To guide managers and other specifiers through the specification process, manufacturers offer pointers.
For example, to avoid big problems, start small.
“Managers should test the potential product in the actual environment where it will be placed,” Allen says. “Start in a small area.” That way, if problems arise, managers will have to replace the product on a few doors instead of throughout their facilities.
Managers and front-line technicians also must fully understand a product’s post-installation requirements.
“We recommend against maintenance,” Cronk says of his company’s hinges, which come from the factory with a graphite lubricant. “Some well-meaning individuals will put WD-40 on the hinge, thinking they’re keeping it lubricated.” Actually, such a step can attract dirt and grit to the hinge and impair its performance.
Finally, managers need to fully understand the needs of the particular area in which technicians will install the product. One example is the all-too-common need to prevent vandalism in schools.
“It’s as if kids think if they break this one thing, they’ll get a day off of school,” Depta says, adding his company manufacturers a flush door with a proximity card reader inside, where it is invisible to vandals.
Door Hardware: Select the Right Installer, Product for the Job
Doors and Door Hardware: Consider Life-Cycle Costs
Door Hardware: Test the Product Before Installation
