reason we recommend
Hollow metal is, since
this would be a office
building you most likely
will need some fire
rating, as for the modern look,
you can either use brush
grinder to achieve a
"brushed steel" look and
than spray it with a
polyurethane clear
finish, or have the
doors powder coated,
there are many options
available, including
metallic and textured
colors and finishes.
Q: I am building
a store, what is a ADA
door?
A:
There is no such item as
a ADA Door, ADA requires
a door that a wheelchair
shall fit through, a
minimum of 34", also if
the door will have a
locking mechanism, it
should not be a ball
knob but a "lever"
handle, the lever must
be an ADA approved
lever.
Q: I have a door in our
basement with a cross
bar to exit, it kinda
old, and I would like to
have a knob to come in,
as well as exiting, can
I replace it with a
regular door handle?
A: a Panic Exit device is installed at fire exit
doors, if that is your
case, we strongly
recommend that you
should replace it with a
exit device, they are
inexpensive, and may
save lives when
depending on it, and, it
is most likely required
by your building code.
as for the knob to
enter, depending on the
device you have or the
one you will be
replacing it with, it
should have an option of
re-entry, ask your
hardware supplier.
Q: What price range am I
looking at?
A: Generally, when it comes to door hardware, it is
difficult to talk prices
without a manufacturer
name and item number, or
at lease seeing the
item, but if you are
only looking to replace
a panic device, with a
re-entry knob, on a door
that is not being used a
lot, you may get away
with about $100.00 for
the device and $35.00
for the re-entry knob,
it is a relatively easy
installation.
Q:
We are building a
non-franchise privately
owned motel, the
designer / architect
specified Stanley FBB191
Hinges, it looks like it
will cost us around $20
- $25.00 each hinge, we
did not intend to spent
that amount just for
hinges, Can you give us
any idea on how to go
about it?
A: We urge you to refer
back to the
specifications, you
received before biding
this project, it depends
on the owner and the
architect whether they
will let you change the
base material of the
hinge, if this building
project is not in a high
humidity area, or where
there is constant
exposure to moisture,
and/or salt, there may
be no reason to use
stainless steel hinges,
(other than the fact
that the specifications
were copied from another
project that is..), you
may want to submit a
sample of a Stanley
FBB179 X US26D, which is
a steel hinge in a dull
chrome finish, you may
be surprised that they
will accept it, ant that
hinge should not cost
you more than $6.00 to
$8.00/pc.
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