Bob Larson of Builders Hardware brought up a good question the other day…what’s the best way to handle the outside trim on the exterior pairs on a school?  We all have our preferences, but given the changing security, access control, and accessibility requirements, this might be a good time to take another look at this common application.  The question could apply to any type of building, but let’s think about this in context of a school to give us some focus – I’d love your insight on this.

Here are some questions to get the responses flowing:

  • If surface-mounted pulls are used, should we specify two pulls, or would one pull make schools safer by preventing someone from securing the two pulls together to delay access or egress?
  • Do some facilities or specifiers prefer lever trim for exterior doors on schools?  Why, or why not?  One lever or two?
  • I know that flush pulls and other vandal-resistant styles have become popular for some districts, but are they easy to use for someone with a disability?
  • For pairs or banks of doors, should only one door have a cylinder, or more than one?
  • For doors that are only used for egress and not for access, should there be a cylinder and/or pull to be used for access by emergency services?

Here are a few examples of Special-Lite FRP pairs, posted with permission from Chris Mayer of Mayer Door (thanks Chris!):

Pair with Flush Pulls

Here’s a closer look at the flush pulls pictured above.

Pair with Levers  Pair with Offset Pulls

Pair with One Pull  Pair with Pulls

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