Door Handles

A door handle is a mechanical device used to open or close a door, providing a tactile interface for human interaction with a door's latching or locking mechanism. More than just functional, door handles are also significant design elements, contributing to the aesthetics, ergonomics, and security of a building or object. Their design and material selection vary widely based on application, style, durability requirements, and environmental exposure.

Types of door handle

Based on Mechanism/Style:

Doorknobs: Spherical or oval-shaped handles that rotate to disengage a latch. Common in residential interiors.

Lever Handles: A horizontal or angled bar that is pressed down to disengage a latch. Easier to operate for people with limited dexterity (ADA compliant), common in commercial and public buildings.

Pull Handles: Fixed handles that are pulled to open a door (often used on push/pull doors or with separate latching mechanisms like roller catches). Common on heavy doors, commercial entrances.

Recessed Pulls (Pocket Pulls): Flush-mounted handles, often used on sliding doors or pocket doors to allow the door to fully retract into a wall.

Panic Bars/Push Pads (Exit Devices): Horizontal bars that, when pushed, release a latch, designed for emergency egress in public buildings.

Based on Function:

Passage Handles: No locking mechanism, typically just a latch to keep the door closed (e.g., closet doors).

Privacy Handles: Have a locking mechanism from the inside (e.g., push-button or turn-button), but can be opened from the outside with a tool in an emergency (e.g., bathroom doors).

Keyed Entry Handles: Have a lock cylinder for key operation from the outside and a turn-button/push-button from the inside (e.g., exterior residential doors).

Dummy Handles: Fixed, non-operating handles used for decorative purposes or on cabinet doors without a latch mechanism.

Based on Application:

Residential Door Handles: For homes.

Commercial Door Handles: Heavier duty, often meet specific fire, accessibility, and security codes.

Cabinet/Drawer Pulls: Smaller handles for furniture.

Vehicle Door Handles: Specialized designs for automotive, marine, aerospace applications.

Applications in Various Industries

Residential Construction & Interior Design:

Applications: Main entry doors, interior room doors, bathroom doors, cabinet doors.

Technology: Focus on aesthetics, ergonomics, ease of installation. Traditional mechanical latching mechanisms, simple keying systems, decorative finishes.

Commercial & Public Buildings:

Applications: Office buildings, hospitals, schools, retail stores, hotels, emergency exits.

Technology: Heavy-duty construction for high traffic, compliance with fire codes (e.g., UL listed), accessibility standards (ADA), security features (e.g., mortise locks, cylindrical locks, access control integration), electronic locking systems (card readers, biometrics), panic hardware.

Automotive Industry:

Applications: Car doors, trunks, glove compartments.

Technology: Integrated with central locking systems, remote keyless entry, push-button or pull-type designs, aerodynamic considerations, robust materials for safety and durability, chrome plating or painting for aesthetics.

Furniture Manufacturing:

Applications: Cabinets, drawers, wardrobes.

Technology: Focus on aesthetic integration with furniture design, various finishes (brushed, polished, matte), simple screw-mount mechanisms.

Marine Industry:

Applications: Boat cabins, deck hatches.

Technology: Extreme corrosion resistance, robust locking mechanisms for harsh marine environments.

Healthcare:

Applications: Hospital doors, patient rooms, restrooms.

Technology: Lever handles for accessibility, antimicrobial coatings, hands-free operation (e.g., foot-operated or elbow-operated), robust and easy-to-clean designs.

Material Selection Considerations

Metals:

• Brass (Solid Brass, Brass Plated): Traditionally popular for its aesthetic appeal (ages to a patina), corrosion resistance, and antimicrobial properties. Often polished or lacquered.
• Stainless Steel (304, 316): Excellent corrosion resistance (especially 316 for marine or highly corrosive environments), high strength, durable, and hygienic. Widely used in commercial, institutional, and modern residential settings. Can be brushed, polished, or satin finished.
• Zinc Alloy (Zamak): Cost-effective, easily cast into complex shapes, widely used for decorative handles. Often plated (chrome, nickel, brass) or painted to improve aesthetics and durability.
• Aluminum: Lightweight, good corrosion resistance (especially anodized), often used for modern, minimalist designs or in applications where weight is a concern.
• Bronze: Similar to brass, offers a rich, antique aesthetic and good corrosion resistance.
• Wrought Iron/Cast Iron: For rustic or heavy-duty industrial/architectural styles, offers high strength but requires proper finishing for corrosion protection.

Finishes/Coatings:

• Chrome Plating (Polished Chrome, Satin Chrome): Durable, corrosion-resistant, highly aesthetic, common on brass or zinc.
• Nickel Plating (Polished Nickel, Satin Nickel): Similar to chrome but with a warmer tone.
• PVD (Physical Vapor Deposition) Coatings: Highly durable, scratch-resistant, and corrosion-resistant finishes in various colors (e.g., polished brass PVD, black PVD).