Lock and Security Equipment (C-28) · Lesson 6 of 7

Door Hardware Height, Opening Force and Closer Timing

"Door Hardware Height, Opening Force and Closer Timing" is lesson 6 of 7 in the Lock and Security Equipment (C-28) Learning Hub. It opens with "Three Printed Height Ranges" and works through 5 short steps, then a worked example you can check yourself against.

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Steps in this lesson

  1. Three Printed Height Ranges
  2. How the Hardware Must Operate
  3. Force to Open the Door
  4. Closer and Spring Hinge Timing
  5. Projections Into the Door Opening

The worked example in the course applies this lesson to a realistic job in 5 steps, from "Lever height" through "Hardware operation".

What you'll be able to do

  • Explain the main idea of "Door Hardware Height, Opening Force and Closer Timing" in plain language you can use on the exam.
  • Apply this step with confidence: "Force to Open the Door".
  • Apply this step with confidence: "Closer and Spring Hinge Timing".
  • Apply this step with confidence: "Projections Into the Door Opening".
  • Test yourself on the worked example and the quick-check quiz inside the classroom.
Door Hardware: Heights, Force and Closer TimingCBC1010.2.3CBC11B-404.2.78 CCR3235(m)(2)34-48 in34-44 in30-44 inProjecting closer, stop, mag lock: 78 in min484434780Green box: 34 to 44 in fits all threeFIELD CHECK: ACCESSIBLE-ROUTE DOORItemFoundRequiredLever height46 in44 in maxFAILMag lock, 5 in deep76 in78 in minFAILCloser, 90 to 12 deg3.5 s5 s minFAILPush force to open8 lb5 lb maxFAILLever type, no tight graspleverleverPASSFix: lever to 40 in, mag lock up 2 in,closer slower by 1.5 s or more,force down by 3 lb or more46 in passes 34-48 (CBC 1010.2.3) but fails 44 max where Chapter 11B appliesSpring hinge: 70 deg to closed takes 1.5 s minimum (11B-404.2.8.2)Set every device inside the tightest range that applies2025 CBC 1010.1.1.1, 1010.1.3, 1010.2.3; CBC 11B-404.2.3, 11B-404.2.7 to 11B-404.2.9, 11B-309.4; 8 CCR 3235(m)(2)CC
The diagram for this lesson, exactly as it appears in the Learning Hub.

The first steps of this lesson

Step 1: Three Printed Height Ranges

2025 CBC §1010.2.3: door handles, pulls, latches, locks and other operating devices shall be 34 inches minimum and 48 inches maximum above the finished floor (locks used only for security and not for normal operation may be at any height). On doors that are part of an accessible route, 2025 CBC §11B-404.2.7 sends the hardware to §11B-309.4 and says operable parts shall be 34 inches minimum and 44 inches maximum above the finish floor. 8 CCR §3235(m)(2) says hand-activated door opening hardware on workplace exits shall be centered between 30 and 44 inches above the floor. The range that fits inside all three is 34 to 44 inches.

Step 2: How the Hardware Must Operate

§1010.2.2 and §11B-404.2.7 (through §11B-309.4) say hardware must be operable with one hand and must not require tight grasping, tight pinching or twisting of the wrist. §11B-309.4 puts the force to activate operable parts at 5 pounds maximum. For general egress doors §1010.1.3 limits the force to unlatch to 15 pounds for push or pull hardware and 28 inch-pounds for rotating hardware, applied on the latch side (§1010.1.3.1). Where a door is on an accessible route, know that the 5-pound figure in §11B-309.4 is the tighter printed number for operating the hardware.

The remaining 3 steps, the worked example and the quiz are in the course. This is a preview. The full lesson, with the step-by-step explanations, a worked example and a quick-check quiz, is inside the classroom.

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