| Access Control | Systems and products that enable an authority to control, monitor and restrict access to areas and resources in any given physical location. |
| Activator | Ironmongery device (e.g.: panic or push bar) which both unlocks the door set and opens it in one positive action. |
| Active Leaf | The first leaf to open in a pair of doors (followed by the inactive leaf) |
| Adjustable Frame Fixings | See ‘Screw in Frame Fixings |
| Auto Bolting | Ironmongery that has a series of latches and triggers to ensure that the locks automatically re-engage to secure the opening once the door leaves are shut. Use with a latching door closer to ensure no manual intervention is necessary to close the doors. |
| Auto Flush Bolt | Self-locking bolts built into the top and bottom of the leading edge of the active leaf, to automatically snap locked without any need for manual intervention. It secures the active leaf shut first, before the active leaf typically locks to the inactive leaf. Only fitted to double door sets |
| Back Check | Setting on a door closer to eliminate over swing. See also ‘Restrictor’ |
| Backplate | A backplate is a stamped or forged plate onto which levers are attached to create a lever on backplate. These are most commonly face fixed. |
| Backset | The distance from the leading edge of a door to the centre point at which the door handle is attached and/or the key/turn is positioned. |
| Bathroom Lock | To allow internal and external lever handle operation of the door leaf by operating a sprung latch; whilst allowing locking of the door set by an internal thumb turn to operate a dead bolt. |
| Cam Action | A type of internal mechanical operation of a door closer that gives a smooth and low-force requirement when opening and closing a door. |
| Cill | See ‘Threshold’ |
| Combined weather & cold smoke Seal | A stick-on rubber trim to seal air gaps at the hinge or leading-edge sides of door leaves. Manufactured from intumescent material to allow use on fire doors. |
| Cylinder | Oval or Euro profile key locks for doors. Can be a half cylinder for external unlocking only; a full double cylinder for internal and external key locking and unlocking; or with an external half cylinder with internal thumb turn. |
| DDA | Disability Discrimination Act 1995. Replaced by Equality Act 2010.
The disability Discrimination Act was a piece of legislation that promoted civil rights for disabled people and protected disabled people from discrimination. In this context, the Disability Discrimination Act set out building requirements and rules relating to safe access through doorways. |
| DDA Compliant Threshold | A floor mounted threshold strip, less than 15mm in height, required to comply with the Disability Discrimination Act 1995
Although now replaced by the Equality Act 2010, the new act incorporates essential requirements of the old act including the provision of accessible low profile threshold strips in key locations. |
| Dead Lock | A lock that once double locked cannot be unlocked or activated by any other means than the key, or internal thumb turn where fitted. Can be supplied with lever handles, pull handles and push plate combination or simply a cylinder pull. |
| Delayed Action | A setting for some models of door closer. Allows the door leaf to remain open for a pre-set time prior to automatically closing at a controlled rate. Useful for wheelchair access and where trolleys are regularly moved through the opening. |
| Door Closer | A mechanical device to pull shut the door leaf without manual intervention, using either the power of a spring or a hydraulic cylinder. |
| Dog Bolt | Also known as ‘security stud’ or ‘hinge stud’. A metal pin integral to one of the hinge plates, when the door leaf is closed. This prevents the door leaf being pulled out of the frame if the hinge knuckles are cut from the outside. |
| Door Function | Determines whether the door set is to be used as a Personal Entry Door, an Emergency Escape (for staff and trained users) or a Panic Escape (for members of the public and untrained users). Where doors are perceived to have multiple functions, generally a hierarchy of importance will emerge; for example, an opening that is an emergency escape might also be required to provide a one-hour fire rating. In the context of door function, the escape function is critical. |
| Door Furniture | Generally used to refer to operating products on a door such as locks, handles, activators, restrictors and all manner of ‘ironmongery’. |
| Door Location | Either internal or external to the building. |
| Door Reference | Although doors can be similar in size, specification, and location, it is a real benefit to ascribe each door set an individual reference number for ease of identification. |
| Door Type | Choose your door set specification based on anticipated use. Start with a security door, and upgrade to a 1 Hour Fire Rated Door (FD30) or a 2 Hour Fire Rated Door (FD60). Where a flush wall finish is required for internal sporting venues, choose a Sports Hall Door (with rebound panels and recess ironmongery). |
| Door Viewer | Glass peep hole with magnification to allow view from the secure side of the door set to an external area; so that safe egress can be determined before unlocking the door set. |
| Double Leaf | A ‘pair’ of leaves, comprising an active and inactive leaf, usually in a three-sided frame. |
| Door Seal | A mechanical rubber profile in a metal carrier. When the door leaf is closed towards the fully shut position, an activating button lowers the carrier so as to position the rubber profile in a pre-adjusted position to ensure a uniform seal when the door is fully closed. |
| Emergency Escape | A push bar, push bad or handle activation to comply with BSEN179; where only staff or trained users are likely to use the door set to leave the building in a fire or alarm condition. |
| Escape Night Latch | To allow internal lever handle operation for the door leaf by operating a sprung latch, and external locking by the key cylinder from the outside. Automatically locks on closing door. The door set cannot be dead locked from the inside allowing for ease of escape in the case of an emergency. Also known as ‘Emergency Night Latch’. |
| Escape Sash Lock | To allow internal and external lever handles operation of the door leaf by operating a sprung leaf; whilst allowing locking of the door set by the integration of an external lock cylinder and internal cylinder or thumb turn to operate a deadbolt. The latch automatically engages on closing the door. However, when locked both the deadbolt and the latch bolt are withdrawn simultaneously by the inside lever handle, using a ‘split follower’ function. Also known as ‘Emergency Escape Sash Lock’. |
| Escutcheons | The protective face plate around a keyhole or door handle. |
| Europrofile | A standardised European Union Lock Cylinder type. |
| External Access | An ironmongery device is provided to allow unlocking and opening of a door leaf from the outside of the secured zone/building. |
| FD60 / FD120 / FD240 | FD60 is a 1 hour rated door (Fire Rated Door 60 Minutes).
FD120 is a 2 hour rated door (Fire Rated Door 120 Minutes). FD240 is a 3 hour rated door (Fire Rated Door 240 Minutes). |
| Finger Plate | See Push Plate |
| Finger Protection | Strips/guards to prevent pinching of fingers in the hinge gap on the inside and/or outside of a door set. Used where vulnerable, elderly or children have unsupervised access to the door set. |
| Fire Rated | Designed for fire compartmentalisation and to reduce the spread of fire. Door product is burn tested to BS476 part 22 to ensure sustainability for fire protection in buildings. Door fire ratings are expressed in minutes of fire resistance – e.g., FD60. |
| Flush Bolts | Generally, a means of securing the inactive leaf of a double door set. |
| Flush Pulls | Flush fitting door handles of all shapes and sizes that are let into the door face and usually typically for sliding doors and where projecting handles are not permitted. |
| Galvanisation | A process to prevent and protect steel and iron from rusting and corroding by coating the metal with a protective layer of zinc which is a less corrosive material. |
| Handle | Means of overriding the door latch to open the door set (as with a sash lock for example); or a D shaped or cranked ‘pull handle’, used to move the door easily away from the closed position, by establishing a point by which to easily grasp the door leaf. |
| Hinge | Hinges are made from two metal plates that are attached together with a removable pin. The metal plates are attached to the door and door frame with screws. Hinges hold the door securely to the door frame and allow it to swing open and closed. There are numerous types and sizes of hinges for different applications. The base material is also different for different applications. |
| Hold Open Device | Allows the door leaf to remain open at 90 degrees. Useful for wheelchair access and where trolleys are regularly moved through the opening. |
| Hold Open Stay | A mechanical arm to prop open a door at a pre-determined position. |
| Hush latch | An item fitted to the strike plate in the door frame for use with standard mortice latches and locks giving a smoother, almost silent opening and closing effect. |
| Inactive Leaf | The second leaf to open in a pair of doors (preceded by the active). |
| Intumescent | A product that expands with heat which offers protection to the product/material underneath in the event of a fire. |
| Ironmongery | Also referred to as ‘Door Hardware’ or ‘Furniture’. |
| Jamb mounted | A term typically used to describe the fitting position of a door closer, i.e. in the door jab (side of the door, as opposed to a common overhead type, which would be at the top of a door). |
| Kick Plate | Metal strip (usually 150mm high) designed to prevent scuffing and rub marks across the bottom of the door leaf. Used in high traffic areas. |
| Knob | A type of door handle that is generally twisted/turned or pulled to manually open and close a door, made in a variety of materials and sizes. |
| Latch | A device used to hold a door into its frame. Not to be confused with a lock, these are generally operated by a handle (lever or knob type) from either side of the door to enable the free opening of the door. A non-locking catch which locates into a keep plate; typically withdrawn by operation of lever handles on a sprung rose. Can be un-sprung depending on ironmongery specification. A latch is a mechanism which holds a door closed using a sprung bevelled metal tongue. The tongue retracts or protrudes with the turn of the lever or door knob. A latch is operated by a door handle or door knob with a spindle. The latch keeps the door closed and when the handle or knob is turned, the latch allows the door to open. The shape of the case can be tubular or flat. Tubular latches are more common as it is considered easier to fit. Smart latches are designed to be easier again to fit. They only require one 25mm hole drilled sin the end of the door and one through the face of the door. The latch is then inserted in the hole in the end of the door. |
| Latching Door Closer | A door closer that slams itself shut by applying an additional mechanical force when 10 degrees from rotation into the shut position. Often used in Auto Bolting Ironmongery. |
| Lever Handles | Means of overriding the door latch to open the door set (as with a sash lock or dead lock for example). Usually mounted on a sprung rose to self latch shut when pushed too. |
| Lock | A means of securing a single door leaf to its ‘lock jamb’; or of securing an active leaf to an inactive leaf in a pair of doors. Consists of a lock case with latch and a slam plate to activate the break of the latch. |
| Maglock | Magnetic lock. |
| Manual Flush Bolt | Only fitted to double door sets. Locking bolts are built in to the top and bottom leading edge of the inactive leaf, which can be manually snapped, locked. Secures the inactive leaf shut first, before the active leaf typically locks to the inactive leaf. |
| Mortice | Also known as a slot or hole that is cut to enable the fitting within the door rather than on the door of an item. As in ‘mortice fitted’ i.e., where lock boxes or shoot bolts are recessed into the door leaf or frame profile. As opposed to surface mounted. |
| Night Latch | To allow internal lever handle operation of the door leaf (where in the unlocked condition) by operating a sprung latch, and external access by unlocking with a key cylinder from the outside. Automatically dead locks on closing unless the ‘snib’ is held back. Often used for controlled access to a building or an area. External cylinder may have a ‘Cylinder Pull’ or the door leaf might have a ‘Pull Handle’. Doors with a night latch are often fitted with a door closer. |
| Outside Access Device | A ‘knob set’ or lever handle, provided to activate an internal emergency or panic escape ironmongery set, from outside the building. Includes a key operated cylinder. Gives a Personal Use function to what would otherwise be an escape door set. Useful for controlled access for ‘out of hours’ key holders. |
| PAA | Polished Anodised Aluminium – architectural ironmongery finish |
| Panic Escape | Activation to comply with BSEN1125; where untrained users of members of the public would have to use the door set as an exit, so door operation has to be instinctive and not require training. |
| PSS | Polished Stainless Steel – architectural ironmongery finish |
| Pocket Door systems | Sliding doors that disappear into the wall when opened, typically used for architectural design effect but primarily to maximise space within a room(s). |
| Pull Handle | Usually, a D shaped handle mounted on the outside of the door leaf, to move the door easily from the closed position, by establishing a point by which to easily grasp and pull open the door leaf. |
| Push Plate | A metal plate with an architectural finish, to allow a door leaf to be pushed open without scoring or marking the door leaf finish. |
| Restrictor | A mechanical means of preventing a door swinging beyond a fixed point and thus preventing damage; for example, a door restricted to 90 degrees opening to avoid a clash with adjacent brick wall reveals. |
| Rose | Also known as Rosette, is a round or square plate used behind the door level or knob to attach it to the door. The rose is the plate to which the lever handles or knobs are attached. Some will be face fix, whilst others will have concealed fixings under another separate rose cover. Most commonly the rose is circular in shape but it is becoming more common in modern interiors to find square roses and sometimes rectangular roses. |
| SAA | Satin Anodised Aluminium – architectural ironmongery finish |
| Sash Lock | To allow internal and external lever handle operation of the door leaf by operating a sprung latch; whilst allowing locking of the door set by the integration of an external lock cylinder and internal cylinder or thumb turn to operate a dead bolt. Latch automatically engages on closing the door. |
| SCP | Satin Chrome Plated – architectural ironmongery finish |
| Sprung | (vs un-sprung) Sprung is a term which indicates if the lever or door knob is fitted with a spring in the backplate or rose. In sprung furniture, the handle or knob will return to position once released. Un-sprung refers to a handle or knob that will use the door lock to return to position. Un-sprung hardware will require a heavy sprung latch or lock. |
| Sprung Rose | The pivot point of a lever handle, or pair of lever handles; sprung to allow automatic re-latching when the door is closed. Supplied as standard with the lever handle set. |
| Stay | Restrictor to prevent over swinging of a door leaf. See also ‘Hold Open Stay’. |
| SSA | Satin Silver Aluminium – architectural ironmongery finish |
| SSS | Satin Stainless Steel – architectural ironmongery finish |
| Strike Plate | A strike plate is the metal plate attached to the door frame in alignment with the latch mechanism. As the door closes, the latch mechanism strikes the plate mounted to the door frame and the strike plate catches the mechanism and holds the door closed. |
| Spindle | The spindle is the metal bar that passes through the door connecting the handles together and then operates the latch or locking mechanism. Spindles come in various thickness’s and lengths. |
| Thumb-turn | A product used to lock and unlock a door without the need for a key, ideal in the event of a fire. Also known as a WC Turn. |
| Un-sprung | (vs Sprung) Sprung is a term which indicates if the lever or door knob is fitted with a spring in the backplate or rose. In sprung furniture, the handle or knob will return to position once released. Un-sprung refers to a handle or knob that will use the door lock to return to position. Un-sprung hardware will require a heavy sprung latch or lock. |
| WC Turn | A product used to lock and unlock a door without the need for a key, ideal in the event of a fire. Also known as a Thumb-turn or snib. |
| Yellow Passivated | An electroplated finish (thin coating) offering protection to a material, typically zinc-plated due to zincs affordability and excellent corrosion resistance. |
Atlantic Specific Ironmongery Jargon
| AB | Antique Brass – architectural ironmongery finish |
| AC | Antique Copper – architectural ironmongery finish |
| BN | Black Nickel – architectural ironmongery finish |
| BSN | Black Satin Nickel – architectural ironmongery finish |
| DS | Distressed Silver – architectural ironmongery finish |
| MAB | Matt Antique Brass – architectural ironmongery finish |
| MB | Matt Black – architectural ironmongery finish |
| MBN | Matt Gun Metal – architectural ironmongery finish |
| PB | Polished Brass – architectural ironmongery finish |
| PC | Polished Chrome – architectural ironmongery finish |
| PN | Polished Nickel – architectural ironmongery finish |
| RB | Raw Brass – architectural ironmongery finish |
| SB | Satin Brass – architectural ironmongery finish |
| SC | Satin Chrome – architectural ironmongery finish |
| SN | Satin Nickel – architectural ironmongery finish |
| UB | Urban Bronze – architectural ironmongery finish |
| UDB | Urban Dark Bronze – architectural ironmongery finish |
| UG | Urban Graphite – architectural ironmongery finish |
| USC | Urban Satin Copper – architectural ironmongery finish |
| W | White – architectural ironmongery finish |
| WAB | Weathered Antique Bronze – architectural ironmongery finish |
| YB | Yester Bronze – architectural ironmongery finish |