Is your door hardware specification budget something you have ever scrutinized? What if I told you that the average hardware budget we see on specifications is around $15,000 per building; does that make you want to give it a good once-over?
Our team of door and hardware specialists review specifications on a regular basis and often find upwards of 10-20 percent in cost that can easily be removed from prospective customers’ budgets.
There are a few main things we look for that often cut each door hardware specification budget way down. Here are four things to check in your specifications to help you save money.
Four Things to Check to Reduce Your Door Hardware Specification Budget
Ensure Proper Grade Hardware is Specified
Hardware grade is something we discuss a lot on our blog. The reason? It’s really important.
If the improper grade is specified, it will cost you thousands of dollars either in your door hardware specification budget, or in your repair and maintenance budget. You can waste money installing grade one hardware on low-traffic openings. Likewise, you can rack up a hefty repair bill if you install grade three hardware on moderate-traffic doorways.
So how do you know which grade you need? First and foremost, consider the security needs and frequency of use. High-security and high-use openings necessitate higher-grade hardware. Low-grade products will not stand up to the use and abuse these doorways receive.
On the flip side, be sure to avoid grade three hardware on any openings in a commercial facility. This grade is designed for residential use and simply won’t stand up to commercial demands.
Find any “Like for Like” Allowances
Go through your specifications with a highlighter and mark any places where you see the term “like for like.” This means anyone who bids your projects can substitute product that is similar in grade and finish to the one you specified.
Why is this a problem?
Hardware grades are a minimum set of standards. There is a lot of variation in the amount of abuse that grade two hardware can handle. For example, some grade two levers will meet the minimum ANSI/BHMA standard of 400,000 cycles; whereas, others are close to the grade one threshold of 1,000,000. That’s a 600,000 cycle count difference.
You should be as specific as possible. If there are other products you will accept, list those in your specification, but do not use the term “like for like.” This will increase your door hardware specification budget and/or your repair budget in the long-run.
Review Each Opening for Missing and/or Unnecessary Parts
Another thing to check for is an incomplete specification. I don’t think we’ve ever come across a specification that did not have either missing or unnecessary parts. We have seen specifications that have left off the hinges, called for two door closers per opening, or have forgotten the protective hardware.
All of this will increase your door hardware specification budget through dreaded change orders. These change orders are not only costly, but also a major pain to deal with.
Review each opening to ensure that the necessary components are there, and in the right quantities.
Check for Improperly Specified Hardware
Along the same lines, it’s important to ensure the hardware is properly specified. Unfortunately, this is something you likely won’t be able to do without the assistance of a door and hardware expert. An expert can review your specifications for things such as:
- ADA code compliance;
- Life-safety code compliance;
- Fire-code compliance;
- Appropriate application;
- Appropriate material; and
- Appropriate hardware grade.
If you review your specifications for these four elements you will save money in your door hardware specification budget.
If you would like a free specification review, let us know. We’re happy to take a look.