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By Jeff Wardon, Jr., Assistant Editor

November 2024

Products of all kinds undergo changes that are influenced by trends and needs of the moment, and door hardware is not immune to this. Various needs across markets such as K-12 schools, higher education facilities, commercial offices and healthcare facilities will shape how door hardware is made now and into the future.   

Facility Maintenance Decisions spoke with door hardware manufacturers to better understand the current forces influencing trends in door hardware in institutional and commercial facilities that maintenance and engineering managers need to be aware of.   

FMD: What emerging trends in any or all these markets are you watching that might affect product development and design? 

“Technologically facilitated networked touchless entry may move away from RFID to camera validation (like those to unlock most modern cell phone and computer screens), and/or secure phone-connection authentication (relieving individuals from needing to use keys or ID cards).  

While maybe not yet “a trend” but reasonable speculation, it's likely that AI personal assistant agents will gain greater and greater ability to perform real-world tasks for their users, so more complex networked interoperability of all kinds of objects and systems, including door hardware will be in demand in the future (think “Siri/Alexa, open the front door when my cousin Jake gets there in five minutes”).   

A more speculative assertion could be that broad-access/democratized AI-assisted engineering, when combined with cheaper and more easy-to-use manufacturing equipment (like CNC machines, water/laser-etchers/cutters, and 3D printers) will create a market shift from large traditional incumbent firms to garage-manufacturing startups in all kinds of fields. Door hardware could see a Cambrian explosion of innovation just like most other manufactured goods if/when this trend takes hold.” 

— Anatoliy Kaverin, product manager, Vizilok   

“Security and architectural entrances are continually being improved and enhanced to ensure they deliver reliable operation and robust security. The continued development of new and more advanced electronic sensors further enhances their functionality beyond conventional entry/egress applications as new sources of data capture business intelligence applications across the enterprise. Much of this can be attributed to new developments in deep learning and artificial intelligence that is being embedded into a broad range of devices, including security entrances and architectural doors and the diverse range of sensors being incorporated into them.” 

— Amanda Powell, marketing manager, Boon Edam     

Merrel: The latest trends in door and lock hardware are focused on two very different objectives: enhancing security and safety and improving the user experience. Although these design objectives may seem counterintuitive by nature, the security, safety and personal privacy of individuals weighs almost equally with the need for locks and door hardware that offer intuitive, easy operation and installation, and complement a diverse range of interior aesthetics. 

— Mia Merrel, director of product management for mechanical and electromechanical hardware, ASSA ABLOY 

Jeff Wardon, Jr., is the assistant editor for the facilities market.