Research and Development
Doors: Locks, Hinges, Handles
Solution:
Identify and encourage the provision of longer lasting and better quality door furniture.
HLPs Targeted:
This R&D project focuses on;
- Healthy Living Practice 1 – Washing People,
- 4 – Improving nutrition, the ability to store prepare and cook food &
- 8 – Controlling the temperature of the living environment
Age Groups Affected:
This project effects the living environment of all age groups.
Project Details Better door hardware
- Introduction
- The Problem
- The Solution
- Trial projects
- Where to next?
- From Housing for Health - the Guide
Introduction
Housing for Health survey data shows that doorknobs, latches, locks and hinges are performing poorly.
Poorly performing door furniture impacts on the ability of the householder to maintain personal safety and control over the living environment. Residents are unable to secure personal possessions; there is a general lack of privacy, control, ownership and a sense of wellbeing.
The aim of this project is;
- Identify poor environments as a result of failure of door hardware
- Identify and encourage the provision of longer lasting and better quality door furniture.
The Problem
Housing for Health survey data shows that doorknobs, latches, locks and hinges are performing poorly.
Poorly performing door furniture impacts on the ability of the householder to maintain personal safety and control over the living environment. Residents are unable to secure personal possessions; there is a general lack of privacy, control, ownership and a sense of wellbeing.
The Solution
The aim of the project is to identify and encourage the provision of longer lasting and better quality door furniture. This was accomplished by:
- Researching existing available door furniture solutions
- Selecting the most suitable components and cost
- Establishing a testing regime
- Installing, assessing performance & analysing data
- Specifying performance criteria for suitable products
Trial projects
The projects aimed to refit existing doors with a range of durable products suitable for high usage; improving security, safety and privacy as well as reducing long term maintenance and replacement expenses.
Recommendations
1. Implement an ongoing product research approach and method to ensure reliable performance of hardware.
2. Recommended products are:
| MasterKeySafe, | $60 |
| Big O Hardware | |
| 3570 mortice locks | $55 |
| 800 series mortice latch | $55 |
| 70 series levers | $50 |
| Lockwood door hardware | |
| Steel Door Jamb, striker plate and hinges | $90 |
| Door frame seal Hafele Catalogue n: 950.13.081 | $10 |
| Magnetic door stop / holder Hafele. Catalogue number: 921.07.601 | $30 |
| Door guard Hafele. Catalogue number: 911.59.062 | $10 |
| Continuous geared hinge Hafele.Catalogue number: 921.07.601 | $190 |
| Makesafe Clearshield Security Mesh door | $780 |
3. Locations of MasterKeySafe to be established in CONSULTATION with householders. External doors are a priority after bathroom and toilet doors and last should be bedroom doors.
4. Establish and develop ongoing relationships with manufacturers in order to improve on existing market offerings for this specific market segment.
Where to next?
For information for architects, designers, students, communities, housing managers go to:
From Housing for Health - the Guide
- In households that combine many families, individuals may want to be able secure themselves and their possessions in bedrooms
- Consider providing bedroom locks at the design stage to reduce the use of padlocks and bolts on doors as these may prevent escape from the house in the event of a fire.
- Fitting locks that can be opened from the inside to each bedroom door.
- A large household population can cause health hardware to fail prematurely simply because it is constantly in use.
For additional relevant information from the Guide visit the following links:
- A3.3 Escape in the event of fire
- B5 Reducing the impacts of crowding
- B6 Reducing the negative effects of animals, insects and vermin
- B8 Controlling the temperature of the living environment
