For many of us, we put down our pencil after the last exam in our formal education and jump for joy knowing that we’ll never take another test.  I distinctly remember that feeling after my Strategic Business final my senior year in college – pure joy.  As it turns out, there are many different professional certifications that require rigorous courses and testing.  The door and hardware industry is no different.  The Master’s degree equivalent in the door and hardware world is the Architectural Hardware Consultant (AHC) certification from the Door and Hardware Institute (DHI).

What is an Architectural Hardware Consultant?

An Architectural Hardware Consultant is your best friend when it comes to specification writing and review for doors and hardware.  They are trained on all the ins and outs of product applications, codes and standards, and functional product knowledge.  Their rigorous courses enable them to coordinate hardware items and their various options to ensure that door openings are in compliance with fire, life safety, accessibility, and building code requirements.  They are able to help you select the right products for each application.

How do you become an Architectural Hardware Consultant?

Becoming an Architectural Hardware Consultant is no easy feat.  There are 13 courses that must be completed culminating in a two day exam where students must create a detailed hardware schedule for 15 different openings, with some being electrified…  They then have to write a full three-part specification for the hardware product they detailed in the schedule.  Lastly, they  answer a series of questions about codes, standards, hardware application, masterkeying, specification writing, and electrified architectural hardware.  Shew!  I’m in the industry and all of that makes my head spin!  Suffice it to say that when they complete the program, they know their stuff!

How can an Architectural Hardware Consultant Help you?

If we’ve said it once, we’ve said it a thousand times.  You’d be amazed at some of the specifications that come across our desk.  Ranging from obvious items such as two closers being specified for one door to the less obvious items such as improper grade hardware for the application, building plans are full of problems that will cost you money in change orders and long-term maintenance issues.  An Architectural Hardware Consultant can review your plans and provide recommendations to make your hardware schedule work for your organization rather than against it.  They can ensure that your doors and locks are engineered to meet the lifecycle of your facilities at the lowest possible cost.

Are Other Certifications Available?

As you’ve gathered by now, while doors and locks may seem like a simple thing, they are actually very complex.  As such, there are additional certifications from DHI specializing in doors and electrified hardware.  Certified Door Consultants (CDCs) specialize in the application of various door types, and Electrified Hardware Consultants (EHCs) specialize in interfacing electrified hardware products into access control monitoring and fire alarm systems.  There is a small handful of individuals who have completed all of these courses.  These highly knowledgeable individuals have earned the coveted certification of an Architectural Opening Consultant (AOC) – maybe that should be considered the Doctorate of our industry.

Are there issues that you are struggling with in regards to your doors and locks?  Let us know and we’ll have one of our AHCs answer your questions!

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