The Evolution of Architectural Ironmongery Technology & Design Philip May, Director, Consort Hardware Pvt. Ltd

The Evolution

of Architectural Ironmongery Technology & Design

India’s rapid economic growth and emergence as a top tier world economy over the past 30 years has been well documented. This economic growth has necessitated the need for a whole range of construction projects. From a national and regional government perspective, it means new and upgraded transport infrastructure including airports, railways and urban transit systems to support future economic growth. Expansion of healthcare and education provision to improve the health and life chances of its citizens are also seen as a high priority.

The positive impact on disposable incomes has fueled demand for high quality, privately funded projects from well built, safe residential accommodation, leisure and retail facilities and the expansion of the hospitality sector to meet the needs of both international and local business and tourism.

Within this context, the procurement of architectural ironmongery has always had a low profile, but few items impact more on the ongoing functioning, safety, efficiency and use of buildings over their lifecycle. The correct specification of ironmongery is not just a requirement for delivering and handing over a project but is essential in ensuring the future safety and minimising ongoing maintenance costs of the building for effective use by both its occupants and visitors.

ARCHITECTURAL IRONMONGERY & THE ROLE OF THE REGISTERED ARCHITECTURAL IRONMONGER

Although architectural ironmongery technology and design has evolved over the years, the role of an architectural ironmonger (Reg. A.I.) remains the same. Considering design, security and atmospheric conditions, a qualified AI will also ensure that safety, functionality, accessibility and legislation requirements are adhered to.

When choosing the right kind of hardware for openings, it is

Hardware use can vary from a few cycles a day to many thousands based on the type of building

Products should accommodate the user’s needs, and enhance user’s experience of a building

important that we evaluate the type of building and ensure that the specified products accommodate the user’s needs, which in turn will enhance a user’s experience of a building.

Operators should expect the highest standards of durability and cycle testing from door hardware as some components in high-traffic areas are subject to PROBABLY the most repetitious cycling of any components in buildings. Specifiers demand that manufacturers design durability into each application following rigid architectural standards that should be included in specifications to ensure a proper balance between function and cost.

Use can vary from a few cycles a day to many thousands - for example airport entrances, large office buildings and department

Table 1: BS EN 1154 Controlled Door Closing Devices features a 6 digit coding system which provides details on product types, classification by use, test cycles, door mass, corrosion resistance, as well as definitions, product performance requirements, test apparatus, test methods and marking of products

stores, so it is critical that we incorporate an aesthetically pleasing look; durability consistent with the level and severity of use; robust designs that require minimal maintenance; support for building safety and security; and ease of use.

WHICH STANDARDS APPLY & WHAT SHOULD WE BE AWARE OF?

There are currently two prevailing sets of standards related to door hardware/ironmongery that form the basis of the vast majority of project specifications designed both in India and Worldwide. These are European standards, identified with the EN and CE prefixes and American standards identified as ANSI/BHMA.

EUROPEAN HARDWARE STANDARDS

The most common standards followed in India today are typically European (EN).

European Standards for architectural hardware are split into individual categories for product type consisting of a numerical coding system where each digit refers to a particular feature of the product measured against the standard's performance requirements.

When specifying architectural hardware for an opening, it is critical that all findings are closely observed to ensure each product is fit for purpose. For example, BS EN 1154 Controlled Door Closing Devices features a 6 digit coding system which provides details on product types, classification by use, test cycles, door mass, corrosion resistance, as well as definitions, product performance requirements, test apparatus, test methods and marking of products (Ref. Table 1).

All of the aforementioned must be taken into consideration to suit location and type of opening, interior or exterior mounting, type of closer and fixing suitability, volume and frequency of door traffic, type, size and weight of door. Where doors are subjected to high wind conditions, a door closer with variable back check is recommended. Parallel considerations will be applied when specifying electrified opening/ closing devices.

The AI will similarly look at every individual product during specification to ensure that each opening is safe and well equipped for its required function.

Fire and life safety standards such as BSEN 1634-1 door and accessories must also to be considered. Recently this has been taken a step further to CE marked door sets to BS EN 14351-1. Please see Table 2 for all relevant European standards for hardware and doors in the European codes and standards.

It is important to remember that the passing of the fire test EN1634-1 is not the sole criteria and safety measure to consider when selecting hardware for a fire door. It may pass a fire test in isolation but if it has not passed the remaining EN requirements, the door will not perform the rest of the functions required during the lifecycle of the building to actually be operable in the case of a fire directly causing loss of life regardless of the fact it passed a fire test in a laboratory.

Currently CE marked door sets have not been introduced into the Indian market, but may well be in the future.

U.S.A. STANDARDS (ANSI/BHMA) Certain projects often require ANSI/ BHMA standards from the USA such as Airports and other large civil projects. This is due to the far higher cycle and durability testing

BSEN Standards for Ironmongery

Standards BS EN 1634:2008

BS3621:2007

BS8300:2009

BS8424:2004

BS5499-1:2002

BS EN 1125:2008

BS EN179:2008

BS EN1154:1997

BS EN1155:1997

BS EN1303:2005 Description Fire resistance and smoke control tests for door, shutter and, openable window assemblies and ele ments of building hardware Thief resistant locks assembly - key egress. Design of buildings and their approaches to meet the needs of disabled people. Pull handles - requirements and test methods. Graphical symbols and signs - safety signs including fire safety signs. Panic Exit devices Emergency exit devices operated by a lever handle or push pad. Controlled door closing devices. Electrically powered hold open devices for swing doors. Cylinders for locks - requirements and test methods (Revision 1).

BS EN1906:2010

BS EN1935:2002

BS EN12209:2003

BS EN 12051:2000 Building hardware - lever handles and knob furni ture. Single axis hinges. Mechanically operated locks, latches and locking plates. Door & Window Bolts

Table 2: BSEN Standards for Ironmongery - Fire and life safety standards such as BSEN 1634-1 door and accessories

a false economy. The ongoing efficient functioning of these high European. Fire Door Standards, Table 3 is the same but for ANSI/ BHMA standards.

ENSURING VALUE, MINIMISING COSTS & PROTECTING LIVES THROUGHOUT THE LIFECYCLE OF BUILDINGS

The cost of facilities maintenance

Tower, in London, UK where poor maintenance of fire doors and hardware played a significant role in the tragedy. One of the biggest problems facing the industry is poor compliance to minimum acceptable standards. This manifests itself in several forms with the two most common being lack of oversite and accountability Consort Floor spring & Consort Transom closer for non-compliant products required to meet these standards, for malfunctioning hardware is certification provided from an which are typically demanded in considerable, especially in high use unrecognised 3 rd party testing such high use applications. buildings where hardware may fail body.

These are often not readily within weeks or months of being Unfortunately, poor specification available (along with the expertise installed. Worse still, security can is commonplace with many to schedule a specification that be compromised and the risks to architectural hardware schedules conforms appropriately) in the safety increase dramatically. Poorly being either ‘copy and pasted’ from Indian market at present. Due to maintained buildings have fatal previous projects, or substandard the typically higher price of these consequences made all the more hardware being specified by an products, it can cause strain on devastating due to their easily unqualified party. the initial construction budgets avoidable nature. We have all All of this can play a part in that have typically been set with seen the consequences of poorly false economy (as hardware will European hardware budgets maintained buildings from heartfail and have to be replaced) and in mind. However, this is often breaking scenes such as Grenfell more seriously, endangering lives, maintenance required for the ANSI/BHMA A156 Standards use developments means that once Standards Description the costs of operational disruption, UL10c Standard for Positive Pressure Fire Tests of Door safety breaches, performance Assemblies failure, and regular replacement and repair of hardware items are ANSI/BHMA A156.01 Butts and Hinges taken into account the overall cost ANSI/BHMA A156.02 Bored and Preassembled Locks and Latches argument for American hardware in these applications becomes ANSI/BHMA A156.03 Exit Devices compelling. ANSI/BHMA A156.04 Door Controls-Closers North American hardware specification follows a completely ANSI/BHMA A156.05 Cylinders and Input Devices for Locks different set of Codes and ANSI/BHMA A156.06 Architectural Door Trim Standards to that of British / ANSI/BHMA A156.08 Door Controls – Overhead Stops and Holders Life Safety Codes, and Accessibility ANSI/BHMA A156.13 Mortise Locks & Latches Legislation are a only a few of the ANSI/BHMA A156.15 Release Devices-Closer Holder, Electromagnetic requirements that differ greatly. and Electromechanical

and following non accredited ANSI/BHMA A156.19

ANSI/BHMA A156.24 ANSI/BHMA A156.25 ANSI/BHMA A156.30 Power Assist and Low Energy Power Operated Doors Delayed Egress Locking Systems Electrified Locking Devices High Security Cylinders

To ensure your project is fit for purpose, always Remember…… • Always get your specification signed off by an AHC or Reg. AI qualified hardware/ironmongery consultant • Ensure all products comply with relevant durability and safety standards and ensure these have been reviewed by a qualified ironmongery consultant • Always try to use online certification that can be checked to be valid

With the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and future threats, automated hardware has become integral to minimising the spread of infection replacing the traditional ones

especially when there is such a focus on cost savings being bought to nearly all projects in the current construction climate. We thoroughly recommend that specifying architectural hardware is detailed by a Registered Architectural Ironmonger (Reg.AI) for EN specifications or an Architectural Hardware Consultant (AHC) for North American specifications, thus ensuring that each opening will be furnished professionally.

WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD FOR AUTOMATION & TECHNOLOGY IN THE HARDWARE INDUSTRY?

Automatic Doors and Access Controls: With the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and future threats, automated hardware has become integral to minimising the spread of infection, as it lessens the need to touch surfaces, therefore reducing the risk of cross contamination in public buildings. There are further positive outcomes regarding security with such hardware not requiring on site security personnel at each entrance. Integrated access control systems are capable of monitoring and controlling the entry and exit from such buildings.

Others forms of access control and remote technology are being introduced into buildings, such as hotels and Air BNB, where people access buildings and rooms via phones or key cards. This has been adopted by several major hotel chains over the last few years and demand will only increase as the technology becomes more affordable.

PHILIP MAY

Director, Consort Hardware Pvt. Ltd.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Philip May has worked in a variety of roles within the construction industry including interior contracting, architectural seals and architectural hardware sales during a 20-year career. Having worked in senior roles with Consort Architectural Hardware in the UK and the Middle East, he has now relocated to India to support their country head, Harish Sokhi to deliver on their long term goals within the Indian market.

ALFA ICA