We walk through doors countless times a day. Unless you’re like us, you’re probably not paying attention to all of the components that come together that actually make a door a door. However, as the saying goes, “The more you know…” Knowing the various parts of a door will benefit you in case something is to ever go wrong. The different components sometimes require different professionals to service them, and this basic knowledge will help you know who to contact in the event something does go wrong. This, of course, results in saving you time and money, and who isn’t a fan of that?

Parts of a Door

The Closer

The closer controls the swing of the door. Situated at the top corner of the door, a closer can help in keeping your door from slamming shut on windy days, but on top of that it’s required for fire-rated openings. This ensures that the door is always in a secure position in case of a fire. Also, if it’s an exterior door, a closer is going to help with climate control by pulling the door closed when not in use. That’s not only going to help keep your facility cool or warm, but it’s going to save you money on those utility bills.

Hinges

This isn’t the first time we’ve discussed hinges here on LockBytes and with good reason. They’re an integral part of any door. Hinges carry the weight of the door through various designs and allow barrier-free movement. They also help with security. The type of hinge used will be based on the door. For example, if the door is a high-use or heavy door, you’ll need a heavy-duty grade 1 hinge, but if it’s an exterior door or a secure door, you’ll want to use a grade 1 security hinge.

Securing Hardware

Securing hardware can be anything from levers to exit devices to deadbolts to throwbolts, and they all have one common goal – to hold the door in a secure position. The specifics of each type of securing device vary depending on the type of door you’re using, as different doors will have different requirements.

Protective Hardware

There are several parts of a door that fall into this particular category, and they do exactly what the title implies – protect the door. Anything from kick plates to thresholds fall into this category and protect various parts of a door. For example, a kick plate is a metal plate placed at the bottom of the door to protect the door from any damage like rolling carts, shoe scuffs and other items that may crash into it. A threshold, on the other hand, protects the door from the elements as well as soundproofs the door.

All of these parts (plus many more that weren’t addressed in this post) make a door actually a door. Knowing the basic parts of a door will help you not only identify problems quicker, but discover a solution faster as well. Plus, if you know where the problem is stemming from, it’ll be easier for you to describe the issue if you do decide to call in a professional.

As always, if you have any questions about parts of a door, please don’t hesitate to give LockNet a call. We’ll be happy to help with any issues you may have!