HARDWARE&SECURITY • 41
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Whether that means they have poorer
grading standards or are manufactured
from less robust materials, it all results in
shorter lifecycles.
Door closers and exit devices in
education and healthcare facilities are
a prime example of this due to the high
usage – and sometimes misuse – they are
subjected to. Good quality hardware is
engineered for such environments, while
cheaper hardware isn’t. Consequently,
if you choose cheaper hardware, you
may be replacing it more regularly and,
so, incurring additional labour and
purchasing costs.
THINK ADDED VALUE
It is often hard to see the added
value a simple door handle or closer
can carry, but the door hardware
industry continually drives research and
development to make products the best
they can be for their users.
In today’s world, there are a variety of
hidden benefits that well-designed door
hardware can bring. For instance, door
handles in healthcare facilities will often
incorporate active anti-microbial agents
to minimise germs spreading and prevent
bacteria from growing. On the technology
side, digital keyless access systems
are also forever improving with smart
technology to meet and exceed consumer
expectations. A prime example of this
are electromechanical exit devices, which
marry with digital access control.
This smarter selection process yields
costs savings from other areas that aren’t
directly associated to facilities management
too. For example, lessening the possibility
of germs spreading in schools may lead
to a lesser chance of cross-infection and
contamination and, thus, less absenteeism
amongst pupils and staff.
INCREASE YOUR KNOWLEDGE,
BUY RIGHT THE FIRST TIME
Two of the biggest issues found in
the “Review of Education Capital” by
Sebastian James in April 2011 include
a “lack of expertise on the client side
meant that there was little opportunity
to improve building methods in order to
lower costs over time,” and “procurement
starts with a sum of money rather than
with a specification.”
These two issues are stark
representations of fundamental flaws
that can be easily fixed, not just for
the education sector, but across the
entire spectrum of the door hardware
purchasing process.
The key point is this: When decision
makers lack expertise, they often rely on
the installer or contractor, who may be
working to their own benefit and picking
products that are available from their
local merchants or products that are on
offer. Installers and contractors may also
be recommending hardware they know
and have historically used out of habit, as
opposed to looking into other options that
may improve the building or extend the
lifespan of the product in question.
Procuring on a budget may also prove
detrimental, as again a buyer is often
blinded by cheap alternatives, rather
than having an understanding of the right
LOCKSMITHJOURNAL.CO.UK | NOV/DEC 2016
product at the right cost that could save
money in the long term.
Consultation and collaboration with
a specialist in door hardware during
the specification stage is often the best
method of protecting yourself against
these situations.
FUTURE-PROOFING
Another area that must be on the
agenda is the issue of future-proofing,
especially because the landscape of the
built environment is moving in tandem
with electronics and digital access.
To maximise the value of your hardware
in this respect, there should be a clear
long-term plan of how your building will
be used in the future, considering the
needs of occupants and building and
security managers.
One of the latest innovations in keyless
access is the ability to be able to control
doors remotely through internet-enabled
devices. As one of the biggest revolutions
to come into access control, it is one that
can be particularly useful to universities,
student campuses, hospitals and sports
stadia. If your building stores and handles
sensitive data, then it would be prudent
to think about which systems you can
upgrade to, plus expand and retrofit in
future, with minimum fuss.
With a little planning and advice, both
of which can be easily obtained from door
hardware manufacturers and experts,
your door hardware can start repaying you
by being longer lasting and by providing
better security, safety and functionality to
your building occupants.