112 Doorsets, Fire Doors, Safety & Security Also online at: www.dijonline.co.uk THE door industry journal winter 2025 How to avoid common door hardware problems By Andy Syms, national sales manager, HOPPE (UK) Door hardware may feel like a small consideration in an entire doorset, but its role in fire safety, security and accessibility is huge. Components such as handles, locks, closers and hinges take constant wear – and any failure can compromise building compliance in an instant. Most hardware issues stem from poor installation, inappropriate product choice or overlooked maintenance. However, these problems are entirely avoidable with the right approach. Installation: where many problems begin Poor alignment, incorrect fixings or the wrong product for the door’s category of use are all frequent culprits. Locks that don’t latch properly, handles that work loose within months, or closers that slam or refuse to latch are more often the result of installation errors than manufacturing defects. According to the BS EN 1906 standard for lever handles and knob furniture, different categories of use are designed to cope with very different levels of traffic and abuse. For example, a Grade 4 handle for a stadium will withstand far more than a Grade 1 product for a light-use internal door. Installing the wrong grade is setting the door up for early failure. On fire doors, the stakes are even higher. Every hinge, closer and lock must be compatible with the door’s fire test evidence and fitted exactly as tested. A minor deviation at installation can invalidate certification. To mitigate risks early on, it is crucial to use the manufacturer’s templates and fixings and check alignment before final tightening; even a few millimetres off can cause binding against seals. For fire doors, all components must match the door’s fire test evidence and CE/UKCA marking. Finally, the door should be fully tested before sign-off, including latch engagement against any smoke or draught seals. Maintenance: the most overlooked safeguard Once in place, hardware is often ignored until it breaks. Yet regular maintenance is not just good practice – it is a legal requirement. As per the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, the responsible person must ensure that a maintenance routine is undertaken and logged for all architectural ironmongery. The Guild of Architectural Ironmongers (GAI) recommends monthly checks on high-use doors and quarterly inspections elsewhere, and records should be kept as part of the building’s safety file. Typical maintenance tasks are straightforward: tightening fixings, lubricating moving parts with the manufacturer’s approved products, and cleaning with mild detergent and a soft cloth. Silicone sprays, for example, can damage lock cylinders, while abrasive cleaners will strip protective coatings. Warning signs include handles that don’t return to horizontal, dragging or misaligned doors, closers leaking fluid, or corrosion appearing in high-humidity areas. These should be acted on immediately. On a fire door, any of these issues can reduce its ability to perform when it matters most. Manufacturers often provide their own maintenance guides, such as these helpful videos on how to maintain the ARRONE, a HOPPE Group brand, AR1500 door closer and the AR880 single panic bolt.
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